Lip Factory Box January 2014 review, unboxing, photos: International beauty box

How do I love thee, Lip Factory? Let me count the ways. Of all the beauty boxes that ship worldwide, this is one box where every month, you declare that this month's box is the best of them all. I was a little worried about the January 2014 New Year box, as I usually get my box by mid-month, but international shipping can be tricky.
Lip Factory is a US-based makeup-centric beauty box that ships worldwide. You get full-sized makeup products and maybe a sample or two and the value always exceeds the $22 that the box costs ($32 if you're outside the US). They bring in some amazing brands and, every four months, there is an all-lips box. To subscribe, hit their website here. Do mention my reference number 384919 and we'll both get 50 points apiece (used to redeem for products or boxes)

Here is the review and contents of my January 2014 Lip Factory Box.

Ever since the external box changed from the beautiful black box with the giant red lips to ordinary brown cardboard, I haven't felt that little shiver on seeing the box as I used to. Note to self - hoard the 2-3 older external boxes I have. Thankfully the inner box remains the same.

Striking product card with the details of the contents. The product value of this month's box is a whopping $71.04.

Here's what I got in my New Year Lip Factory Box.

1. Teeez Trendy Cosmetics Mysterious Crystal Eyeliner in Oh My Amethyst
2. Teeez Trendy Cosmetics Island Palette Eyeshadow in Beautiful Day
3. Bodyography Electric Lip Slide in Passion Sorbet (Hubba hubba drooool!)
4. Be A... Bombshell Cosmetics The One Stick in Buck Wild
5. 29 Cosmetics Preserves Skin Care Collection Grape Seed Age Protecting Sampler

I am beyond thrilled that they've introduced Teeez Trendy Cosmetics in this box. This is a well-known brand from The Netherlands, with superb packaging that I adore and I've been desperately trying to get hold of a Dutch beauty box with no success so far. Have a go at that packaging, will you?

The Mysterious Crystal Eyeliner in Oh My Amethyst promises no smudging and drying time of 45 seconds. It is a superb violet shade with shimmer. And yes, it stays put once it's dry, no smudging upon rubbing it. I've swatched everything further below.

The Island Palette Eyeshadow is a single eyeshadow. There's great pigmentation to be had, but I accidentally grazed a growing fingernail on the shadow when I opened the box. Beautiful Day is an off-white highlighter shade. The spots in the second picture are after I dented the shadow pan with my nail (see picture to the left).

Bodyography's Electric Lip Slide was The Find of this month's Lip Factory Box for me. This is a lipstick-cum-lipstain-cum-lipgloss all rolled into one. My shade is called Passion Sorbet.

It applies smoothly, and a little goes a long way. You get a lovely pigmented colour and the gloss fades and the stain is left behind, which has stayed through a cup of green tea and two cupcakes (I've been wearing it for two and a half hours now). The gloss transferred to the cup, though the stain has stayed put.

I can't stop raving about this product. The formula isn't runny - it is more of a paste than a cream or lacquer - and the closest I can get to describing it is, "a far superior version of Rimmel Apocalips and Lancome La Laque Fever".

I love the way it looks on my lips - this is post the green tea but pre-muffins.

Be A... Bombshell Cosmetics returns to Lip Factory in January 2014 with The One Stick - a versatile colour that can be applied to the cheeks, eyes and lips. Their previous appearance was in my September 2013 box.

I don't know about other shades, but the one I got - Buck Wild - is suitable for the eyes, and maybe for highlighting or contouring the cheeks. I certainly wouldn't use it on my lips. Nonetheless, a creamy product that I like. This should give me a nice eyeshadow combination with a deep olive green.

Finally, another product from 29 Cosmetics, a brand I absolutely love. The company, created by Lydia Mondavi, uses grape seed extract in their products, which are sold at Neiman Marcus and Saks. Lip Factory had sent me an amazing lipstick from 29 Cosmetics in their June 2013 box. This time, it is the Preserves Skin Care Collection Grape Seed Age Protecting Sampler, which contains samples of their cream cleanser, serum extract, eye emulsion and night moisture. Since I'm travelling locally next week, I plan to take this along.

Oh, and here are the swatches. From left: Teeez Trendy Cosmetics Island Palette Eyeshadow in Beautiful Day, Be A... Bombshell Cosmetics The One Stick in Buck Wild, Bodyography Electric Lip Slide in Passion Sorbet and Teeez Trendy Cosmetics Mysterious Crystal Eyeliner in Oh My Amethyst.

Bottom Line
Another great month for Lip Factory - when is it not? I think it speaks volumes for a beauty box's customer care when 1. they genuinely want the customer to be pleased and love the box and 2. each month, you think that's the best box yet and you're proven wrong the following month. Can I get a lifetime subscription? I can't wait for the February box!
Disclaimer: My own money. Not PR sample.