by Chelsi Oestreich
I don’t know about you but I am getting a lot of party invites these days. No, not like the days of old where I actually got dressed and went to a party (hopefully that is coming soon though!). I’m talking about online parties hosted by friends/neighbors/colleagues that have entered the world of MLM beauty.
While that may be a turn off to some, wait…stay with me and read on. I promise this won’t disappoint! So yes, there are a ton of what are called MLM (multi-level marketing) companies out there. What used to just be Amway, Tupperware and Mary Kay has blossomed into a diverse industry of brands across categories (even wine!) with some really great products! More than that though, women are doing what women do….figure it out.
COVID has not been kind to women in the workplace. In September 2020, when kids across the country had to learn virtually, 80% of the 1.1 million people who exited the workforce were women. Just 3 months ago, CBS News reported that nearly 3 million women have ‘dropped out of the labor force’, many choosing caring for their children over their jobs. Many predict it will be 2024 before the women to men working ration will be ‘back to normal’, to which women contributed more than 50% of the total. Um…what?!?
Lucky for me and not so much for my wallet, I never turn down a party invite or a chance to shop! Take a tour below of some of my faves from various MLM brands so next time you get an invite, you will know exactly where to start!
This brand and its founder, Gregg Renfrew, are leaders in the clean beauty movement. When Gregg developed this brand, she came up with a list of 1500 ingredients that she would not formulate with because of the potential dangers they posed, which is mainstream now. In her home state of California, she has gotten 3 laws to be passed, the biggest being the Toxic-Free Cosmetics Act, which officially bans 15 ingredients from personal care products. Pretty amazing! This MLM is obviously special because even Sephora did a 4-month partnership with them. The line has top-quality product and my favorite is the Counter+ Overnight Resurfacing Peel. Think Babyfacial but better!
The OG! Just the sight of the pretty pink packaging (and the pink Cadillacs on the road!) takes me back to my youth and playing with my Grannie’s makeup but the products have sure progressed since then. My absolute favorite is their Satin Hands set – it literally takes 10 years off my hands. Full stop! It is a 3-step system where you start by applying a nourishing salve to coat the skin, then an exfoliating scrub to slough off dead skin and finish with an uber-hydrating cream. Your hands will feel like…well, satin!
Random story….many moons ago, I was at a lab where some of my employer’s products were being made. In making our way to the meeting room, I walked past all of these boxes labeled Arbonne. So, of course, I had to investigate further. Turns out, this brand was a hidden gem (at the time) but is way more mainstream now. The best product is the RE9 Advanced Night Repair Cream. It is loaded with Vitamin C and Niacinamide and one of the only night creams that made me say ‘wow’ in the A.M.
I have talked about this brand before but I have to include them here again because their Mascara is just that good. The Moodstruck Epic 4D Fiber Mascara is the OG when it comes to adding length to your lashes. It one stroke, it adds small fibers to your lashes while lengthening the at the same time. Oh…and it washes off with ease! Genius!
This is a fairly new brand to me but so far, I have tried their Whitening Toothpaste (love!) and their Sole Solution Foot Treatment. I haven’t been getting pedicures as often as I like so this has been a great stand in to keep my skin soft and smooth until I can get professional help!
Ok, so this isn’t beauty, but dang it, I like this shirt! So many of these MLMs have a charity cause that they are involved with which always makes me really want to spend my money with them. This apparel and jewelry company helps women in Uganda continue on to university…because we all need more women going to and finishing school so they can join the work force. So we can rule the world! I digress…these super cute t-shirts are a must for all the ladies in your family! My daughter also has the ribbon sandals which are sooo cute!
In honor of all the ladies out there who are hustling, have a side gig, or maybe this is their main gig…..we see you and we support you! Leave a comment below with your favorite MLM beauty product.
Hi Chelsi,
Great article. Interesting and you highlighted this
Distribution channel well.
JG
Great article! Your review makes me want to try some of these products where I might not have given them a second glance before. Thanks for sharing!