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Lip Monthly Makeup Subscription Box Review – July 2014

Haley Faye
ByHaley FayeNov 25, 2014 | 33 comments

UPDATE FROM LIZ: Some subscribers have reported being double charged for this subscription, so I recommend holding off on purchasing a subscription for now. I'll update again if things change.

FYI from Liz - This is a newer subscription that is sending out some discontinued and older products that may have been purchased via third parties and not directly from the makeup brand.  (Haley discusses the discontinued products in depth in the review). Just a heads up if you are thinking of subscribing!

Lip Monthly Makeup Subscription Box Review - July

Lip Monthly is a new subscription box of everything lips! Every month, they send a new curation of lip sticks, glosses, balms or stains right to your door.

Lip Monthly Makeup Subscription Box Review - July 2014 Items

The Subscription Box: Lip Monthly

The Cost: $10/month

The Products: A selection of lip products, including lipstick, glosses, stains, and balms.

Ships to: US, Canada, and International ($5 shipping outside of the US).

Check out our Beauty Subscription Box Directory for more beauty boxes!

Lip Monthly Makeup Subscription Box Review - July 2014 Info

Every Lip Monthly box comes with an informational card, detailing the items included and a note from the company to their subscribers. They do not currently have themed boxes, but they will begin to next month. On the bottom left of the card they say that if you do a video review and send them the link, you’ll get an extra free product in your next box!

Lip Monthly Makeup Subscription Box Review - July 2014 Stila

City Color Cosmetics Lip Lush in Charm – Full Size! Value: $2.99

Stila Lip Glaze Stick in Orange Full Size! Value: $18?

This City Color Lip Lush is more of a brown shade than what it looks like in the photo, and doesn’t work well with my complexion – this will be getting swapped!

I love Stila products, so I was very excited to see them in this month’s box. However, I couldn’t find this Lip Glaze Stick anywhere online and I haven’t seen this packaging from Stila recently, so I’m assuming it’s actually a discontinued item. Getting discontinued beauty products in boxes is one of my pet peeves, so I’m a little disappointed, but I will probably still use it. Even though it’s orange, it’s sheer enough to look coral on my lips. Also, I have no idea why it’s not listed on the informational card.

Lip Monthly Makeup Subscription Box Review - July 2014 Revlon

Revlon Color Burst Lip Gloss in Sunbaked – Full Size, Value: $7.50

John Frieda Frizz-Ease Straight Fixation Smoothing Creme – 1.5 oz, value: $2?

This hair product was a “Monthly Mix-Up Extra.” On the John Frieda website, this particular item seems to be discontinued (an error pops up saying so when you click “buy now”), but I can find it on sites like Walgreens and Walmart, so I’m not sure if it actually is. However, this packaging is outdated (meaning they’ve re-packaged their products since this specific bottle of product was produced), so even if it isn’t a discontinued product, it’s still probably somewhat old.

Lip Monthly Makeup Subscription Box Review - July 2014 Appeal

City Color Lip Balm in Light Pink – Full Size, value: $2.99

Appeal Cosmetics Lipstick in Red Light District – Full Size, value: $22

The color of this Lip Balm is probably my favorite shade in the box – it’s just an easy light pink.

I’m not familiar with the brand Appeal Cosmetics, so I was surprised to see that they value the lipstick at $22, but I’m glad to be introduced to a new brand!

The Verdict: I estimate the value of this box to be about $55.48, if you use original retail values of the products, which an awesome value for a $10 subscription box!

I didn’t mention this yet, but this month’s packaging was interesting – as you can see in the second photo (the one with all of this month’s products in the box), Lip Monthly’s box is very, very small. It’s literally the length of the Revlon Lip Gloss. Because of this, the box came to me inside of a bubble envelope, and all of the products were loose outside of the box in the envelope except for the Appeal lipstick and City Color lip balm, which were inside the box. I think the box’s packaging itself is really cute, but I don’t quite understand the point of having it if most your products don’t fit in it. (I would think most full-size lip products in general wouldn’t fit in this box, so I hope they make the box bigger unless they decide to start featuring samples and products that are more the size of chapsticks or lipsticks.)

I love that all of the lip products were full-size, but I’m disappointed that they included two discontinued/outdated items. Something I think is a really smart idea is that they give the incentive of a free item in your next box for doing a video review! That’s a great move to get their name out there. Their website features photos of brands like Revlon and NYC next to Sephora and Mac products, so I hope their future boxes incorporate varied price-point tiers like they give the impression of on their site.

Lip Monthly does not currently personalize boxes to each subscriber’s preferences/complexion, but they plan to begin offering some variance between boxes soon, according to their website. Also, according to this month’s info card, they’ll be launching a lip shop on their site in the next few weeks. It sounds like they’re doing some smart things with the company from here, and I have hope that they will improve their curation as they begin including monthly themes, personalization, and better establish their system and identity.

Haley Faye
Haley Faye
Haley Faye first discovered the wonderful world of subscription boxes in 2012 and began writing for MSA in 2014. Over the years, she has found many subscriptions to love. Now a mom of three, her favorite boxes are ones that dress her kids, help her get organized, feed her family, send her snacks, and offer educational fun for her children.

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33 comments

Melissa

THIS SITE IS HORRIBLE. STEER CLEAR. I signed up for 1 box in July and tried repeatedly to cancel once I saw they were billing me for future boxes. They have since billed me for about 8 boxes but only delivered 2, despite my asking to cancel and be refunded multiple times. They flat-out refuse to assist with cancellations or refunds of any sort, regardless of their errors. It’s insane.

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BMW

I had a horrible experience with Lip Monthly. I subscribed to them in late July and they didn’t send the first box until August. Then they somehow screwed something up and it went from Libertyville IL (40 miles north of me) to some Dinky little town south of Springfield IL 200 miles south. It’s now September 15, I never got this box (it still shows it’s back in Libertyville) the items I’m sure are ruined as we’ve had several hot humid days in August. Lip Monthly’s contact area is stupid you can’t find it and then you aren’t sure you actually sent the e-mail. The only response I got was 2.5 weeks later and it looked like a form letter. I’ve requested a refund but I’m doubting highly I’ll ever see it. I cancelled my subscription and I had changed my debit card (for other reasons) so they won’t get any more money from me. I won’t EVER go back to this one no matter how raved about it is.

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Maggie

Has anyone figures out how to cancel this subscription. I tried to log in. It keeps saying I have wrong password. When I reset it it still won’t work. I emailed them but haven’t heard back. I read online this has happened to a few people.

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Shaylee

I wish I had gotten the orange stila! So sad not everyone got it. I wish the lip lush was in a different color. Purple looks horrible on me.

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lily

Opps – Just noticed you already had the code posted

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lily

Liz: Just got an email —— Join Lip Monthly today and get your 1st month for $6.99!

Use coupon code “SUMMERLIPS”

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Erin

Beware discontinued/older products! Most subs who use them buy from dubious at best third and fourth hand resellers on eBay and Amazon. It’s bad news unless you enjoy potential Chinese knock offs and/or expired and relabeled items. Giant red flag and klaxon horn alarm bells here!

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Erin

Any time a sub doesn’t disclose using discontinued products and/or those procured from third party vendors should be cause for immediate concern. Many subscribers to this one got not only discontinued items but badly expired and rancid/moldy products. It’s just not worth rolling the dice with my lips, eyes, face. Plus their billing practices are super shady at best. Beware!

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Sneaky Burrito

I’m with you on this. It’s one thing to keep a lipstick for years if you bought it at regular price when it was new and you know what the storage conditions have been in the meantime. It’s something else entirely to get a product that hasn’t been manufactured in who knows how long. Plus, there are a lot of fake cosmetic products on Amazon (especially large bottles of perfume, but I wouldn’t rule out other items, either), if that’s where they’re getting stuff from.

Krista

Liz–you should maybe puy a disclaimer on your page about this sub. Just Google their name and you will see what I mean!! People being over charged, people canceling but still getting charged and NOT REFUNDED, not to mention getting not just discontinued products but products from brands that went out of business EIGHT years ago!!!!!

I really trust this site and if I see it on here, I assume it’s safe. People should know that there is not good things being said about this company from very bad experiences. 🙁

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Bonny Adams

I woke up to this email and review. I subscribed to this box right away. I need to quit opening these emails,lol…I subscribed to this site about 3 weeks ago, I had never heard of subscription boxes. In the last 3 weeks, have subscribed to ( hold on , let me count..) 13…freaking 13..boxes!
I wake up to see this lip box review, and I just couldn’t pass this up!
I love the reviews,pictures, codes, and opinions that are posted here.
I cant believe that I have been so sheltered, this whole subscription box thing is awesome! I have received several boxes already. My favorites so far are the Fantasy box, Blush box, and ELF. Logged on to Julep this am ,and ended up ordering a lot of extras.
I love the price and concept of this lip box subscription, so we will see how it goes.

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Jenny

I have only followed this site for maybe 2 or 3 months, and I have received countless boxes. Some of them free, discounted, or bought in multiples. From beauty to food boxes. I cant stop! Don’t show me a coupon code or else I HAVE to use it lol. #addicted

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Bonny

I’m the same way with the code thing! This must be what drug addicts
feel like! I wish there was a link for sub box delivery dates, I’m constantly checking my front porch!

Coco

Bonny, I was you about 5 months ago, this box is okay for 10$ but check out Meme box. It is not monthly subscription(no obligation or auto charge worries) but the value of these boxes especially for the products and number of products you receive are INCREDIBLE. I think I have ordered over 40 boxes so far. Sign up for their emails and check out their different offers , they also offer points for different items , they have changed their shipping policy since I originally started shopping with them but still good deals and the shipping even regular has not taken over 10 days for me. Just fyi , I love Memebox. Now I’m wondering why Liz doesn’t speak about them to much. Hey Liz what is you opinion of Meme box. Oh yeah I didn’t get that Revlon gloss either. Liz is special (she is our guru) 🙂

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Kristi

I second the memebox love. In fact some friends of mine and I started a swap group on facebook because we can’t stop buying the boxes but we also can’t use everything in them in a timely fashion and sometimes the color isn’t for you but would good on her or something like that. I think I have 12 currently on order that I’m waiting for. lolol

Bonny Adams

Oh, I Have ordered 6 MeMe boxes. I read/seen some reviews about their boxes, I was hooked after that! I’m waiting for these boxes to arrive. I have already earned points through them, and I like the fact that I can order when I feel like it. I am happy to know that you recommend the MeMe box. You have ordered a lot…LOL! I have heard the value of their boxes are AMAZING!
I know the lip box might have some faults, but I hope this changes with the feedback they receive. I think that their upcoming changes might be a good thing.

Jennifer Hilton

I didnt get the Stila product. The city color items are very cheap and metallic-y. And whats with two items being brown? Fugly color to put on lips. High value or not, this box sucked.
I emailed to cancel and the lady gave me a few options to get me to stay. So I selected to get an extra item next month. If next month sucks, Im done.

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Erica

I’m very interested in this subscription. But I’m gonna have to see what the next few boxes look like. The outdated products is a no go.

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Judi

I got this box as well. Did you have to use some special code to get the Revlon product? Because it seems that a few people didn’t get it. Maybe you were accidentally given the Stila in addition to the items on the product info card?)

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Beeju

There were variations on boxes. She actually got an extra, probably because it was a review box.

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Beeju

Apologies, I didn’t read where MSA subscribed. Regardless there was an extra item and different box variations. Usually if you got the revlon you didn’t get the stila and vice versa.

Celicia

Haley, Great review BTW. I also saw an unboxing on YT for this box and the comment box there had a lot of chatter about horrible customer service and double charged accounts. That triggered my RED flag!!

Haley, was this box provided for review purposes or have you subscribed? And what were your thoughts about customer service, if any?

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Liz Cadman

My Subscription Addiction subscribed to this one. We haven’t had to deal with the customer care yet…

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Sara

I got my first box and two of the lip sticks were melted and broken in mine and I noticed I got the exact same items as you BUT the Revlon I did not get… 🙁

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Haley

Sara, I’ve been running into issues with melted beauty products, too, now that it’s summer. =[ And also, it’s weird you didn’t get the Revlon – was it still listed on the info card for you?

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Sneaky Burrito

I was worried I’d start getting melted stuff, too (I live in Georgia). I guess I’m lucky that my mailman doesn’t come until like 5PM and UPS is even later. So boxes never sit outside more than a few minutes.

Linda

I don’t mind the discontinued products, but I’d definitely need more customization. While the box is a great value, if I can only wear one color out of five, it loses it’s appeal to me.

I’m trying to cut down on boxes, but I’d definitely add a low priced lip-centric box like this… if there were some color customization.

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Sneaky Burrito

On MUT, there is a bit of discussion about this sub. Seems like they frequently send discontinued products. Appeal Cosmetics was in the BoxyCharm box I got today (but that was the first I’d heard of it).

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Eva

I saw that discussion (and some unboxing videos), which is why I’ve decided to wait on this. Between all my subs, a recent trip to Asia and the lip-themed Lip Factory due this month, even my lip-obsessed roomie is raising the white flag! lol

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Sneaky Burrito

Yeah, you know, the price is great. But it seems like they need a little time to hit their stride. I’ll keep watch on them, though.