You were probably approached by a Beauty Counter rep and are just not convinced that this is a legitimate company that will not scam you.
Well, I’m glad you landed on this review as I have all the information to help you make a wiser decision as I’m sure you don’t have time to waste on something that might not even work.
Now with “beauty” being a huge part of almost everyone’s daily life and the amount of money spent in the industry, wouldn’t it be great to make something back?
There’s a lot to know about any MLM and the money making opportunities behind them so allow me to give you more before you join this or any other company for that matter.
I am not affiliated with this company, so you can expect an unbiased opinion from someone who is just providing you with some solid information.
So without further ado, let’s get right into things.
Beauty Counter Review – Product Overview
Beauty Counter is a multilevel marketing (MLM) with an emphasis that you will more or less be able to gather from the company’s name.
We will dive into exactly what they do a little bit later, but suffice it to say, they do occupy the densely populated beauty niche.
What is beauty counter?
As a multi-level marketing company, they operate with an emphasis on personal employee empowerment.
You set your own hours, operate your business the way that you want to, and make your own money.
Compensation is another thing that we will look at in the later portions of this review.
However, potential Beauty Counter affiliates will want to keep in mind that there is no salary attached to this company.
That means that you earn only off commissions: an opportunity that will excite the entrepreneur and frighten off the more timid considering parties.
Let’s now take a look at how to get started at Beauty Counter to see if it is a process you are interested in getting involved with.
How To Get Started at Beauty Counter
If you are familiar with the world of video games, you know the phrase “pay to play.”
It means what it sounds like: a game that requires constant payments to be played and Beauty Counter operates under similar circumstances.
You don’t really apply to work there.
You pay them.
However, getting in is actually relatively affordable compared to other similar MLMs.
The entry fee is $85.
Paying this fee gets you access to their starter kit (some training information, as well as some sample products) but most importantly it also gives you the right to start selling their products.
Once you pay the fee you aren’t quite in the clear as there is also an annual fee of $50 that you will need to pay in order to remain a member.
The nice thing about being a consultant at this company is that you don’t need to buy their products yourself.
You are only required to order a product when it has been ordered from you, which means that your overhead is pretty much limited to the company fees.
So what do we make of how to get started at Beauty Counter?
Compared to the broad world of MLM, things are actually looking pretty good here.
The low overhead cost benefits the potential affiliate for several reasons.
For one thing, the relatively low entry level fee of $85 is going to be accessible to most people that are hoping to get started.
Some MLMs feature fees that are quite likely to be burdensome to the potential affiliates that will have to pay them.
You aren’t seeing that here, making it a friendly option for beginners.
There is also the matter of credibility to consider.
Unfortunately, credibility is always a concern when looking at MLMs.
When you see a company that features an entry fee of $1000+, you should be a little bit skeptical as they are most likely just another high ticket Ponzi.
The small fee that you get here is much more indicative of a company that is keeping things on the straight and narrow.
In other words, if we were to judge Beauty Counter strictly on the process of getting started, things would look pretty promising.
Of course, none of this matters if you aren’t crazy about the product line, right?
Let’s take a look.
What You Will Be Selling at Beauty Counter
As mentioned a little bit earlier, beauty products are the name of the game at Beauty Counter, which only makes sense, right?
We are talking makeups, lotions, skincare products, etc.
The claim of Beauty Counter is that their objective is to treat customers to high-quality products that are also safe for their well-being.
Since many beauty products have a reputation for being toxic, this is nice to see, right?
After all, no one wants to sacrifice health for beauty.
The idea actually is pretty good, but that doesn’t mean that that will translate well into sales.
Health and beauty products are always difficult to sell from a MLM vantage point and that is why I always recommend you at least start your very own beauty blog.
Especially if you are in this for the money.
Are the Products Worth it?
While large chunks of the population do use beauty products, they probably already have their own routine that they are happy with and that is completely normal.
As a salesperson, your job won’t just be to convince a potential customer that your product is good, you will also need to convince them that it is better than what they currently use.
This is especially challenging when you factor in the price as lotions from Beauty Counter tip the price scales at $40+ per bottle.
Simply put, you aren’t going to convince someone who is used to spending $5 on skincare products that the 800% price increase is worthwhile.
There certainly is a market for high-end beauty products, but people that spend lots on this stuff are likely to already have a brand they like.
Does this mean that you won’t be able to sell Beauty Counter products?
No, but it does mean that it will be a challenge.
While getting started at Beauty Counter is easy, making a living there will be a little bit harder.
Good salespeople will always find a way to make it work and whether or not you fall into that category is something you will need to determine on your own.
Are the Products Really That Good?
Just because a company says that their products do this and do that does not make it credible.
Being more natural is something more believable though and I’m sure you can appreciate anyone who tries to consider this when creating a product.
Now is this really what is happening or is this just another stunt to get you to purchase their products?
In most cases, it is usually just a way to grab your attention but most products are mediocre at best.
As far as them doing wonders to your skin and body is always going to be dependent on one’s body and you can take a look at their ingredients if you just so happen to know what is really good for you or not.
But just like every other network marketing company, the products are just a small fraction of what everything is about as the money making portion makes up about 90% of the process.
Make sales, recruit people, make money.
That’s how it is and that is why you will join (or not) in the first place.
Beauty Counter Compensation Plan
With Beauty Counter you get a pretty straightforward compensation plan.
Thirty five percent commission on all sales for consulting members.
The rate is pretty standard and although some MLMs feature better commissions, many feature worse.
There is also the recruiting element to consider.
As is the case with most MLMs, Beauty Counter places a big emphasis on recruitment.
It’s exactly what it sounds like.
Rather than selling products on your own, you get friends and family to sign up to become affiliates.
This is most people’s least favorite part of MLMs, but unfortunately, it is also one of the most common elements.
For every person that you recruit, you get a finder’s fee that equates to more than the commission that you could expect to see with any sale.
When they do well, you also get bonuses later down the line.
The compensation plan here is very standard, with no issues to complain about that are not standard to MLMs everywhere.
Beauty Counter Complaints
Of course the members of this company will find every reason to like the business and its products but sometimes it takes someone from the outside looking in to really give an honest opinion.
I was the same way when I was with Melaleuca until I realized that the products just weren’t better than what I was already using, especially for the higher price tag.
Being that I am not into using makeup or fancy lotions, I did manage to gather some input from some of its members.
Some have reported that the lipstick and lip gloss has caused their lips to become dry and the skin care products caused their skin to burn.
Others had complaints about the promo codes not working, while others didn’t like how its consultants were very pushy.
This is always the case with MLMs but you will also have those that love everything about the company.
There are more complaints on Consumeraffairs.com but again, they are very typical.
Pros & Cons
Pros:
- More natural products
- Affordable startup cost
- Assorted products
- Has been around for more than a year
- Can make you money
Cons:
- Still recruiting based
- Pricey products
- Reports of products drying skin
I do like the fact that it is very affordable compared to most MLMs but you do “pay” for it when you purchase the products.
I don’t think the products are the greatest and even worth the price but at the very least, I’m just glad that this is not another scam.
Final Verdict: Legit
Most people will question the legitimacy of Beauty Counter and most will consider it a pyramid scheme but that’s just how it is.
As far as it being a scam, I highly doubt that the owners are in this to take your money.
With the fact that there are actual products involved here, it is a lot better than any of the real Ponzi schemes that come with no products but still charge you thousands of dollars.
In the world of money and recruiting, there is always going to be a fine line between being legitimate and a scam, so always use good judgment and go with your gut.
You also need to understand that when it comes to multilevel marketing and network marketing, you will always have over 95% of its members that will not make any profits.
Most will make less than $100 for the year and that is just how it is when you deal with recruiting based companies.
My Recommendation
If you are genuinely interested in the products, I think you should at least give it a try.
See for yourself, if in fact these products are better than what you currently have and who knows, you might just be able to turn this into a solid business.
Now for those of you who are just looking for a money making opportunity, I think you will like the affiliate marketing model better.
Selling other people’s products to make a commission, without having to play the recruiting game is something I’m sure a lot of you can appreciate.
That is how I make my living these days and I know for a fact that it is very lucrative and fun as well.
Besides that, I hope this Beauty Counter review has helped you understand what the company is really about and hopefully you can make a better decision.
If you have any questions, feel free to leave them in the comments section below and I will get back to you as soon as I can.
And if you have any experience with this company, please do share as I’m sure we can all benefit from it.
Thanks for reading and good luck!
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