I have recently embarked on the life path of buying Mary Kay products. I say that because 1) I actually like the products and find the price competitive to similar quality products from Clinique, Estee Lauder and Lancome, and 2) because I happened to have purchased my skin care line from an ambitious lady.
I did not know this when I naively accepted an offer to have my neighbor come to my home to do my "colors" for me. I thought it would be kind of fun but soon realized as she kept rolling out the paraphernalia that this was business. Serious business. Being the sucker that I am, by the end of my session, I was $200 poorer.
This same neighbor of mine is clearly making her way up the Mary Kay ladder. Recently, she started cruising around in a shiny new black SUV with the Mary Kay insignia emblazoned on the back. She is also, as I discovered last night, a trainer for up and coming newbie Mary Kay ladies.
Several months ago, she started sending me evites to a Mary Kay party where you get a make-over and there are door prizes and food and all sorts of super fun. I have declined (ignored) the invitation for months, but when she personally called me, I found myself unable to say no. She offered me half off a brush set if I would be willing to have her do my "colors" again, for newbie training, and having a newly discovered desire for a brush set (as of her offer), I agreed.
I went to the "party"...early even because there was an early-bird door prize, and realized it was just me with four Mary Kay ladies in business suits. There was supposed to be one other victim/customer/willing participant but she had the sixth sense not to show up.
With all eyes on me, I sat still while Miss Mary Kay described my face shape, why she was choosing the colors she was and what "look" we were going for. I had my choice: natural, classic or dramatic, and with much boldness decided on dramatic.
For about 45 minutes, I followed her instructions and washed, buffed, moisturized, applied and puckered until I was deemed adequately dramatic looking. Then, I had to sit there and listen to all four ladies give me compliments about how fabulous I looked.
There was the awkward plugging for their products, which she disguised as letting the other Mary Kay ladies know about what the company's current offers were and the even more awkward sharing of my opinion about how I was not interested in starting my own home business. With those out of the way, Miss Mary Kay was ready for my order.
What? I just came for the brush set. But, as she circled all the things she used to get me looking so, so fabulous, I sensed my defense softening and ordered two things. Help!
I really like Mary Kay but I think I may need to start screening my phone calls. Or grow a backbone.
If these before and after shots don't make you a believer in their cause, I don't know what else will.
Tuesday, February 17, 2009
The Poster Child
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16 comments:
I'm totally laughing at, I mean with you! You look great no matter what products you choose, but it looks like it's Mary Kay all the way! Good luck with that:)
Hilarious! You do look glowy and sexy in the after shot. Maybe you need to go buy some Cover Girl at the grocery store and do a second after shot. If you aren't glowy and sexy then I'd say they've got you hooked!
Shortly after I moved into a new neighborhood a girl called to invite me over for lunch and to get to know other girls on the street. I was thrilled. Nope, it turned out to be a Mary Kay ambush, complete with a lecture because I brought my child and the Mary Kay lady was aghast that I would bring a child to her JOB! Wha? I thought we were having lunch.
Then again, can you blame her? Who wouldn't love a new SUV?
As a fellow Mary Kay refugee, I empathize. I held exactly one party, under duress, to which I invited only family members who had to come out of familial loyalty, and have refused to hold any sort of sales party ever since (Pampered Chef, Tupperware, Stampin' Up, smelly candles and knockoff purses and cheap jewelry -- I've been hit up by purveyors of all of 'em).
Having said that, I do use and like some Mary Kay stuff. I just get in, get my stuff, and get out. I hate the pressure sales!
What would Dave say?
If you see a pink Cadillac that's when you are around the big Mary Kay guru and you better just run! I hate the pressure of things like that! You do look smashing though.
I was sucked in a few years ago in your same situation. Lucky for me I was one out of four and didn't have a problem declining.
You do look great though!
Direct sales is a tricky business. It has taken me a few years to really just say no to it all, or ask for their card and be on my way. I have found that having a ____ friend is a good out. Invited to an Usbourne book party? "I have a good friend who sells those and just order from her when I need it." Works every time.
You do look pretty hawt :)
I have never tried MARY KAY before. I agree with Jen, you look great in both pictures.
You look great in both! I think the natural look will never go out of style. But maybe I am just trying to make myself better. My friend just staged an intervention and waxed my brows and bought me mascara!
Ok that is too funny. I'm glad I'm not the only one who cracks under those pressure sales. I avoid most things like that like the plague due to my spinelessness. But that said...you do look good in a bright lipstick!! ;)
I'm a Mary Kay girl, too. Thankfully my rep now is a good friend and she doesn't push the parties and sales at all. But, I've had my share of those awkward moments when all the pressure is on...
The worst MK party will always and forever be the one that involved just me and two gay guys as the victims/customers/willing participants. Talk about awkward!
I'm over the pressure stage with my 'consultant'. Thank heavens! I never want to try anything new because that would mean a makeover, some pressure sales and over $100 spent. Ugh!
This is against ALL Mary Kay rules but you can find tons of it on eBay. New, unopened for sometimes 1/2 the price (I always buy from a smokeless home too). I know, what a traitor, but come on I like a good deal! I think my girl must think I never wear the stuff because I don't restock often. I use her for emergency purchases I don't want to wait for.
You look smashing in that bright lipstick!!
Oh I have to comment..... As your virtual friend who also happens to be a Mary Kay consultant. First, you look awesome, in both pics! And I know you weren't being facecious (I hate spelling that word) but kinda funny in the whole party hoopla. I don't think it's fair for any consultant to 'trick' people into a party that seemed to be a unit meeting...that's weird. However, parties are one of those things where you think a bunch of people are coming and low and behold only 1 shows up! That's just how it goes sometimes.
So I'm just a little on the defensive..I don't get how people get funny about spending money at any of these parties (pampered chef, arbonne, etc..) to support a LOCAL BUSINESS when we all go to the mall or Target and drop more than we planned on all the time. No one talks about getting duped or manipulated then. I am thankful you took her up on her free offers (we have to pay for those products) and yes, getting the skin care and some color is totally worth it. Most of us have sales each year where you can get our discount and not have to spend a lot to get some great products.
And finally, please be careful buying off of eBay. We do not put seals over our products. The point is that you know us PERSONALLY so if anything does go wrong (allergy, wrong color, etc) we can fix it. You trust us not to tamper with your products too. When you buy off ebay you may be getting expired products, possibly preused as demos or stolen. Or just from an old consultant who's products are so old the company won't buy them back when she quit. Ew.
So....unruffling my feathers a bit... it's like Hot Topics on The View!
Very nice! I love the lipstick. I have fallen for the same eager sales strategy many times! Good luck. At least you got something usefull out of it. And they're right, you look great.
Oh dear. Mary Kay. I will save most of my opinions but I will say that after a "makeover" class I wasn't too sad when my face was itching like crazy before I could even get home.. I (meanly) was even a little excited to tell the pusher that it gave me a rash... she couldn't argue with that... and certainly didn't want me to say it any louder. Good luck. I love makeup.
I'm finally catching up on blog reading. This is too funny, but I understand. In fact, I willing go into the Lion's Den (not Mary Kay, but the MAC counter) because I'll admit that I love the attention and the makeup application. I drop $200 every time...and I have no income.
You do look fabulous, but you are one of the prettiest people I know.
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