My First Video Roundup!

Hi folks!

I love all you readers and I've missed you all over the past few weeks.  I've been working away on a bunch of different projects, but haven't been writing as much here as I've processed it all.  Plus, you may not have noticed yet, but I started making videos in the past couple months, though I don't post all of them here.  I started because while interacting with a lot of great YouTubers in the Geeks & Beauties Group they got me curious enough to try it out back around Christmas!  You can find my channel here, I would love it if you stopped by to take a look at what I've been making and subscribe if you're interested.

Since then I've found that it's the perfect place to share my unboxings when I get various monthly subscription boxes.  I felt like some of you wonderful people might not have been as interested in seeing all the snacks, beauty products, and other crazy boxes.  I love trying new things and exploring what great options are out there.  And I bet some of you are also interested in seeing what's available in subscription boxes too.

I got started trying boxes because I never really wore a lot of makeup, and until recently I hardly even owned any!  But the artist in me loves to experiment with colors and play with the new tools.  I love learning how to use the beauty basics so I can feel a little more confident if I want to create a particular look.  Boxes have been a great choice to find new products because I get curated items chosen for me sent to me door that I might not know to try otherwise.

I've branched out to try snack boxes for healthier options and to have fun trying out some foreign treats I might no otherwise try.  I've also been testing boxes that have interest based items like the Bookish box.  Because sometimes the novelty of it all is just so much fun.

With all that in mind I'm going to be doing roundup posts about once a month to collect all the videos where you can easily see them if you prefer to just follow my blog and not go to YouTube.  And it'll keep the videos to a minimum if videos aren't your thing.  Without further ado, here are the February videos you might have missed:

February Video Roundup

Birchbox

In this video I'm unboxing the February Birchbox, The Lip Sync Kit (6 lip products!), plus 4 more bonus lip colors! There's lip balm, lipstick, lipgloss, sheer, shiny, and matte. Talk about a haul!

For more information on Birchbox click here - https://www.birchbox.com/invite/2vtm9

Julep Maven Box

Unboxing this February 2016 Julep Maven box.  I have an It Girl profile so I get all nail polishes and today, I get 3 in this box.

If you want to find out more about Julep click here - http://www.shareasale.com/u.cfm?d=327859&m=49325&u=1184057  ◊Please note this is an affiliate link.  On the good side you can get your first box free!

If you'd like to find out more about manipulating colors in what you wear my blog post about it can be found here.

Ipsy Glam Bag

The "Pretty In Pink" February Ipsy bag has some pretty great selections.  Come take a peek with me!

If you'd like to find out more about Ipsy's $10 a month subscription click here - https://www.ipsy.com/new?refer=1pict

Japan Crate

Let's open up this box of Japanese snacks and see what's inside.  Learn how to open ramune soda, which uses a glass marble as a seal on the bottle!

You can find out more about Japan Crate here - http://www.JapanCrate.com

Bookish Box

I'm so excited that Appraising Pages sent me one of their great Bookish Boxes to review!  It was given to me for free, but all opinions expressed in this video are my own.  Let's see what's inside this February box!

For more information on how to get a Bookish Box subscription click here - https://thebookishboxx.cratejoy.com/refer/Lydia-TTINQNUW
 and use code WELCOME to save $3.50.

Glossybox

Isn't February's Glossybox the cutest?  Take a peek at what I got and tell me what you think.  I do want to note that the Teez lipstick does NOT last the 8 hours they claim, it was easily rubbed off as soon as I started eating, though maybe it lasts better in combination with some type of primer they make.

To find out more and get your own subscription to Glossybox click here - https://www.glossybox.com/referal?CI=MTUwNjM0

Love With Food Box

This is my first Love With Food box, let's open it up together!  Be sure to let me know what you think in the comments too.

For more information on subscribing as well as 50% off your first box click here - http://www.shareasale.com/r.cfm?B=701546&U=1184057&M=53869&urllink= (Love With Food is an Affiliate to Love, Lydia, which means shopping with them through my link will support me!)

Doki Doki Crate

This Miyazaki themed box is my first and last Doki Doki Crate.  Watch to find out why!  Since filming this they have made efforts to change their boxes, but I just didn't think it was a good fit for me.

For more information on Doki Doki Crate visit http://www.japancrate.com

Bestowed Box

I open my third Bestowed box for this February unboxing.  Inside are great healthy goods to give you creative new ideas for meals and snacking.

To find out more about Bestowed Box click here -
http://www.shareasale.com/r.cfm?b=649575&u=1184057&m=43962&urllink=&afftrack= ◊Affiliate link!  And get 10% off your Bestowed subscription with coupon code LOVEHEALTHY.

Love Goodly

Love Goodly is an every other month box of women's lifestyle items from makeup and accessories, to snacks and home goods.  Each box gives a portion of its proceeds to charity, a different one each month!

To find out more about Love Goodly click here - http://www.LoveGoodly.com/?refMemberID=-831081382125750200



I know February is a while back, but I wanted to start with it because there were too many videos I wanted to share.  March will be up pretty soon, I'm tying to get caught up with publishing everything, but April is in the works too.  So hold on tight!

Please let me know what you thought of this post format.  Do you like the videos from each month put together like this?  Would you rather have individual posts that include videos?  Tell me in the comments so I can give you more of what you like!  I'll see you all again very soon for a new fashion post!

Store Directories and Giveaway Winner

Hello folks,

Giveaway Winner

Thanks so much for participating in my Julep giveaway!  Rachel M. is our winner, and her prize will be sent out in the next 48 hours.  I'm sure there will be another giveaway in future, sign up for updates via Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, or Bloglovin (links to all on the right toolbar) to hear about them first!

And if you're still interested in trying out Julep's nail and makeup products you can get a free introductory box.

Store Directory

I know I've had a list of places you can find ethical plus sized clothing, and I've loved putting it together.  And for a while I've been working on compiling a new list of places I currently shop, for both clothes and other items, so if you're looking for new places to try you'll have a list at your fingertips.  Hopefully it'll also be a place you can come if you'd like to work on holiday shopping or finding your style.  If you want geeky shirts in plus sizes it's also got a good variety, as does my next list.

I'll also have a list of places I'd like to try with an area where you can suggest places you think I'd like.  There are several great shops with geeky designs that have plus sized options available that I'm itching to try.

Between these lists you'll be able to find all my different affiliates, so if you want to support my blog as you shop you'll find it as easy as possible.  I'll be updating all the lists regularly, so if you've visited before you may find new treasures the next time you look.  You'll find the lists in the top bar as well as in this post:

Ethical Plus Size Fashion 

Places I Shop

Stores I Want To Try

I'm sorry I don't have more of a real post today, but I've had an awful cold and can't concentrate nearly as well as usual.  This was much was a struggle honestly, but I can't wait to see you all Wednesday!

Love,
Lydia

October Outfits & Julep Unboxing

Hi friends,

I'm excited to share my latest Julep subscription box with you all, plus some recent outfits.

Julep

Julep is my favorite subscription box and nail polish brand.  They also make some great makeup, though in this box I just ordered nail items.  The beauty of this box is you can either choose between 6 curated boxes and upgrades or pay $5 more to create your own boxes.  To me it's worth it to create my own boxes.  You typically get 3 items, and then can get additional add on items, with a free item if you've added on 3.  It comes out to about $5 per item if you go for the box with add ons.  You can also skip you box as often as you need to, which is great if you want the fun of a box on a budget.  Julep typically comes out with 8-12 new nail colors each month, so there's always something fresh.  And I find most polishes last 5 days without chipping, and 7-8 if you use their base and top coat.  So here's my October box:

It had several other colors I'd ordered for the giveaway, plus a little bag of candy corn.  It came with this instructional card.  It makes me wish I'd ordered one of the eyeshadows!  Maybe next time I get a box I will, though I'm skipping November's.

These colors are wonderful, and I've done some tests to give you all an idea of just what they look like.  I realized after the fact that I'd ended up with some fantastic Halloween themed shades!  From the top down there's Darby - huntsman green with microglitter shimmer, Jocelyn (new)- a cranberry shimmer with holographic microglitter, Nicola (new)- a transparent peach glitter that glows in the dark (works great!), Sherri (new)- a bright purple stardust finish (stardust finish is slightly more matte with lots of texture, and no need for a top coat), and Arielle, a smoked fig (dark muted purple) cream.

I tested the colors on a paper towel and also the mini plastic bag so you could see what concentrations look like and what the finish looks like as well.  On my nail you see Arielle, which I used as the darkest shade in an ombre look pictured further down.

I also tried adding a stripe of Nicola over all the colors,  it doesn't change their colors much at all, though it makes the stardust finish more shiny.

Here's a peek at that ombre look too:

I used Arielle as the darkest shade, then Nedra, Alexa, Elisa, and Joanna.

You can get a FREE welcome box with the brand new Metallic colors and eyeliner seen below by clicking the on the image and using the code MADLOVE.


And if that's not enough you can also get in an entry to my giveaway for these lovely colors and holographic decals seen below by midnight tonight!

Lydia, Lee, Florence, and Sandi!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Now for the Outfits!

Top - Forever 21, Necklace - Phoebe Marie via Etsy, Bag - available here at Amazon◊, Jeans - Torrid, Flats - Torrid

Dress - LuLaRoe, Necklace - Marsha Elliott Designs via The Blue Ridge Parkway Craft Center, Leggings - Target, Boots - Trendsetter/Hushpuppies

This outfit is a deviation from my capsule wardrobe, but I was so excited about the new dress from LuLaRoe that I had to post it!  I've recently been introduced to LuLaRoe through my friend Nicole, they're pretty much all American made clothing that's super comfy.  Their collection ranges from casual to business casual in mostly soft cotton materials.  Their designs stay consistent from season to season, but the fabric patterns change regularly and are made in small quantities.  I got this dress plus a top, which will be in my winter capsule wardrobe.

Thanks all this time, but I'll see you all next week!

Love,
Lydia

Coloring Books and Fiction Books

Hi everyone,

Today I wanted to share a about some grown up coloring books.  I know recently they've become a trendy thing and more publishers are catching on.  This means there are many to choose from and there's something to suit everyone's taste too!

However, I bet some of you are wondering, why would a professional artist like these coloring books so much?  That would probably be some of the same reasons I think you might enjoy them as well!  First off I find coloring books to be therapeutic because I can simply focus on filling in spaces.  I can create flat areas of color, add texture, or make gradations within the spaces, but I never have to draw up the outlines.  This allows you to A. relax and think about the things you need to see more clearly that have been percolating in the back of your mind, B. think or meditate on a particular subject, whether that's a bible verse, a book you finished reading, or some other subject that's worthy of studying, C. or it allows you to destress, clearing your mind out to focus on just the actions related to coloring.  I honestly do all three at various times.

Additionally, as an artist I find it a useful way to test out ways of using colors together without worrying if they're perfect or not on the first try.  I also find that coloring books can be a fun thing to collect while traveling.  There's a much greater variety in subjects and complexity these days than you might assume.  Below are some favorites from my personal collection, I have more, but I'm going to give you a peek at 4 of them today.  (And as always links with a ◊ are affiliate links, so if you use a link to buy items, they don't have to be the ones in this post, you help support this blog!)

Grown Up Coloring Books

The Art of Nature 

Available from ModCloth◊ and Amazon◊ this is a gorgeous coloring book.  It's probably the most decadent one on my list, but it's worth it because the pages are perforated, and the paper a soft antique white.  Additionally each image could easily be framed as home decor, with or without color.  Though you can match the colors to the ones within the room you plan to hang the image if you do color them.  We're doing that with about a half dozen of them, which fits really well in our beach themed master bedroom.

Mystical Mandala by Alberta Hutchinson

Mandala coloring books are the most popular type of adult coloring books, and the mandala itself dates much farther back in Eastern traditions connected to meditation practices.  The designs in this book, however, are more Western influenced with most incorporating flowers and the types of patterns you might see in a kaleidoscope.  This Dover book◊ is quite lovely, and the mandala designs in it are great for relaxation.  Also I've recently partnered with Dover because I love their coloring books so much!  They have fantastic deals and on average their coloring books cost $4.  They make nearly 30 coloring books of mandalas alone, along with scores of coloring books on almost every subject imaginable.  The only drawback I can think of about Dover is that most of their books have images printed on both sides of each page.  You'll see another one of their books further down in this post too!

Desert Critters by Sue Coccia

I found this book of amazingly detailed original art designs while visiting El Morro National Monument on a roadtrip in New Mexico a couple years back.  The designs are incredibly intricate and I was happy to find that she has made about a dozen different coloring books now when I checked on Amazon to get you a link where you can find this book◊.  I love how she can make animals (and bugs!) that might be unsettling to most people and render them endearing, such as the bat below.  Her books are on especially sturdy paper too, and the spine allows the book to lay flat nicely.  Since these are such beautiful art quality I'll probably be framing some of them too.  And if you don't feel like coloring in the designs she also makes prints of her work, which you can find here.

Civil War Fashions by Tom Tierney

I have to admit I really love all the big frilly dresses of this era.  This book covers fashions from both the north and south, with some of sources also being French fashion plates.  For being another little $4 Dover book this one◊ has tons of pages and pretty nice quality paper too.  I was able to use watercolors on the page shown without much warping at all, though I had to be very careful.  Additionally the paper is recycled product, as designated by the little green symbol on the top right corner of the cover.  While I may not be that much of a true southern girl (please don't make me sit through Gone With The Wind ever again!  Once was more than enough.) these costumes we associate with southern culture will always catch my eye.  Though the same women's designs were also worn in the north, and in Europe around the same time, it just gets forgotten easily.  Watch a movie like The Young Victoria◊ (which I highly recommend and happens to be on sale as I write this!) and you'll see the similar styles.

Fiction Reviews

The Death And Life Of Mal Evans

I know it's been a couple weeks since I've published any book reviews, so this week I've got 2 for you.  First off is The Death And Life Of Mal Evans: A Novel by Peter Lee.  I was given a copy of this book to review, and was really excited about it.  The premise is looking back at the life of one of The Beatles' roadies, if he could go back in time and change things would The Beatles have stayed together.  The book is really well researched and even has a timeline and possible discographies of the fictional albums that could have been.  Most of the content is songs that would have been in solo projects and such.  The whole book is a love letter to The Beatles and their fans, and it's easy to get sucked in and go right along for the ride.  While there are are fights, and other things that trip up the band in the end there's a better vision of how it could have been thanks to a roadie who poured his life into the belief that The Beatles were at their best together.

Spell Or High Water

The second book I read recently is Spell Or High Water by Scott Meyer.  It's the sequel to Off To Be The Wizard, and follows along with Martin and Phillip as they head off to a wizard convention in Atlantis.  While I enjoyed this book I felt like Meyer had even more trouble writing women than he did in the previous book.  The plot was pretty good though there were parts where I just wish it had more depth.  I did like how he developed the shell and various other ways wizards found to innovate and essentially code the world around them.  Otherwise it's another slightly nerdy fantasy book that if you enjoy fantasy and time travel you will probably be happy reading.

Thanks for reading and if you have any books to recommend let me know in the comments below!  And if you haven't entered to win my giveaway for Julep nail products please check that out below.

Love,
Lydia

You can win the 4 colors above (Lydia, Lee, Florence, and Sandi) plus a set of holographic decals by entering your information in the Rafflecopter widget below.  And if you'd like to try them out you can also use this link◊ and get an introductory box of gorgeous metallic colors free!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Thred Up VS Poshmark + A Julep Giveaway!

Hi friends!

Today I'm finally getting to my comparison review of Poshmark and Thred Up.  Both are excellent sites to sell your new and gently used clothing, shoes, and on Poshmark accessories and makeup too.  So, let's take a look!

Thred Up

Buying from Thred up

Pros: 

1. Good sized inventory for most sizes
2. Quick turnover, especially in plus sizes
3. Pretty fast delivery since your order comes straight from their warehouse
4. Items have little or no signs of use (supposedly, for what it's worth I bought a dress that had a rip in it which got past their inspectors)
5. Free returns within 2 weeks of receiving your order
6. You can get $20 in credit (no strings attached! You receive it in your account as soon as your friend makes their first order of any amount.) for each person you refer, and they get $20 too.  Here is my link - http://www.thredup.com/r/A6CEKT

Cons:

1. Very little plus size selection over a size 18, there are typically 200 or less items in my size (20-24)
2. Some fantastic brands are not accepted by their site - City Chic, Aeropostale, American Apparel, many department store brands from stores like Belk, JC Penney, Kohls, etc, and other less known or foreign brands.
3. People can hoard items by putting items in their cart for 24 hours, and repeating before time is up (I've found leaving a browser window with the first page of your size open and hitting reload every 10-15 minutes in the evening will show new items often)
4. Items may be missing belts or other accessories, always noted.
5. It can take 3 weeks or more to process a return
6. They're desperate enough for plus sizes they tend to have a good number of items that aren't on trend from brands targeted to more mature women simply because they're nice quality. (example below, hello dated seasonal applique!)
7. The site has sales on items only when they've been in their stock longer than they'd like, which I have never seen happen with any plus size items because the demand is so great.

My buying experience:

I bought 4 items between the credit I had from a friend, the $5 payout and spend $11 out of pocket for the remaining amount.  Of the 4 items two were too big, one was surprisingly too small, and one item fit beautifully, but had a rip at the waist.  I loved the ripped item enough to keep and repair, though I was surprised that it got past their inspections.  The other items were pristine though!  I think in most cases you will not run into this issue, so I will be buying from them again.

This is what I ordered, the green dress was the item kept, the boots were too small in the calf, but gave no measurement so I was ordering blind and assuming Lane Bryant would have reasonably wide calf boots.  The tiny flaws listed on two of the items were marks that would come out in the wash or very light signs of wear.

Selling on Thred Up

Pros:

1. They do the work for you - you get a postage paid bag sent to you, which you fill and send back.
2. It takes very little time.
3. You can get cash (through Paypal) or credit for your items.
4. You can clean out your closet in the least intimidating way possible.

Cons:

1. They typically accept under half of most bags sent to them.
2. You have to be very critical of what items you send in regards to condition.
3. The don't accept certain brands and are overstocked on others, check their site for details.
4. You get 1/4 of whatever they think any item is worth, which may not be very much.

My selling experience:

I sent a bag with a total of 17 accepted items (out of about 28, so a good ratio for those selling plus size).  I got a total if $18.06 for those items, and paid $12.99 to have the remaining items shipped back to me.  I'm glad I did because I didn't realize until after mailing things to them that they wouldn't accept items from City Chic (an Australian brand I love which is sold in Nordstrom and a growing number of their own US stores, which are so far all in California.)  So I made a whopping $5 in profit.  I was not impressed, and quickly knew I wouldn't be selling with them again.  However, depending on the stores you prefer you may do much better than I did.  I don't think their service is bad, just not right for me.  I'd rather put in the work and see greater profits because of it.

Which brings me to Poshmark

Buying from Poshmark

Pros:

1. You usually see the exact condition of the item you're getting
2. You can ask the seller questions
3. The site will have sales that give you free shipping or other discounts pretty regularly.
4. You can make a lower offer on an item you like.
5. Shipping is usually pretty fast because sellers want to please their buyers.
6. There is a huge amount of plus sized items!
7. There is more variety in brands, and items since they also allow you to sell jewelry and makeup.
8. You can earn $5 when a friend uses your code on their first purchase.  It also gets them $5 off their purchase, win-win!  You can use my code PYIHF for $5 off at http://www.Poshmark.com

Cons:

1. There is a chance you could get an item that doesn't match up with the pictures or condition it was reported to be in, but you can dispute that and get a refund.
2. There are more well used items to sift through.
3. Photos of items may be less than ideal.
4. There are people who make careers selling here, which you may or may not want to deal with.
5. You can't return items, though you can certainly resell them.

My buying experience: 

I haven't bought from Poshmark yet, but having made a sale I can see pretty well how it works from a buyer's standpoint.  You'll be a little nervous the first time or two, but mostly have great luck with honest people like you who want to sell their clothing for fair prices.  I have my eye on several pairs of purple converse sneakers and there's much less rush to purchase items.  You have a much better chance to compare items without the pressure to buy while it's available as Thred Up would be.  Here's a shot of their search interface for desktop, it just keeps scrolling and has hundreds of items for what I searched:

Selling on Poshmark

Pros:

1. It's easy for anyone who's tried eBay or Etsy.
2. You mostly fill in blanks and pick the category your item is in.
3. You print a prepaid shipping label and drop your item in the mail if your item sells.
4. You can get cash or credit from Poshmark.
5. You can bundle items (and add a slight discount on bundles), which make buyers more likely to purchase from you.
6. You get a better cut of your sales.
7. You can always go back and edit your item listings, and even lower an item's price, which will send an email to anyone who saved it if you changed the price by 15% or more.

Cons:

1. You have to follow site rules, not too tough.
2. You get better results if you use your own photos, so you have to be able to take reasonably good photos.  
3. You have to post all sales through their app, not on a desktop site.
4. You have to make your item as accurate as possible and be very honest about any flaws it may have, which can take work to sounds good.
5. You have to remember buyers are also paying $5 for shipping.

My selling experience:

I listed my first items on October 4th and added a couple more a few days later.  One of the items listed later (October 12th!), sold on October 14th.  And I've found the process very easy to handle.  I listed the item at $15 (originally $25, it was still in new condition), a person made me an offer for $12, which I accepted, and I earned $9 off the sale. You only need 1-3 sentences about your item, a good description and a couple photos.  Pictures of the item on you or another person who's not a model tend to do well, but my first item only had a shot of it on a hanger as the main picture and a picture of the model wearing it as a secondary photo.  I love the site, and I think the only thing I don't like is that I can't list on my computer.

Thred Up

Use this Thred Up link for $20 off!     

Poshmark

My Poshmark Closet (use code PYIHF for $5 off)


If you've got more tips are trick for either site let me know in the comments.  Thanks so much for reading and please look below for my first ever giveaway!

Love,
Lydia

Julep Giveaway!

One lucky reader will get a set of 4 Julep nail colors and a set of holographic decals.  Julep makes amazing nail polish which last up to a week without chipping, and they even have a subscription box!  You can sign up here via my affiliate link and read more about my last unboxing here to find out more.  This giveaway will last just over a week, so hurry and enter while you can!  The colors included are as follows: 

1. Lydia - a Stardust textured finish in a pyrite color that shows as gold to green
2. Lee - a red creme finish (these first two being my first and middle names!)
3. Florence - a lovely nude creme shade
4. Sandi - an eggplant creme color

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Unboxing Fun

Hi everyone,

So today I'm going to do a bit of a beauty post.  I love the concept of getting curated boxes in the mail, and I've tried a bunch of different ones over the last two years.  I've done art supplies, snack, and some of my favorites are beauty boxes.  I really enjoy these kinds of boxes because for beauty items Bryan gets bored if he goes shopping with me, and I don't really want to drag him out to specialty stores like Ulta, Sephora, and the like to make it even worse.  Additionally I'm not always sure what to try, so trying a bunch of smaller samples can be great for someone like me since I don't usually wear a lot of makeup in the first place.

It's not because I don't enjoy wearing makeup, but mostly because I'm really pale so foundation and concealer are near impossible to find.  I once tried to get makeup from MAC, but everything they made was just a shade or two too dark and probably oxidized on my skin before I left the mall.  Not that I even knew it could oxidize, I thought it was just different in the sunlight than under artificial lights, and maybe I was right.  It's been to long to know for sure.  Plus my skin is rather sensitive, so that's another thing to work around.  But with beauty boxes most of the items are less skin focused other than general skin care.

Without further ado let's get on with the unboxing!

The first box I want to share with you all is this month's Glossybox.  The advantages of Glossybox are getting 5 (usually full size, if not travel size) items each month for $21.  I find they're usually very good about picking things I would enjoy, and the more I fill out surveys the better my boxes are!  Their products are also premium quality, mostly items that are found in specialty beauty stores, with some exceptions.

This lovely box comes packed inside a more sturdy shipping box.

Inside there's a product explanation and use sheet, and sometimes a coupon or other fun item of some sort.

In this box I received Emite blush in shade 108 (it came damaged, so I contacted Glossybox and they gave me my choice of a new item, pictured later below, since they had run out of the blush.  I was actually happier about this because the blush was too dark for my skin anyway, which was a first for Glossybox items.), 12 Benefits Love At First Lather Shampoo, Biossanse Revitalizer serum, Nails Inc Uptown Nail Polish, and Julep's Luxe Up Your Lips in Sheer Pink.  Here's what the information card was like folded open:

It has a ton of great info, I love how detailed it is and often refer back to it if I'm unsure of anything.

I was excited to get this because I really love lip products, and Julep makes very good ones, which you'll see more of later.

And this is the item I chose to replace the Emite blush, Nexxus Color Assure Shampoo.  This is actually a size larger than what I'll be getting, but I received one a few months back and realized how well it worked on my brightly dyed hair and made the switch.  I was using Herbal Essences Color Me Happy, which smells great, but doesn't work half as well as this!  If you use more temporary colored dyes in bright shades like me I highly recommend it!  This full size bottle can be found for about $14 at Kroger or other grocery stores (they recently had an online coupon for $3 off) or on Amazon too◊.  If you like the sounds of Glossbox I feel it's definitely worth a try.  If you do join I'd love it if you could use this link to tell them I sent you!

Next up is the Julep Maven Program's Jule Box

This is how it comes in the mail, a bit simpler than some boxes, but packed quite safely.  It's my favorite beauty box for several reasons. 1 you can skip a month anytime you want, for as many month as you want.  It's perfect for someone on a budget.  2. There are two box options, one gets you the monthly curated selections for your chosen profile for $20, which sometimes allows you to select a color for certain items like lip or eye color.  Or you can pay $5 more and get to choose from about 100 different options for your box contents, usually ending up with 3 items, plus any add ons you might choose at a discounted price.  3. They specialize in nail polish!  I may not be super when it comes to makeup, but with my nails I really try to be on point and keep them beautiful.  So this is the perfect box for me!  But if you only want a little nail polish that's ok too, they usually have boxes with both things and at least one with just makeup too!

When you open up the box it's got recyclable paper packing material inside, your items, plus a monthly card highlighting the items and sometimes a technique related to some of them, and sometimes an additional goodie or coupon.  In this box I got a Plush Pout lip crayon in Magenta Plum Creme, and 3 nail polishes, one of which was an add on item.

It looks pretty dark, and I was a little scared it wouldn't suit me when I pulled it out, but as you can see below it's a great color for me!

This month's card has a couple lip techniques plus how to get the dewy look.  And yes, feel free to use that code if you're already a Julep member, but if you're not keep scrolling down because there's a better deal for new members below.

Here are the three nail polishes.  Julep names their polish colors after women, so these colors are Ellis, Delores, and Lydia!  They're really beautiful shades with Eliis being a soft pinkish lavender with silver undertones from the holographic qualities.  It doesn't come off like glitter polish does, but is much easier to remove, which I love!  Delores is also a holographic with a purple and silver finish.  And finally Lydia (yay after 2 years they finally made my name a color!) is a pyrite metallic that shifts between old gold, olive, and brass tones and has a stardust finish.  Julep's stardust finishes are highly textured, with a little less shine, but a bit more glitter mixed in.  They dry really well and there's an example below too.

Here we have Delores on my toenails.

And on my hands I've got Glam Roc a purple black stardust finish, to give you some idea of the level of shine it gets.

  
And here you can see swatches of each color, Delores, Ellis, and Lydia.  Their polishes are free of the 5 big toxic components that have been traditionally used in nail polishes.  And the quality of their polish is amazing.  Without a top or bast coat they last about 3-4 days without chipping, and with the base and top coasts I usually go a week without chipping.  If you use this affiliate link you can get a great deal on your first box◊!  And after that you can skip as many months as you want, though if you do buy anything they do pass a $15 credit on to me, and you can get the same for referring your friend, who can also get free boxes.  There is really nothing to lose in trying this box out, which makes me love it more.  And no, I don't get paid to say anything about the content of this post, just normal customer rewards programs, which you all can take or leave as you wish.

And for those of you who aren't as interested in this type of post, don't worry, I plan to only do one per month of this sort, and I'll be rotating through some other boxes, so perhaps another one may suit your interests better!  Next month I'll show you the goodies I get in my trial of Japan Crate, a box with over a pound of Japanese snacks.  I'll see you all Wednesday for a new book review and more.

Love,
Lydia