Pink Truth: Mary Kay Cosmetics in China

Pink Truth Facts, opinions, and the real story behind Mary Kay Cosmetics.

Mary Kay Cosmetics in China Jul 26th 2012, 11:00   Earlier this week, I mentioned that Mary Kay is relying heavily on overseas markets to fuel its worldwide growth. Several years ago, the company stopped reporting revenue figures from the United States, and began only reporting worldwide revenue. I suspected then that this was because Mary Kay Inc. was focusing on growth in the overseas market. [...]

Pink Truth is all up in arms about Mary Kay selling in China.  Except, I don't think they have even noticed that they are not all upset about the same things.  Some are upset about China "making money" on the backs of Americans. Some are upset that Mary Kay is exploiting the Chinese women. Some are eager to see the Americans fail. Some are eager to see the Chinese market fail. Blind hatred of Mary Kay, with a complete disregard for facts or truth (Ironically right?) is the only thing that seems to unite these women.

Pink Truth: Fake it in Mary Kay

Pink Truth Facts, opinions, and the real story behind Mary Kay Cosmetics.

Fake it in Mary Kay Jul 31st 2012, 11:00 Written by A Mary Kay Quitter Faking it. That’s what I was doing as a Mary Kay Independent Beauty Consultant. Could it be you, too? Do you find yourself wearing clothing that really isn’t you–but you do it because you have a ‘dress code’ to follow? The rules under my director were simple. As a [...]

Pink Truth loves to pick at anything about Mary Kay that they can find.  This issue of dress code is one that they seem to have been quiet about for a while, but probably couldn't resist posting this little tear-jerker.   Except, not all Mary Kay units are created equal in this department.  From what I understand from reports from "real" Mary Kay people, there are a lot of units that actually encourage you to where comfortable clothes. That aside, the writer of this article seems to be very hard pressed to separate her self worth from what people think about her. This will be problematic for her regardless of where she lives or what she does with her life.  I certainly hope that she is not validating herself based on the praises of Pink Truth.  When they turn on her or just give up on her because she isn't producing enough hateful missives, it will be another brutal blow to that fragile self-esteem. Also, while I had not previously heard the phrase, "You can't sell a Cadillac in a junkyard", it makes sense and I don't agree with her assessment that you can.  I mean, theoretically you can, but if you picture a Cadillac (and obviously, by intent, a nice, new Caddy, not a "junker") in a junkyard, and the typical clientèle of a junkyard, you better expect to sit on that Caddy for a while before it sells.  Cadillac shoppers go to Cadillac dealers.  People looking for cosmetics, logically, want to see someone that has a good working knowledge of how to make herself look good with cosmetics.

Pink Truth: A Little Formula to Figure Out if Your Mary Kay Director is Making “Executive Income”

Pink Truth Facts, opinions, and the real story behind Mary Kay Cosmetics.

A Little Formula to Figure Out if Your Mary Kay Director is Making "Executive Income" Jul 30th 2012, 11:00 Written by Raisinberry July is one of the few times during the year that you might actually find out how well your Unit is doing. Mary Kay publishes commissions in Applause Magazine, the top pyramid dwellers, but the vast sea of some 13,000 North American Directors will never grace the pages. In July, however, many [...]

Worth looking at and considering, if you can ignore the assumptions that are screaming all around the calculations.

Pink Truth: Pink Truth Hater Hotline

Pink Truth Facts, opinions, and the real story behind Mary Kay Cosmetics.

Pink Truth Hater Hotline Jul 28th 2012, 13:02 This week’s official release of Harper’s Magazine story "The Pink Pyramid Scheme: How Mary Kay Cosmetics Preys on Desperate Housewives," along with the NPR's On Point with Tom Ashbrook episode entitled Investigating Mary Kay has brought out the haters. I generally don’t allow Pink Truth haters and trolls to comment here. The reason is simple: [...]

In typical propaganda style, Tracy "gives" back by "allowing" some of the ugliest comments she can find to be posted on the main page, ripping them to shreds and giving them no chance to respond. Pathetic.

Pink Truth: Diamond Director Debuts at Seminar 2012

Pink Truth Facts, opinions, and the real story behind Mary Kay Cosmetics.

Diamond Director Debuts at Seminar 2012 Jul 27th 2012, 21:44 Again we have another user-submitted photo of the director debuts at Mary Kay seminar. The last year Mary Kay published these pictures publicly was 2009. We now add 2012 to our picture collection. This is a different angle, which makes a comparison difficult. Also the quality of the 2010 picture is not idea. (Any users [...]

If there isn't anything else that gives away Pink Truth's pathetic desperation to see Mary Kay fail, it is the way they study pictures of past and present seminars to see if there are more or less people in attendance.  One commentator even says, "I hope they fail..."

Pink Truth: Investigating Mary Kay: The Truth Behind Mary Kay Inc.’s Claims on NPR’s On Point

Pink Truth Facts, opinions, and the real story behind Mary Kay Cosmetics.

Investigating Mary Kay: The Truth Behind Mary Kay Inc.'s Claims on NPR's On Point Jul 27th 2012, 09:00 Written by The Scribbler The pink veil of Mary Kay Cosmetics was ripped from top to bottom this month as freelance journalist Virginia Sole-Smith's article, "The Pink Pyramid Scheme: How Mary Kay Cosmetics Preys on Desperate Housewives" screamed the truth from the August 2012 cover of Harper's Magazine. In turn, Forbes released a damning article [...]

I was glad to hear that this Mary Kay issue was getting national attention on NPR, but I was disappointed when the scribbler posted her opinions about what the Mary Kay rep said rather than the information that NPR interviewer offered.

Pink Truth: Pearl Director Debuts at Mary Kay Seminar 2012

Pink Truth Facts, opinions, and the real story behind Mary Kay Cosmetics.

Pearl Director Debuts at Mary Kay Seminar 2012 Jul 25th 2012, 17:05 It has been a few years since we had a picture of the new sales directors at Pearl seminar. Mary Kay stopped publishing these pictures in 2010, as they clearly documented the dwindling numbers in the United States. The angle of the picture below from 2012 makes it difficult to compare against 2009. It appears [...]

Yeah Tracy, I am sure that they stopped posting pictures because they were afraid of what you think about them and their directors. Apparently Pink Truth is not on a new kick (with the Harpers thing) to present legitimate findings. Rather, they still seem to prefer to post whatever they find and make it fit their hatred of Mary Kay.

Pink Truth: Harper’s Magazine: Mary Kay’s Pink Pyramid Scheme

Pink Truth Facts, opinions, and the real story behind Mary Kay Cosmetics.

Harper's Magazine: Mary Kay's Pink Pyramid Scheme Jul 25th 2012, 00:32 Today the August issue of Harper’s Magazine officially went on sale, and the cover story features the pink pyramid scheme known as Mary Kay. The internet has been abuzz with this story, The Pink Pyramid Scheme: How Mary Kay Cosmetics Preys on Desperate Housewives,  and it has been featured on sites like Jezebel and Andrew [...]

I have not read the Harpers article yet, but from the sound of it, here, finally is legitimate research with substantial findings.  Pink Truth, of course, has no problem taking credit for years of saying the same thing over and over again with no legitimate research.  Only lots and lots of hearse.  I don't think that this will really change too much for those involved in Mary Kay, but if you are considering Mary Kay, this would probably be a good thing to look at.  (The Harper's article, not Pink Truth.)

Pink Truth: Mary Kay Seminar Attendance Still Lagging

Pink Truth Facts, opinions, and the real story behind Mary Kay Cosmetics.

Mary Kay Seminar Attendance Still Lagging Jul 24th 2012, 11:00 Despite Mary Kay Inc.’s representations to the press that the company is flying high and benefiting from a tough economy, attendance at the annual Seminar in Dallas is still lagging behind the attendance in most of the last ten years. In 2012, Mary Kay reports that 32,000 women will attend Seminar in July and August: [...]

Same as yesterday.  Tracy watches Mary Kay's numbers with a morbid obsession.  Perhaps with fingers crossed, "crash and burn, crash and burn", she seems to be whispering under her breath. But again, no comparison to anything that would actually tell us whether this means Mary Kay is doing well or poorly compared to other similar companies.

Pink Truth: Mary Kay Recruiting Numbers Falling

Pink Truth Facts, opinions, and the real story behind Mary Kay Cosmetics.

Mary Kay Recruiting Numbers Falling Jul 23rd 2012, 11:00 In 2006, Mary Kay Cosmetics told the FTC in a letter in opposition to the proposed Business Opportunity Rule that it brought in 40,000 new recruits per month in the United States: In the first six months of 2011, Mary Kay reported to ABC’s nightline that it brought in 200,000 new recruits, or 33,333 per [...]

Not only is this article filled with nothing more than speculative interpretation of solitary lines of press releases or letters, but it never even comes to a point. Does Pink Truth feel this is a good sign?  Are they suggesting that Mary Kay is suffering?  There is no comparison to how other cosmetic/skin care companies are faring in this economy. To me, this article screams (on behalf of its author), "I CAN DO MATH!!!!"

Pink Truth: Compulsive Consultancy in Mary Kay Cosmetics

Pink Truth Facts, opinions, and the real story behind Mary Kay Cosmetics.

Compulsive Consultancy in Mary Kay Cosmetics Jul 20th 2012, 11:00 Written by Lazy Gardens Compulsive consultancy brings despair and humiliation into the lives of countless thousands of men, women and children. The compulsive consultant is a person who is dominated by an irresistible urge to participate in Mary Kay. Coupled with this is the obsessive idea that a way will be found to “make it [...]

This is one of those pieces that Pink Truth will use (as a link) talking about how they "proved" that Mary Kay destroys lives. I don't see this as evidence.  In fact, there is nothing here to support the idea that this has ever happened to anyone, much less "countless thousands" as Lazy Gardens declares. One thing this DOES prove is that writers for Pink Truth can say anything they want and (provided that it bashes Mary Kay) they will get published.  No need to back anything up with evidence, no journalistic accountability or integrity.  Just say something disparaging about Mary Kay (the jucier and more sadistic the better) and we'll "print" it.

Pink Truth: The “Sometimes” Success Scam – A Letter From Your De-Fogged Director

Pink Truth Facts, opinions, and the real story behind Mary Kay Cosmetics.

The "Sometimes" Success Scam – A Letter From Your De-Fogged Director Jul 18th 2012, 11:00 Written by Raisinberry How do I explain all this? I know I do not have a leg to stand on. I was your Director. You trusted me. Just like I trusted those above me. And even though I didn't buy into all the hype, "hook, line and sinker”… I did say the things I was [...]

A lot of "saying" to say nothing.  Burnt and jaded, yes.  Proof that Mary Kay is not a viable income opportunity, no.

Pink Truth: Making (Pink) Lemonade Out of Lemons

Pink Truth Facts, opinions, and the real story behind Mary Kay Cosmetics.

Making (Pink) Lemonade Out of Lemons Jul 17th 2012, 11:00 Written by PinkPeace As much as we can be very angry and disgusted with Mary Kay for any number of legitimate reasons, if we’re honest with ourselves, our experience in the pink bubble wasn’t 100% bad. I wanted to highlight some of the positives I got out of my years in the business in the [...]

Nice.  Surprised that Pink Truth actually put this up, but it definitely looks like a step in the right direction.

Pink Truth: America’s Cult Detector, Bob Larson, Helps Us Decide If Mary Kay Is a Cult

Pink Truth Facts, opinions, and the real story behind Mary Kay Cosmetics.

America's Cult Detector, Bob Larson, Helps Us Decide If Mary Kay Is a Cult Jul 14th 2012, 11:00 Written by Raisinberry Many years ago, Christian writer, Bob Larson wrote a book to help churches and Pastors identify exactly which religious groups were “cults.” (You have to love the pomposity of placing yourself as judge so you are excluded from the comparison! But I digress.) Using Bob’s standard of measure, we can ascertain whether [...]

Wow, wow, wow.  This is so ridiculous that I wont even dignify it with a response.  I only hope that this was a joke, meant to be funny.  Which it is not.  Cults are serious and tend to lead to horrific outcomes for participants.  "Joking" about them, if indeed that is what Raisinberry is doing here, is really not funny at all. If she is serious, she is clearly so wrapped up in Pink Truth's group think that she has lost all rational objectivity.

Pink Truth: The Four Stages of Your Mary Kay Business

Pink Truth Facts, opinions, and the real story behind Mary Kay Cosmetics.

The Four Stages of Your Mary Kay Business Jul 12th 2012, 11:00 Here’s a cool Mary Kay training piece that the sales directors pass around ad nauseum. Someone made up four stages for your Mary Kay career. Below are those stages, with my description of the reality of those stages in italics. STAGE #1: THE BUILDING STAGE This is the stage where you are doing the things [...]

Once again, it is all about perspective.  Here, Mary Kay is presenting the truth.  Many of the things that Pink Truth accuses Mary Kay of hiding are in here, along with why they happen, and what you need to do to fix it. In fact, this could be a handbook for how to end up on Pink Truth.  Everyone on there (except the ones that have never done Mary Kay, but are still aloud to post on there because they follow the party line) has fallen into this self defeating downward spiral.

Pink Truth: What a Truthful Seminar Speech Would Sound Like

Pink Truth Facts, opinions, and the real story behind Mary Kay Cosmetics.

What a Truthful Seminar Speech Would Sound Like Jul 11th 2012, 11:00 Written by Raisinberry Pink Truth has examined the seminar speech that every Mary Kay “top director” gives. Now we get to see what the speech would sound like if the top director couldn’t tell a lie… It is so great to represent my Unit, “Christie’s Chargers,” here today in the number two position in the [...]

Raisinberry claims, and Pink Truth would like you to believe that this is an example of what a "truthful" seminar speech would sound like. However, all they have presented here is a hypothetical seminar speech that comes from a fatalistic and bitter perspective. In real estate everyone knows it is all about, "location, location, location". In sales, it is all about, "perspective, perspective, perspective". No doubt, some (if not many) in Mary Kay have a delusional perspective that they are succeeding when in fact they are no where near it.  However, to look at every part of selling and recruiting with a "collapse in a chair and swoon from exhaustion, frustration and despair" is equally damaging. I wish I could get all the extreme Mary Kay (you know, "Mary Kay Ash is GOD and anyone can do this with just a few hours a month and make millions and drive luxury cars and yachts and spend all day every day with their family and be doing ministry all at the same time") types together with all the Pink Truth (you know, the majority of them that are the polar opposite of the above example) types in a room.  It might have to be a big room.  I'll foot the bill for the space rental.  Tell them they can't come out until they come to some kind of understanding.  I might need some help paying the eternal bill that would result but at least we could all go back to our lives.  Mary Kay could go back to selling products and those of us on the peripheral would not have to be exposed to the endless spewing of absurd extremes from both sides.

Pink Truth: Teamwork In Mary Kay?

Pink Truth Facts, opinions, and the real story behind Mary Kay Cosmetics.

Teamwork In Mary Kay? Jul 10th 2012, 11:00 Written by SuzyQ Your director is the one who drives the Cadillac, you are not on the insurance. She gets additional recognition at events, you don’t. What you get from being a Cadillac unit is an additional name badge ribbon, 2 minutes going across the Career Conference “stage” and the ability to eat in a [...]

Spoken in the narrative of a truly bitter and resentful "ex", SuzyQ seems to stumble between jealousy and self loathing, all turned outward towards a fictitious group of Cadillac directors.

Pink Truth: A Pink Truth Critic Will Pray For Us

Pink Truth Facts, opinions, and the real story behind Mary Kay Cosmetics.

A Pink Truth Critic Will Pray For Us Jul 9th 2012, 14:02 Apparently this woman doesn’t realize it’s “sad” for her to have time to bash Pink Truth: ladies, as a Mary Kay beauty consultant let me just say that i will be praying for you. praying that you realize you're wasting your time. who really has time to look at the money other women are making [...]

Typical Pink Truth manipulation and propaganda. 1. Find an outrageous "opponent" that they can easily make pick on. 2. Take away any opportunity for said "opponent" to clarify remarks or otherwise defend self. 3. Continue to twist her words (and other Mary Kay words) to make Mary Kay out to be their perfect little monster. 4. Rinse and repeat.

Pink Truth: Three Little Words Your Mary Kay NSD Needs You to Bee-lieve

Pink Truth Facts, opinions, and the real story behind Mary Kay Cosmetics.

Three Little Words Your Mary Kay NSD Needs You to Bee-lieve Jul 5th 2012, 11:00 Written by The Scribbler "Believe in your ability to create what you want and know that you deserve to have it…abundance is God's plan for us." EESSD Melinda Balling "Sooner or later, I always get everything I really want." NSD Luella Gunter "I deserve the best life has to offer and I claim my share [...]

I would agree with the Scribbler here, if she wasn't (as usual) making Mary Kay women (particularly directors and above) into caricature like monsters. Pink Truth and the Scribbler would have us believe that the whole brood of Mary Kay women are just selfish, money hungry, evil idiots that are licking their lips at the chance to squeeze some pour soul's savings out of their account and make them miserable so they can make a buck or two. Are there people in Mary Kay that are at this level of desperation (or close to it)?  Clearly.  If the kindly, gentle folks on Pink Truth were in Mary Kay and practicing these kind of desperate tactics, then surely there are still people in Mary Kay doing it as well. So, beware.  But don't assume that Pink Truth's assessment that all (or even the majority) are like this is anywhere near accurate.  Just because they say the same thing over and over again does not mean that they have proven anything!

Pink Truth: Caption This Mary Kay Video!

Pink Truth Facts, opinions, and the real story behind Mary Kay Cosmetics.

Caption This Mary Kay Video! Jul 4th 2012, 17:42 I present to you two very professional Mary Kay Sales Directors. The video is entitled “Put Your Big Girl Panties On!” and is all about prizes and being a Mary Kay star consultant to “set yourself up for whatever you want to achieve next seminar year.” (i.e. They’re convincing women to order by telling them [...] Media files: mary-kay-big-girl-panties.flv (video/x-flv, 4.4 MB)

Pink Truth doesn't have anything worth actually saying, so they opt to "poke fun at" Mary Kay.

Pink Truth: Seminar Bait: Scripts and Lines Used to Get You to Seminar

Pink Truth Facts, opinions, and the real story behind Mary Kay Cosmetics.

Seminar Bait: Scripts and Lines Used to Get You to Seminar Jul 3rd 2012, 11:00 Written by Raisinberry Well we hate to have to burst your bubble about this most exciting event of the Mary Kay year… but SEMINAR is by far the most ingeniously devised manipulation of your mind, EVER. Just to get you warmed up for the reality of this extravaganza, here will be your BAIT lines to [...]

Keep seminar in perspective.  Some in Mary Kay can make it out to be more (way more) than it is.  Pink Truth would have you believe that it is a complete waste of time and money. Somewhere between these two extremes lies the truth.  If you have never been, you might consider going once to see if it is helpful to YOU and your business.  Only you can truly determine the value for you.

Pink Truth: Who’s Making Money in Mary Kay? Not Debi Moore’s Area!

Pink Truth Facts, opinions, and the real story behind Mary Kay Cosmetics.

Who's Making Money in Mary Kay? Not Debi Moore's Area! Jul 2nd 2012, 11:00 Every so often we like to take a look at the money women are making (or not) in Mary Kay. Today we are looking at national sales director Debi Moore. According to her unitnet website, she has 37 directors in her area. She posted the year-to-date retail of the top 15 directors through June 29, [...]

Tracy, here, claims that Debi Moore's area is "not making money"? Tracy likes to criticize what she calls "Mary Kay Math".  But what about her math? I know plenty of people that feed and care for their entire family, comfortably, for $40K/year.  I know many others that may have to make sacrifices, but can care for their family for less than this.  I am talking about $40k/year BEFORE taxes, BEFORE expenses AND they don't get the use of a free car. That said, I am not sure how much money Tracy makes, but when she tells HER friends about her income, does she say, "I make $50k/year", or does she say, "I make $48,645 before taxes and "expenses" , which comes out to about $20k that I can actually take home to 'put food on my kids table'"? I am guessing it would be the former.  If not, she is in the vast minority.  Most people offer their approximate annual income, pre-tax, pre-expenses. Further, she "poo-poos" an $80k income, the use of a car (as though that person would NOT be making a car payment if they didn't have it) and the fact that even at $10k/year these women are making commissions on other people's sales. She also, conveniently, neglects to tally up the amount of all of these incomes.  Doing so would show that "Debi Moore's Area" is, indeed, making money.