Lip Factory Box May 2014 review, unboxing

There is no doubt at all that the generously-packed Memebox has spoilt me thoroughly and increased my expectations from other beauty boxes. But, even if you take Memebox out of the equation, there are beauty boxes that I used to love, which had a very decent standard. Then, a few boxes down the line, they became downright disappointing. Glamabox was the first to go down that route, sending slimming "wraps", Cetaphil and chocolate before I decided to cut my losses and run. The next to bite the dust was A Beautiful World, who sent a tea bag and 5ml pots for 32 quid. And now, it is Lip Factory's turn, after a marvellous six-month run, where I had declared each month's box their best-ever. All I can say is, I hope they pick up next month, and I hope Memebox remains consistent forever. Read on to know why this tirade.

Here is my unboxing and review of the May 2014 Lip Factory beauty box.

Before I get started on this month's box, I must bring in the April 2014 box, reviewed here - they had sent me products which were absolutely opposite to the ones indicated in my profile, and when I said so, they said it was an error because of new staff and promised to send me replacement colours with the May box. The replacements have not been sent in this box, adding to the disappointment.

Packaging of the May 2014 Lip Factory box:

This time, Lip Factory changed last month's brown external box to a new black external box without the red lips logo but the name. At the same time, they have continued to avoid the inner box. Lip Factory has changed around the packaging quite a bit over the last couple of months. The inner box is a must, and you will see why shortly.

The product card is pretty and this box is Spring-themed.

Here are the contents of my May 2014 Lip Factory Box:

1. Pari Beauty Lipstick in Ballet Flats
2. Medusa's Makeup Eyeshadow in Voodoo
3. MeMeMe Cosmetics Blush Me! in Pink
4. NCLA Nail Wraps
5. Teeez Trendy Cosmetics Lip Gloss in Roaming Mauve

Five full-sized products there. A quick glimpse at each.

Pari Beauty Lipstick in Ballet Flats

I always love receiving lipsticks in beauty boxes. But this shade is definitely going to wash out my skintone. The camera has made it look darker than it is; it should suit those who are NC25 or paler.

Worse, what are those boils on the surface of that lipstick? Not condensation droplets - those are actually part of the lipstick product. I know it is summer everywhere, but there are plenty of lipsticks out there which do not break out in boils in the heat, but leave that privilege to my skin. Or is it a fungal infection? Ewwww!

Medusa's Makeup Eyeshadow in Voodoo

This is why Lip Factory should have persisted with the external box. The eyeshadow is well and truly smashed into smithereens, powdered into particles, mashed into microparticles, destroyed into dust, ground into granules, pounded into... okay, you get the idea. I love words and could not find anything sufficient to express my disappointment.

Worse, the powder got everywhere when I opened the box - on the lipstick, on the nail wraps, on my camera, on my hands and so on, as you can see below.
And the powder was so fine that I proceeded to sneeze my way through the unboxing until I took an antihistamine.

MeMeMe Cosmetics Blush Me! in Pink

My beauty profile clearly insists on peach or coral-based blush and insists on no pinks, which will not suit my medium skintone. No one has read my beauty profile this month either.

NCLA Nail Wraps

If ever I wanted to scout around for evidence of extra-terrestrial life, I would wear these nail wraps on my nails, go out into some plain without any trees, on a clear day, and wave towards the skies. These are bright enough to be seen from outer space with the n@ked eye and I am sure that alien life forms, if any, would want to get in touch and/or wave back. Thankfully, I sat next to my teenaged neighbour for tea as we watched the new Prime Minister take oath of office, and when I told her about it (she helps herself to a lot of things I cannot use), she snapped them up on the spot. She did not want the boiled-up lipstick. Or the super-pink blush. And, like me, she hates gloss. Oh, and these are priced at $16 on their product card. Seriously?

Teeez Trendy Cosmetics Lip Gloss in Roaming Mauve

Le sigh. What part of "I cannot use lip gloss, please do not send me any" is so difficult to understand? I know I get glosses in Memebox but they do not allow customisation at all, and add other generous samples instead. Mind you, Lip Factory used to diligently avoid sending me lip glosses until two boxes ago. Why the sudden ignoring of my beauty profile? I love Teeez so much but wish they had sent me another set of nail wraps instead of this.

And do not be taken in by that colour. It goes on clear and stings my skin so much so that I removed the swatch from my forearm before I took a picture.

Summary
So what can I use from this month's box, which cost me $32 as usual including shipping? The nail wraps were welcomed by the kid next door. In effect, I paid $32 for a set of nail wraps which were gifted away.
I know I sound super-harsh, but whatever happened to those great beauty boxes that Lip Factory sent out in October, November, December, January, February and so on, where my reviews were drool-fests? If you see those, you would agree with my sentiments.
I am all the more disappointed that they did not deliver on their promise to send me a replacement lipstick and something else in lieu of lip gloss for last month. They had acknowledged that the lipstick colour and the inclusion of lip gloss in my April box were mistakes, but not only is there no replacement yet, but the error seems to have recurred this month, with lip gloss cropping up again. What they could do is to cancel out the personalisation or customisation option, like Memebox. I have told them about the damaged products and other concerns and will see what happens.
Unless the next couple of boxes are as good as the pre-March boxes, once my subscription runs out in August, Memebox alone it is. Unless they, too, change track, but I doubt it - do check out the boxes they have on sale here and previous unboxings here.
If you wish to subscribe to Lip Factory, you can do so at lipfactoryinc.com and quote 385650 as a reference to get 50 points, which you can redeem for something later.
P.S. These things are subjective and personal; there will be those who love the blush, wraps and gloss. For my part, I had clearly mentioned my preferences in my beauty profile, which has largely been ignored for the last two months.