Thread: Any thoughts on Mary Kay Make-up?

At the moment, I am a HUGE fan of MAC cosmetics, but was recently approached to try some of Mary Kay products. I've never used Mary Kay so was wondering if there are any Bhuzzers out there willing to share some of your good or bad experiences with using Mary Kay products.

I tried searching for a previous thread on Mary Kay and could not find anything....

Thanks!!

Andalee

I really like my Mary Kay liquid foundation - the colour is just right. If I were more financial I'd get more right now, but I will when I next have a job. I have a very nice Mary Kay blusher as well.

I found the eyeshadow and lipstick colours rather boring for my taste. Too colourful and yet sort of matronly.

i tried it years ago and didn't like it. The lipstick always seemed to be too heavy for me and made my lips peel. I found the foundation to be heavy and to yellow. I liked the shadow's alright and the sample sizes would be awesome for touch ups. This was maybe 6 years ago and i haven't tried it since. I think i did like one of their facial masks but i can't recall the exact one. I think it would be worth trying some samples because i know there are some die hard Mary Kay fans out there and i have heard really good things about their makeup remover.

My mom is a consultant so I was kinda raised on the stuff... I will say this, I like their liquid foundations, I dabble with the the mineral powders every once in while but I wouldn't call myself a die hard mineral powder user... I like the lip glosses as they smell nice and have really nice shades... I like the blushes... but as far as selection goes for eye shadow colors and accessories they cant hold a candle to MAC.

Mary Kay caters to a broad audience of mostly career ladies in their late 30's to 60's so you wont find bight blues, electric yellows, or cherry reds in their eye colors

IMO Mary Kay is untouchable for my skin care routine (cleansing, microderm, moisture, foundation, etc) But as far as color cosmetics they really are lacking for the younger or more theatrical set.

I say go ahead and try it.. you may like it...

I've heard that Mary Kay is just putty for your face...Never used it though.

My situation was probably an exception but it was enough for me. My experience is from years ago but I will not repeat using Mary Kay. I had red blotches on my face from the foundation and under-eye concealer. My skin felt heavy and hot. Thinking it was a fluke I wore it for 3 days. The reaction increased to the point I had to see a dermatologist.

Mary Kay is AWESOME when it comes to skincare and foundation. In comparison to MAC, you won't get as much pigment out of the eyeshadow . . . . although I have not tried the new mineral makeup from Mary Kay. It may be better. I HIGHLY recommend the foundation, skincare, and eyeprimer. The eyeprimer is a MUST no matter what brand of eyeshadow you use. You can use it to turn any shadow into a liner. It will also intensify your shadow and prevent fading and creasing.

I sold Mary Kay for several years. It's a wonderful company. AWESOME customer service. I would also recommend selling it, because then you get to buy all your stuff for 1/2 price!

I love Mary Kay Lotion and microdermabrasion but MAC primers, foundations and eyeshadows are waaaay better.

I can't get the link to work . . . . but anyway . . . .

If you want potent, stage-worthy lips, try mark metallusious lip color. Its a true, long lasting color. Lots of pigment, and it feels nice. It's cheap . . .

I'm opposed to Mary Kay makeup in principle because it's basically an MLM.

I like Mary Kay's Eye Primer, but I don't like the make-up much. The eye shadows and blushes are ok for everyday, but nothing for performance (which is what they're meant for- everyday wear). Personally, I think the lipsticks smell bad. Used to have a Mary Kay lip gloss that I liked a lot, but I never bought more. Good skin care- I like Satin Hands a lot, and am in the process of sampling the microdermabrasion, and it seems good (although expensive).

For me it boils down to:

If MK has something that I like and can use, I'll use it as it costs less than MAC. Foundation, blush, bronzer, that kind of stuff. Even eyeliner for "out to dinner".

The rest is MAC - you can't beat their color selection!

Originally Posted by txchic

My situation was probably an exception but it was enough for me. My experience is from years ago but I will not repeat using Mary Kay. I had red blotches on my face from the foundation and under-eye concealer. My skin felt heavy and hot. Thinking it was a fluke I wore it for 3 days. The reaction increased to the point I had to see a dermatologist.

It's been a few years when I tried Mary Kay products. My skin reacted the same way it did with TXCHIC.

Originally Posted by laura 2

I'm opposed to Mary Kay makeup in principle because it's basically an MLM.

What's an MLM?

I sold Mary Kay years ago, but got out of it. There are several products that can be nice for every day wear, like their foundations, lipsticks and glosses. But I don't think any of it is stage worthy.

Originally Posted by andalee-oriental

What's an MLM?

multi level marketing aka pyramid

Originally Posted by andalee-oriental

What's an MLM?

Multi level marketing. Which is true... however, what would be wrong with that? People are notified and informed about how the company works before they sign up and Mary Kay does NOT enforce quotas, sales requirements and is pretty much the most laid back company when it comes to their sales associates and their production, that Ive ever seen (believe me Ive seen some scary MLM's)

My mom has been a consultant ever since I started HS and has never had ANY complaints about the company. Not one. I dont always agree with some of the products they release but I dont see any problems with their business structure.

Personally I don't see what would be wrong with basing your progress in a company by how many people you have under you. I mean that's how most corporations work... More people you manage the higher the floor you work on, and the more chance that you have a nice cushy corner office somewhere. Same things really on a much smaller scale.

Originally Posted by mrsnj20

I love Mary Kay Lotion and microdermabrasion but MAC primers, foundations and eyeshadows are waaaay better.

Hm... I think I may try the MAC foundations.

I was a consultant for a while (also got out... wasn't my thing) and I did like some of their items.

Most of the colors are definitely not for stage, but the liquid foundation worked well for me and I liked the eye primer and eye makeup remover as well as some of the eye liners. I actually used just about all MK makeup for a photo shoot I did over a year ago and with the particular lighting and stuff, it worked well and came out looking nice (pink dress on my website - Discover Your Dance! - Mary).

Originally Posted by Amber_moon

Multi level marketing. Which is true... however, what would be wrong with that? People are notified and informed about how the company works before they sign up and Mary Kay does NOT enforce quotas, sales requirements and is pretty much the most laid back company when it comes to their sales associates and their production, that Ive ever seen (believe me Ive seen some scary MLM's)

My mom has been a consultant ever since I started HS and has never had ANY complaints about the company. Not one. I dont always agree with some of the products they release but I dont see any problems with their business structure.

Personally I don't see what would be wrong with basing your progress in a company by how many people you have under you. I mean that's how most corporations work... More people you manage the higher the floor you work on, and the more chance that you have a nice cushy corner office somewhere. Same things really on a much smaller scale.

I have had too many friends and family members burned by the overblown promises of MLM's to give any of my money to one.

Specifically regarding Mary Kay, I had to break off a friendship with a longtime friend because she would not take no for an answer when I told her I had no interest in joining the company. When I told her if she didn't stop hassling me about it I'd have to cut off contact with her, she told her director who told her that I wasn't really saying no, I just needed more information, and to keep trying. ..c:: My friend, who previously was quite level headed and sane for the previous 10 years I had known her, became someone I barely recognized within 6 months of joining Mary Kay.

I know people who sell Mary Kay hate the site, but I came to terms with how our friendship ended by learning a lot from Pink Truth - Home. (For example, I learned that even though there are no "quotas" in Mary Kay, you have to order $200 every three months or you lose your 50% discount - that kind of sounds like a quota to me). There are a lot of former IBC's, directors and even an ex-NIQ contributing to the site on a regular basis about their personal experiences in Mary Kay.

Your mileage, and that of others of course, may vary.

Originally Posted by laura 2

I have had too many friends and family members burned by the overblown promises of MLM's to give any of my money to one...
...Your mileage, and that of others of course, may vary.

Thats an interesting website. Thank you for posting it.

Im sorry that happened with your friend, but in my opinion I think the fault there lay solely with the mental state of your friend. Sounds like she got obsessed (which could have happened with ANY new endeavor she got herself involved in, but I can see why it happens with Mary Kay people) and got pushy. Again... that could have happened with ANY new endeavor she got herself involved in. Most sane people who become consultants don't act like that.

A lot of the things said there I can see... and while, Mary Kay has been a great thing for a lot of women to get on their feet and make some money, it can be dangerous if taken too far.

I think its important to remember is that, Mary Kay is a company. Out for profit and money. That is all. No matter how many women want to say that its about sisterhood and Jesus or whatever... it isn't. Its about profit, consumerism and sales. The danger in ANY new business venture is confusing sales revenue with some other "holier" value or virtue and I will say I have seen this at MANY a Mary Kay event. (Whole groups of women praying together for more sales etc etc) Personally, I find this pretty appalling (but then again I find a lot of religious stuff appalling because I'm a secularist and really don't believe that business should be injecting religion into anything) Lots of companies often inject religious faith into their their environments to "comfort and bolster" the employees. (Which I happen to find pathetic... but that's for another day) Some people are so programmed to respond to religion and the word "Jesus" that big business is starting to learn that using it, helps boost sales.

The danger comes in, (and it seems the sanity goes out) when people start confusing a company, with a benevolent source of spiritual and religious enlightenment. But again, like I said many times... this can happen with a LOT of things. Including belly dance. If had a dime for every time Ive heard someone equate Belly dancing with some form of religious enlightenment, or "goddess worship" Id have a pile of Bellas. Women get in extremely heated debates (sometimes rabid) over weather or not Belly dancing was practiced in caves by goddess worshipers, and whether or not it can heal cancer by spiritual magic...etc etc etc... (I don't have to go any further because you already know the jist) Will I stop belly dancing because a few quacks insist on pushing their crap on me? NO of course not. Will I stop coming to bhuz because I am offended by a few of the things I read here every now and then? No of course not. My point is simply this, that unfortunately, bad experiences ARE quite possible in Mary Kay... but most of the reasons that it happens is because people go into it either ignorantly and without educating themselves, or with the wrong mindset and lofty expectations. Both are perfectly possible to fix with just an IOTA of reason and a little thought... And should a woman still enter into it, without thinking critically about all thats involved and actually thinking about what companies REALLY are after... then... Id say that's her problem.

But as far as not buying from them because some of their consultants are confused and wacky.... I dont get it. Perhaps though its because i was never personally "touched" by one of these incidents.

Originally Posted by txchic

My situation was probably an exception but it was enough for me. My experience is from years ago but I will not repeat using Mary Kay. I had red blotches on my face from the foundation and under-eye concealer. My skin felt heavy and hot. Thinking it was a fluke I wore it for 3 days. The reaction increased to the point I had to see a dermatologist.

This happened to me too. I had big red welts on my face. They tried to tell me it was from the makeup helping my skin 'release impurities'.

Originally Posted by Amber_moon

But as far as not buying from them because some of their consultants are confused and wacky.... I dont get it.

From what I have read, Mary Kay Corporate does not discourage many of the pressure, untruths and rhetoric foisted upon recruits by the upline. I also do not approve of corporate's history of keeping changing product lines a secret until the last minute, allowing consultants to buy scads of products they know full well will be obsolete in a month or two.

Amber, I do agree with you that a huge problem is people throwing themselves into the cult full force and not being logical. But I truly believe that all MLM's intentionally seek out and prey on this type of personality, which I find despicable. If there are other options (and when it comes to makeup, there are a TON), I will choose to give my money to companies who do not, to my knowledge, engage in business practices I find unethical.

Back to the makeup. I use the medium coverage MK foundation in the winter time and the MK mineral powder foundation in the summer. Not for stage, but for everyday. I like both better than any other liquid or mineral foundations I have tried and the color is perfect. I'm an "ivory" gal and MK has a nice range of ivory with blue undertones, pink undertones, yellow undertones, etc. I am a warm ivory and MK Ivory 202 is perfect. I use BE minerals for blush, eye color, bronzers, etc.

I love some of the skin care products--like Satin Hands--but don't use the cleansers and moisturizers.

Until MK I could not wear a liquid foundation daily without rashes or pimples. So I am sold on it and the mineral foundation.

Souzan

I love their skin cleansers and moisturizers and have used them since 1989... every time I've tried to switch to a drugstore product I've gone back to MK. I like their foundation, but their other makeup items are a little ho-hum as far as dance is concerned.

Wow, thanks for all the AWESOME feedback! Since my first post, I happened to have met a lady in my class that uses Mary Kay products incessently. Her opinion reflected a lot of what was said in this thread. She felt that the foundation, make-up remover and some of the skin care products were fabulous - however, the eyeshadows and lipsticks lacked a lot of pigment and not really stage worthy. Its funny because I asked her if she experienced any facial break-outs or other bad reactions with the Mary Kay line and she said that she hadn't, but her friend had a TERRIBLE incident with it and just stop using the products all together. It appears to me that using Mary Kay really depends on our individual skin types and our own sensitivities with the ingredients in the product. So, all in all, I guess I'll just have to contact a Mary Kay Consultant and try them out myself. I admit, I am a little leery as I am a creature of habit when it comes to purchasing cosmetics. Well, here goes, I'll definitely keep you all posted with the results! Hopefully, it will all be good :)

Originally Posted by Andalee914

At the moment, I am a HUGE fan of MAC cosmetics, but was recently approached to try some of Mary Kay products. I've never used Mary Kay so was wondering if there are any Bhuzzers out there willing to share some of your good or bad experiences with using Mary Kay products.

I tried searching for a previous thread on Mary Kay and could not find anything....

Thanks!!

Andalee

Oh boy, well, here goes: I used Mary Kay cosmetics, entire line about five years ago for about 8 months and got "adult acne" on my chin so bad it took several deep pore steaming, cleaning treatments by a pro at $70 a pop to get my chin cleared up! And she wasn't even sure that I wouldn't wind up at the dermatologist for antibiotics. And here's the kicker, my Mary Kay rep had started telling me that a couple of the skin care products had "cautions" that "overusing" might cause clogged pores. Sheesh!

Now, I never even had acne as a teenager and have "good" skin generally with only a very occasional small pimple. I also wasn't having other health or stress related or meds that could cause this, it was the Mary Kay products. I do have pale, sensitive skin, but haven't had this problem EVER with any of the major cosmetic lines (Borghese, Chanel, Lancome, Mac, Sothys, Bare Escentuals).

Unless your rep can tell you how the May Kay skin care and foundations have, please be careful. And, I had tried samples, but since it isn't an allergy problem I couldn't tell at first what was going on until I had persistant skin "bumps" on my chin.

From what little I know of Mary Kay Ash, I do know that she was a devout Christian and started her company on the very foundation of biblical principles. I don’t want to get into a ‘huge’ or even ‘heated’ discussion on religion because the topic can bring people to act harsh and unkind with one another.....

However, I am a Christian and am certainly not ashamed of it. I do believe that my Lord and Savior is the beginning and end in ALL things which would include my personal life, my family and whatever career endeavors I chose to pursue. If I were a Sales Rep for Mary Kay would I choose to be involved with group prayer? You bet! Would I be bold enough to tell the “Prayer Leader” to STOP making the primary focus of our prayers on SALES, SALES, SALES? Without a doubt - somebody needs to do that! However, on the flip side of that, as Christians, our Lord and Savior WANTS us to be fruitful in the financial realm, despite what some Non-Christians (and even some devout Christians) may think.

It sounds to me that some of the Sales Representatives/Directors may have completely lost focus as to the real mission behind what Mary Kay Ash built her business on; and that was simply to put God first above everything else - driving the "SALES, SALES, SALES" mentality should be secondary, BUT, it is crucial to promote and sell your products (like any other business) if you want to bring in an income so that you can eat and pay the rent (nature of the beast). Through Mary Kay Ash’s faith, she became VERY wealthy especially since she started out with NOTHING! The same scenario holds true for S. Truett Cathy - founder of Chik-Fil-A restaurants. This man had NOTHING growing up but attained a successful restaurant chain, by faithfully practicing Godly principles. So, while some (not all), non-Christian businesses, are laying people off or “closing its doors” in our present economy; these two Christian faith businesses are thriving! So, do I believe that my personal faith and business endeavors go hand-in-hand? Yes, absolutely - the proof is in the numbers.

Well, now I am sure I’ve just opened up a HUGE can of worms!! ..l;,

Originally Posted by Andalee914

So, while some (not all), non-Christian businesses, are laying people off or “closing its doors” in our present economy; these two Christian faith businesses are thriving! So, do I believe that my personal faith and business endeavors go hand-in-hand? Yes, absolutely - the proof is in the numbers.

I don't want to keep beating a dead horse and hijacking the thread, but I did want to respond to the above since it's the opposite of what I've been reading.

Mary Kay sales directors have their commission check amounts posted in the company's Applause magazine, and a great majority of them have seen huge decreases in these totals beginning in late 2007. Since the commissions are based on how many people are in your downline, the logical reason is recruits leaving without enough new recruits coming in to replace them. When you quit the company, and if you return your existing inventory, your director has to give back all of the comission she earned from you for the previous 12 months.

Chik-Fil-A could very well be doing a booming business, though - I'm not in the loop on them.