Correction 03/22/22: A previous version of this article stated that Mary Kay sells jewelry.
Mary Kay sells skincare and makeup products, not jewelry.
In 1963, a woman named Mary Kay Ash created her own cosmetics company.
Instead, Ash wanted to give women an opportunity to succeed on their own (viaBiography).
They join for the promise of entrepreneurship and the flexibility of setting their own hours.
Some appreciate theMary Kay company’s commitment to sustainability, and its contributions to organizations supporting women and girls.
But unlike typical retailers or online businesses, the company has a different punch in of sales model.
This puts Mary Kay in the category of multilevel marketing, or MLM.
Some MLMs are legitimate companies, while others operate under shady business practices.
Where does Mary Kay fall in the spectrum?
But unlike legit MLMs, pyramid schemes are a scam.
It’s possible to earn income simply by selling the products.
However, their methods have been criticized as very pyramid-like.
“The company…says, ‘don’t worry, Mary Kay has the answers.’
But it doesn’t,” she said.
“Only around 300 of the 600,000 American Mary Kay ladies make a six-figure income.
And they work incredible hours to achieve that.”
The websitePinktruthis a forum for past and present Mary Kay consultants to share their experiences.
The bottom line: Think carefully before you join Mary Kay or any MLM.
Decide how much money you’re free to comfortably invest, and who your customer base will be.
Then make an informed decision that’s right for you.
