What do you think about Mary Kay?

Well a Lady from church sells MK make up and is doing quite well at it i might add all the way up to driving a pink caddy, they are not the dark pink ones like you use to seeLOL! She did a facial on me this morning and was talking to me about consulting, she explained i could get my own web pageand i could sell on line, as well as do facial classes if i wanted around here. What do any of you ladies know about this endevor?

Don't know about selling it, but I enjoy buying it!

Honestly, they're expensive, but I like their make up products. 99% of the cleansers are too moisturizing, and the other 1% make me dry and parched, but I love the make-up....

In my "younger days" LOL I did the home party/shows with various companies. It was a way to 'get out' when my daughter was small and make alittle $$. Not much..just alittle. I personally would never ever ever sell again in that atmosphere. Go to a party or show? Yes!! but sell? no way.... A friend of mine also sells Mary Kay. Good product..very expensive for me. My friend spends alot of time trying to sell the products. Be prepared for that. And the meetings... they are generally required...

Good Luck!! But think hard........

Spring Song, think long and hard... I'm sure that it would probably be a large initial investment on your part to have the products on hand to sell Mary Kay. It's an expensive makeup... but, they all are. I used Mary Kay when I was in High School, then Merle Norman, then to Lancome then Estee Lauder, and for the last several years have been using MAC. I finally found something perfect for my skintone and type and my taste, and have stuck with it longer than any other kind I've used. I use Clinique mascara and Origins eyeliner, but everything else is MAC.

My biggest dislike about Mary Kay was that you had to buy the whole kit and caboodle you couldn't just buy the foundation or the blush or whatever. Of course that may have changed by now, I'm not sure.


I'd think it would be difficult to do very well with Mary Kay because of the competion from all the ones I mentioned above... but, if you think you can make a go of it, good luck.

well I bought some foundation from her a few months ago it was 27.oo oh and i got a blush then too so i thought that wasn't too bad. Today i bought a kit with cleanser, night cream, day cream, sun screen lotion for face, eye make up remover,puffy eye reducer, concealer, foundation, lip liner, eye liner, lip gloss ( i hate lipstick) eye shadow (three colors), blush, compact carrier, blush brush eye make up applicators, powder, eye wrinkle reducer and mositurizing lotion, as well as mascara, for 293.00 set up in three easy installments. I made sure that the face cleanser and eye stuff was going to last awhile probably six months and the cleanser probably three months so that isn't too bad I felt.I got an extra lip gloss and an extra eye care also. You can by a la cart but it is higher.

This message was edited Jun 3, 2004 4:11 PM

I love marry k....

you go girl...

With Mary Kay, you don't have to put out a lot of money to start selling products, especially if you have a good sales director nearby. It helps, but it's not essential.

The products are awesome, too. I've been using MK for 20 years and use only 1 or 2 products by other companies. In my opinion, you get what you pay for. The personalized service is worth a fortune anyway. It's a whole lot better than buying a dozen different products at Walmart and not being able to try them on and nothing work out. I mean, how many different shades of lipstick do most women own??? Most women have a dozen or more because they buy them without being able to try them on first.

No, I'm not a MK consultant. I simply like their products. If you want to sell MK, go for it. If it doesn't work out, it doesn't work out. You can always try something else. There are two important things to consider. First - do you believe in the product? Second - are you willing to work hard? You will decide how well you do in this business by the time and effort you invest, not the money you invest. Whatever you decide, do it with all your might. You will be a winner!

I like their lip gloss a lot.

Achem! Choke choke! lol! This is so funny!

Yes, I gave it a try.

I'm to down too earth to go to "fluff" meetings, where I'm expected to drag my friends in there, make them stand up in front of strangers and be given roses for showing up, then have their faces plastered with makeup so badly that they looked better when they walked in the door than the "women of the night" (sort of speak) when they left..........

Then the women argued about who signed me up.......... I told them all to take a hike.

Perhaps it was just a bad experience, or it just wasn't for me. I left them with a full kit of makeup I'd purchased (plus more) that I mixed colors with that lasted me about 3 years, just for myself, lol! :)

This message was edited Jun 4, 2004 2:09 AM

I also wanted to add that since then, on a tight budget, I use the Avon "Vita Moist" lotion on my face when I get out of the shower, and just plain old Maybelline foundation on my skin. Seems to work. I still look much younger than many my age of almost 40. Keeping the skin moist (if it feels tight - moisten it) helps the most.

I really don't think we need to buy "expensive" lotions, skin creams or makeup. We can find lesser priced items that just work for us individually. Personally, I found the Mary Kay (even the non-comenogenic ones) to clog my pores.

When they told me in the meetings I needed to start wearing a suit color to the meetings, based on my status with the company (i.e. gray = director, blue = sub of that, pink = under that, red = newbie) that was when I felt like I'd just joined the brownies trying to be a girl scout. (not sure of the colors there, just used that as an example, but they did have a color code, which I found absolutely ridiculous).

It was by far one of the "silliest" ventures I have ever tried.

No I never try MK before , I know cost expensive so I love use Max Factor and L'Oreal my favorite use for years no problems, I can afford this kind make up etc.. =o)

so far i like it I am just going to be a customer for now of course my DH found my recipt and had a COW i told him i got it on a payment plan he still FREAKEd and then went and bought a bunch of fishing stuff so we are even..............

Their products are good, but I have a real aversion to the sales tactics of most MLM type businesses. It's a turn-off to get calls from people I've not seen in years and have them briefly preface a sales pitch with, "gee, I was just thinking about you guys and thought I'd give you a call. By the way, I'm a blah-blah consultant now and...". That really gets to me.

To do well in home-based businesses like that, you have to expand your contact base, but I find such "old friend" calling repugnant. There are so many consultants around, competition is fierce. It's not just Mary Kay, but all the MLM and home party ventures...Home Interiors, Pampered Chef, Amway (or whatever they call it nowdays) all of them.

I have many friends that sell jewelry, Tupperware, Pampered Chef, Longabarger, Discovery Toys, Usborne children's books, Melaleuca, and Mary Kay, etc. etc. I sometimes go to the parties, but rarely buy much if anything.

I *do* buy most of my cosmetics at Walmart and find they work every bit as well as the Lancome, Estee and Clinique products I used to buy at the department stores. (Then again, I'm a woman of VERY simple needs:

1) one bottle of foundation, which is very sheer but does have SPF15 (only reason I use it daily);
2) one powder blush
3) one eyeshadow (use infrequently)
4) one tube of mascara and one eyeliner pencil replaced every 4-6 months (not because it's used up, but because I've had pinkeye before, and it ain't purty), and

5) yes, believe it or not, - one (ONE) tube of lipstick.

That's it. I use a Noxema-like cleanser on my face at night. All-told I spend maybe $50 per year on cosmetics and cleanser. Every "beauty aid" I need packs in a SMALL makeup bag, along with my contact lens case, allergy meds, toothbrush and toothpaste when I travel. (That's part of why I'm not a good candidate for MK selling, lolol!)

Amway is the absolute worst in my humble opinion for the bottom-feeding practice of preying on "old friends". When we lived in Tulsa, there was a family that had been close friends with DH's family forever. One of the "girls" (now an adult) calls us out of the blue, saying had heard from her mom we were living in the area and she wanted to stop by and say hi!" She shows up with a fellow salesman, and we couldn't politely get them to leave until they had consumed our entire evening.

On the way out, she apologized, said she really did want to catch up on old times, and (yeah, we're gullible), we FELL FOR IT AGAIN! Believe it or not, she had the gall to come by a second time for ANOTHER sales pitch. Let's just say she wasn't invited back into our home ever again. Left the absolute worst taste in my mouth EVER.

And it was like prying state secrets out of these people to get them to admit they were selling Amway. Strangest thing I've ever seen....No Amway for me ;o) Sorry if I've offended any Amway salespeople among us - maybe our experience was a fluke ;o)

Hi Springsong! Well, I am a MK "consultant" and I love it! I joined 2 1/2 years ago but have used the product for at least 15 years. It doesn't cost a lot to start - just $100.00 for the kit (which probably has everything you use in it). I joined for myself and not to sell and make money. How it works is that you have to buy the kit to begin (again you will use everything yourself if you choose not to sell). Then you are required to spend $200.00 wholesale once a year to stay active. That $200.00 wholesale is really $400.00 retail - that means you will get your products for 1/2 price and makes it cheaper then most cosmetics out there. The year is boken into 4 quarters. Once you place a $200.00 wholesale order you can purchase your products 1/2 price any time during that quarter - order as much or as little as you need. Then once you start a new quarter you must place a $200.00 wholesale order again to get the 1/2 price. Again, you only need to do one $200.00 wholesale order a year to stay active. I usually do 2 orders a year and have no problems with a $200.00 wholesale order. I now order for my family and a few friends. I did go to some meetings and I personally liked them and they motivated me. But your director will make or break you. I never did get up and running with selling and didn't persue my friends and family they just came to me after a while. If you choose to sell then you will need to be very outgoing and willing to walk up to any and every stranger - at least if you want the pink caddy. Anyway, I have never regretted it and I only do it for myself right now. I order enough for 6 months and then place a second order for the next 6 months. Just something to think about. If you have any question or just want an unbias opinion you are welcome to e-mail me personally (ehorseplay@comcast.net) and maybe we could arrange to talk and I could answer any questions you may have. I am not pushing MK by any means just showing you a different side to it. Good luck with whatever you decide! I hope you will find the product works for you. I have tried so many others and MK is the only one that works great for me.

LOL oh i dont need make up!!! ;) LOL
honestly i dont wear alot of makeup-the hummers and flutterbys dont seem to mind! ;)
Ask redwolf or tootsie-a little mascara and im good to go!
Even when i go out-I dont use alot!!

cant see the $$$$ for it-you know how many flowers that $$$$$ would buy!!!

***But to each his own-i use to have the whole first set of mary kay $75.00 back in the day! now a trip to the local grocery store for makeup! LOL! and DH does the grocery shopping so who knows what brand i get-depends on his coupons! heheee

here i am fixed up to be in public! :) and not a soul around!
ok im done funnin!!

Well, I sell Avon and love doing it.....actually it sells itself..no quotas, no meetings, no hassles. Once people find out I sell it, they come asking for books. If they want to order, thats find, if they dont, thats fine, too. I dont use the make-up myself (dont use any brand because of the type job I have), but the shower gels and body lotions, I love.

Terry - your makeup regime sounds very very much like mine. When I'm around the house - absolutely nothing but lotion after I wash my face (Avon Vitamoist - good stuff). When I'm out and about I have exactly what you have, but a finishing powder as well. Most of my products are Maybelline & Cover Girl. Maybelline is my foundation - finally found one that worked well on my skin. I use that cheapie "Wet & Wild" stuff you can buy for $1.00 for eyeliner, as I've found they all seem to be the same, work the same.

Earthling, my mom is selling Avon for the 2nd time. I have thought about it, since it is easy - sometimes people look for YOU - because they have a favorite, and can't find anyone to buy it from. Nice having my mom selling it, because she gives me her discount. :) (I don't buy much - but I really like Vita Moist lotion for face & body, and Rich Moisture for hands & feet.)

Springsong - you might dig it! Who knows! I just didn't like the silly meetings that I was "required" to attend.

Edited to say:

Dori - you look GREAT! You don't NEED makeup! :)

This message was edited Jun 5, 2004 5:50 PM