Lip Monthly June 2014 Review + First Box for $5 & Other Discount Codes!

My second Lip Monthly box just arrived and I must admit, I'm less impressed than with last month's debut box from this company. That reaction is largely based upon one product which I'll get to in a minute.  Lip Monthly is a new beauty subscription company that sends small boxes containing primarily lip oriented products. They usually include at least one other beauty or cosmetic item that is not lip related.  If you missed my first review in May, you can read it here.

June's box contained one full size lipstick, an anti-feathering stick, two lip foils and a hand treatment. 

They include a small printed card which names the products but gives no information about them.

You should be able to count on a beauty subscription service primarily dedicated to lip products to send at least one quality lipstick each month. That couldn't have been further from the truth for Lip Monthly's June box. The lipstick is a color that isn't flattering on many women and the case is one of the flimsiest and cheapest I've ever seen. The brand is "LOL" (Lots of Love) and the color is a bold dramatic red called "Dance With the Devil". (My camera added too much orange; it's actually a rich dark red color.)  This really has the look and feel of mass produced cosmetic junk.

On a happier note, there is an anti-feathering stick from Lipology. I wish they had provided some information about this product as it is a new one to me. This sleek silver pencil has a clear waxy tip that is infused with Cera Cell Complex, which helps prevent lip color from migrating outside the lip line.  Retail is about $3.99.

The next item is a lip foil duo by Mary Kate and Ashley.  I hadn't heard the term "lip foil" before but these creamy little sticks apply a foil-like metallic color. There are no color names on these but the two shades I received are a dusty pink and a deep berry.  I tried the pink one and it does indeed leave a very metallic looking pink  I liked the creaminess and ease of application; however, the blunt flat end of the stick doesn't allow as much precision as a regular pointed lipstick shape.  These are small and quickly consumed through application so I don't expect them to last long. They are nice but maybe a bit more suited to young girls.

I'm a fan of all things Essie so I was glad they included a sample size bottle of "Naturally Clean" purifying hand treatment.  This is a nourishing all natural cream with a fairly strong botanical scent.

So for me, this month's box was just o.k.  I've received enough beauty boxes to know that they usually provide a lot more product value than the price paid. (The same is NOT true for food boxes where margins are much slimmer.)  The margins on cosmetics are extremely high so a good beauty subscription service should be able to obtain products for far less than retail and make them available to their subscribers. The whole point of beauty subscriptions is to have an opportunity to try various brands before deciding whether to purchase them independently. Most of the beauty boxes I've tried excel at locating and including high end brands (at least department store quality) which is what makes them so attractive.  I don't know if a lip oriented subscription service can survive when the centerpiece of their box is a $1.99 "Made in China" lipstick.

Having said that, this is a new company and I'm sure there is a steep learning curve involved. Hopefully, they can develop the market traction needed to source better products and keep their subscribers on-board.

Lip Monthly does offer some great purchase incentives. Their base price is $10 per month. The best deal right now is use the code SUMMERLIPS to get your first box for only $5.00. You can also use the code LIPMONTHLY4 to get four months for the price of three, $35. LIPMONTHLY12 will get you a full year's subscription for $110, which is essentially one free month.

If you have tried Lip Monthly, I'd be interested to hear your thoughts so far!

Cheryl