August Julep Maven Unboxing ♡

I've finally joined Twitter! You can follow me through the button in my social media section, along with links to my Instagram, Pinterest, and Bloglovin! (shameless plug) 

This is my first official Julep box! This actually came in the mail about a week and a half ago when I was on vacation and the anticipation was well built by the time I got home. I can't tell you how excited I was that it's mainly nail care stuff with a bonus anniversary nail polish. It was supposed to come with a cuticle serum, quick dry drops, a nail clean up tool, and a purple glitter polish. I personally picked this one because I wasn't a fan of all of the shimmery polishes that came with the main boxes this month. My sister (Miss Amelia Joy) chose a completely different box and is going to be doing an unboxing soon for hers as well if you want to see a varying option. 

| Julep Queen Anne |

Queen Anne is a purple microglitter that reflects rainbow. It's a rather rough glitter that I think I'll end up using two coats of top coat for to get smooth. If you can tell in the "top coat" swatch, the glitter is still peeking out. I like that it doesn't have a base color-- I only have one other microglitter like that and it's a rose gold by China Glaze called Champagne Kisses.

| Mighty Nail & Cuticle Serum |

I've never used an actual cuticle oil, I've only ever used salves. Mighty comes in a metal twist-up tube with a brush applicator similar to the Stila lip glosses. It's scentless as far as my sniffer can tell. It dries very quickly which is nice since it's not greasy at all.

| Ta Da Quick Dry Drops |

I've also never tried any quick dry drops so this is a rather adventurous box for me! Ta Da smells relatively medicinal almost and I think it's from the lavender oil and a bunch of other oils. It's in a heavy glass bottle and has a rubber dropper top. I haven't tried any of these out yet, but you can expect a possible mini review of this guy later! 

  

| Bonus: Screen Cleaner |

This box also came with a little adhesive Julep screen cleaner to stick to your phone and use when your screen needs a little pick me up. And, if the adhesive wears out, you can just run it under water to give it more life again.

Unfortunately the cleanup tool was completely missing from this box, however I contacted Julep and they have sent it to me! Totally worth emailing them-- it's a dark metal tool with a rounded end and a square end for fixing nail polish. Also, it has the crosshatch-style texture (like a tool you could find in my dad's garage) and it's the size of a mini mechanical pencil! Both of which are qualities I love.

I was still impressed with this box and I'm stoked to try out these products. If ya'll want to sign up here's my referral link (hook a girl up), or you can just sign up through Julep!

Thank you for reading! xo 

My Nail Care Routine

I kind of have an obsession with nail polish and doing nails. It started about three years ago, when I bought my first higher-end polish. I think it was OPI's Sweetheart since at the time, JuicyStar07 and AllThatGlitters21 had been raving about it and they were some of my favorite people to watch on YouTube. Now, I own something like 45 nail polishes and I constantly keep my nails painted.

I definitely don't think I've perfected my nail routine yet, but it's better than it used to be. I would say I paint my nails twice a week or so, depending on how long they last before chipping.

| CURRENT PRODUCTS |

• Non-acetone nail polish remover
• Sally Hansen Instant Cuticle Remover
• Cuticle pusher
• Nail clippers
• Metal nail file
• OPI Nail Envy
• Orly Rubberized Bonder
• Seche Vite
• J.R. Watkins Hand & Cuticle Salve 

| ROUTINE |

The first thing I do to prep my nails is remove my old nail polish (relatively obvious, I know). 

Next, I apply my Sally Hansen Instant Cuticle remover to my cuticles all the way around my nails (in a "U" shape). I let that sit for 15 seconds, like it instructs (I'm kind of terrified to leave it on for too long), then I use my cheap cuticle pusher.

I start in the middle of my nail and push up and down all around the U of my nails to make sure that the whole nail is smooth. Afterwards, I quickly wash my hands with soap and water. While I dry them, I use the rag and push back my cuticles again to make sure they're all dry.
After my cuticles are all done, I'll cut my nails in a square shape. Since I have super weak nails, I always file the square edges a little to make them rounder, changing them into more of a "squoval" shape.

Once I'm all done with prepping, I paint a coat of OPI's Nail Envy on all of my nails, keeping a tiny gap from my cuticles.

After that dries, I apply a relatively thin coat of the Orly Rubberized Bonder to my nails and wait for it to dry. It dries pretty quick.

I then paint a coat of my polish of choice, wait for it to dry, and paint a second coat.

Once it's (pretty) dry, I'll do a generous coat of Seche Vite and apply my J.R. Watkins Hand & Cuticle Salve on my cuticles and all over my hands to restore their lost moisture.
And that's all I do! They usually last for 4-5 days, depending on my activity. I'm
almost out of my Orly bonder, so I may be purchasing a new base coat pretty quick. I'm not sure which one I'm going to buy next. Hopefully a trip to Sally's Beauty Supply will be in order pretty soon! :D The picture of my nails (actually from my Instagram) is attempting to show the shape and also how perfect and beautiful Essie's On a Silver Platter is. The glitter is basically holographic- it reflects freakin' rainbow! My non-accent nails are also an Essie nail polish, Boxer Shorts.
Anyways, thanks for reading! xo