I’ve been getting a lot of email and comments on how to improve Julep Maven Box selections after a few reveals shown on Instagram, particularly when one of my boxes came with dry shampoo. I honestly can’t get enough of my Julep Maven monthly subscription service, and a lot of that has to do with swapping out default items to receive a truly personalized box of goodies. Julep even has a way to skip a month to take a break from their program, but I haven’t used that option yet. I keep thinking, “This month I’ll take a break, I have enough nail polish,” and then the new monthly box is revealed (to accept or alter before shipping,) and I find something else that looks awesome and I just can’t wait to try it out. So here’s are some quick tips to swap out items for the best maven box you can enjoy.
Start From the Beginning
Each month, based on an initial personality quiz, Julep chooses three items that they believe you’ll enjoy. And for the most part, I do love the colours the pick for me, but there are times where I might already have one or both nail polishes in my collection, or I’m in the mood for something more.
If you’re new to Julep (referral link,) here (image below) is what July 2015’s selection of default maven boxes look like. The great thing about Julep is that they attempt to personalize their boxes as much as possible for individual preferences. My personality on their quiz landed me in the “Bombshell Box” group, but there are many months where I love the “Boho Box” just as much! The price of a box is based on whether you’ve chosen “My Maven” or “Maven Luxe” on either a monthly or quarterly subscription. My choices are based on the My Maven tier ($24.99/month or $60/3 months.)
How to Make The Best Swap as a Julep Maven
While I love the colours selected for me, I already have similar ones in my collection, and I didn’t need another cuticle cream (at least not yet.) So I started swapping all the products from the Bombshell Box into items that I want to have delivered to me instead.
Here’s the key to a really good swap: not all products are available through *each* swap button. Be sure you’re not selecting lower-priced items with the one button that gives you access to virtually everything available in the Maven monthly store. The same lower-priced items are equally available in the second two SWAP OUT buttons.
Generally, you’re given one higher-priced, exclusive item that you can swap for an equal (or sometimes a larger non-exclusive value) item.
Some, but definitely not all, of the higher-priced items available for swap include:
- Beach Tonic Dry Body Oil $18.50
- Bare Body Milk $19.20
- Bare Face Cleansing Oil $22.40
- Glow Highlighting Powder $22.40
- Night Shift Sleeping Mask $27.20
So this month, we Bombshell Box Maven subscribers were given exclusive access to a jar of “Your Cuticles Look Thirsty” cream, that won’t be available to shoppers outside of the Maven subscription until next month, which is fab for those who enjoy exclusivities.
But, cuticle cream is just not something I need right now (since I just bought the Vanish Cuticle Softener and Remover last month!) So I went with a Mattifying Primer instead. Note the price difference. Though I don’t normally check the prices of items I’m swapping, it’s kinda cool to see that the item I did swap in costs a bit more anyway.
Similarly though, I had swapped out one of the nail polishes for Metal Marks Temporary Tattoos (which are not available in the Julep shop, unless you’re buying a Maven subscription box apparently.) It was bit more difficult to search out the price, but found out they’re $6 for Mavens, and $12 for non-subscribers when they’re finally part of the regular store. So where I gain an extra $6.40 to the value of my box through swapping the cuticle cream for the primer, I’m also down $5.20 by swapping a nail polish for the temporary tattoos. Still up $1.20 from the default box value isn’t too shabby, I suppose.
In total, I’m receiving $54US of product (original values, before Maven discounts,) that I absolutely can’t wait to try for $24.99.
Pretty sweet, eh? Are you a Julep Maven? Would love to hear what you’re picking up this month! And if not, now is a great time to join! (Referral link)
7 Responses
I don’t use a ton of beauty products, but I love the idea that you can customize the box to fit what you need or want each month. That’s so cool! Thanks for sharing. 🙂
I have been considering these boxes…thanks for sharing!
That is so cool! I keep getting email and ads about them but I never realized how cool they are!! I’ll have to try it!!
I’ve never seen a monthly subscription box that lets you swap things out, that makes total sense and more boxes should allow for that.
Totally agree! I’d most likely have a lot more month subscriptions coming to the house if they had a similar model to Julep’s. 🙂
What a cool subscription! I had never heard of a subscription box that allows you to swap things! Great explanation of how it works, too- thanks for sharing that!
It’s an awesome service! 🙂 Probably the fact that I can swap items for what I truly want is why its such an addictive subscription, lol.