Thursday, November 6, 2008

Stop Wasting Your Money.... Mary Kay

Times are tough.

With that being said, I thought I would spend a little time blogging about how you can get more bang for your buck, regarding your skin care products.

Being an esthetician for almost 5 years, I have many of my customers tauting the wonders of Mary Kay products. Some of them sell the products themselves, others have friends or other representatives selling to them. Listen to me very carefully: YOU ARE WASTING YOUR MONEY!! Even I was surprised and how bare the ingredient decks are!

Now if you want a product that looks pretty, smells nice and feels rich and creamy, by all means keep using Mary Kay and stop reading this blog now. If you want the TRUTH about the Mary Kay ingredients and their effectiveness please keep reading.

STEP 1. Ingredients.
Let me tell you, finding Mary Kay's ingredient decks online is no easy task. The company does not list the ingredients on their websites (which should be a huge red flag, especially for such a large company!). I mean, how are you supposed to know if something works if you can't see the ingredients? I understand the need to protect proprietary formulas, but at least give us a hint at what is in the product. I did manage to find a couple listings of the ingredient decks taken straight from the box on an independent site. Below are the ingredient decks with the function of each ingredient plus any known cancer, allergen or irritant risks. I highlighted any ingredient with a moderate to high risk for irritation and cancer and I did not include any cancer risks that were found in vitro. All ingredients were found at the cosmetics database.

ACTIVE INGREDIENTS
CANCER,
Possible Irritant
FILLER, BULKING AGENTS ETC

Mary Kay® TimeWise® Age-Fighting Moisturizer


Description (as written on the box): Suitable for sensitive skin. Oil- and fragrance-free. Non-comedogenic. Timewise® Age-Fighting Moistuirizer firms, softens and reduces the appearance of fine lines. Proven to hydrate for up to 10 hours.

NORMAL TO DRY

Ingredients: Water, glycerin (humectant), C12-15 alkyl benzoate (emolient, anti microbial) , cettearyl alcohol (surfactant, foam enhancer), isostearyl alcohol (emolient, viscocity increasing agent), triethanolamine (ph adjuster, CANCER, TOXIC) hydrogenated lecithin (surfactant, emulsifying agent), behenyl alcohol (Binder; Emulsion Stabilizer; Viscosity Increasing Agent), propylene glycol (Fragrance Ingredient; Humectant, CANCER, possible IRRITANT)
dimethicone (Occlusive; Skin Protectant), bis-diglyceryl polyacladipate-2(Emollient), ceteareth-20 (Cleansing Agent; Surfactant, Organ system toxicity especially in products used around eyes, mouth, or lips), linoleamidopropyl PG-dimonium chloridephosphate (anti-static agent), silica (Abrasive; Absorbent; Anticaking Agent; Bulking Agent; Opacifying Agent; Suspending Agent), carbomer (stabilizer), diazolidinyl urea (preservative, CANCER, HUMAN SKIN TOXICANT), lauramine oxide (fragrance, surfactant, sense organ effects at very low doses), disodium EDTA (Chelating Agent, CANCER), betaine (humectant), glyceryl polyacrylate (film former), methylparaben (preservative, CANCER, ALLERGEN, possible IRRITANT), sodium PCA (humectant), C9-15 alkyl phosphate (cleansing agent, surfactant), tocopheryl acetate (antioxidant), sorbitol (humectant, fragrence), propylparaben (preservative, ALLERGEN), serine (amino acid), threonine (amino acid), proline (amino acid), arginine (amino acid), glycine (amino acid), alanine (amino acid), lysine (amino acid), glutamic acid (humectant), thermus themophillus ferment (I am not quite sure what this ingredient is).

Green means go and red means STOP, right?

This moisturizer will give your skin some hydration, but as far as the age-fighting capabilities, I think the Cancer causing ingredients might make that difficult. Also, any of the good ingredients, located on them bottom of the deck, are so clouded by emulsifiers, bulking agents, and emollients that they will probably never reach your skin!!

Maybe the other formula will be better.

COMBINATION TO OILY

Ingredients: Water, glycerin (humectant), isododecane (solvent, emollient), dimethicone (Occlusive; Skin Protectant), propylene glycol (Fragrance Ingredient; Humectant, CANCER, IRRITANT), betaine (humectant), ethylene/acrilic acid copolymer (binder, film former), boron nitride (absorbent), ammonium acrloyl-dimethyltaurate/VP copolymer (Viscosity Increasing Agent), PEG-12 dimethicone (Skin Conditioning agent), polyacrylamide (binder, Film Former), phenoxyethanol (preservative, sense organ effects at very low doses), C13-14 isoparaffin (emollient), lauramine oxide (fragrance, surfactant, sense organ effects at very low doses), disodium EDTA (Chelating Agent, CANCER), methylparaben (preservative, CANCER, ALLERGEN, IRRITANT), triethanolamine (ph adjuster, CANCER CAUSING, TOXIC), C9-15 alkyl phosphate (cleansing agent, surfactant), DMDM hydantoin (preservative, ALLERGEN), tocopheryl acetate (antioxidant), laureth-7 (surfactant, emulsifying agent), linoleamidopropyl PG-Dimonium chloride phosphate (anti-static agent), sodium PCA (humectant), sorbitol (humectant, fragrence), serine (amino acid), thermus thermophillus ferment, threonine (amino acid), proline (amino acid), arginine (amino acid), glycine (amino acid), alanine (amino acid), lysine (amino acid), glutamic acid (humectant)

Again, a few different ingredients with the same results. Oh, and it also states that it is for Sensitive skin? With all those irritants and allergens I wouldn't put it on my face!! Plus, there are 2 ingredients that are stated as being film formers. Really?!!

In comparison lets look at Osmosis' Quench Moisturizer.

Description:

This product contains natural moisturizing factors and lipids found naturally in the skin to create a light feeling, intensely hydrating, moisturizer.

Quench contains high doses of hyaluronic acid which provides a wonderful moisturizing effect. It also uses Argirilene for firming and niacinamide which is proven to help restore the skin's barrier and feed the skin with its own natural moisturizing factors.


Ingredients:
Purified Water, Shea Butter (Moisturizer, Emollient, Anti inflammatory), Niacinamide (smoothing, Circulation), Organic Jojoba oil (emollient), Cetyl Palmitate (Occlusive, emollient possible IRRITANT), Sorbitan Palmitate (Emulsifying Agent), Sorbitan Olivate (emulsifying agent), Glycerin (humectant), Hyaluronic Acid (moisturizing, humectant), Acetyl Hexapeptide-3 (Natural Argirilene)(Humectant), Cholesteryl Stearate (Liquid Crystals)(emollient), Corn Silk (skin Conditioning), Squalene (emolient), Hyaluronic Acid (humectant), L-Sodium PCA (humectant), Japanese Honeysuckle (preservative), Essential Oil Blend (preservative, natural fragrance).

Do I even need to say anything? One ingredient which may be a possible irritant. Plus the description itself states the key ingredients of the product. Impressive.

2. VALUE

Without looking at the ingredients, you might say that Mary Kay has a better price point.

TimeWise: $22 for 3.3 oz. or $6.67 / oz

Quench: $30 for 1 oz.

However you have to remember that with all the emulsifiers, binders and other assorted fillers, the few good ingredients do not reach the skin. In fact, all the potential cancer causing and irritation inducing agents are probably going to make your skin worse. Also, you have to look at how much of the product you are using in each application. I have used Mary Kay (many moons ago, before knew better). Let me tell you that I used a lot more than I use of Osmosis. Osmosis recommends 1-2 pumps of the product which will last you about 2 months.

Osmosis also contains cutting edge ingredients like Hyaluronic Acid, Cholesteryl Stearate (Liquid Crystals), Acetyl Hexapeptide-3 and Niacinamide, which are noticeably absent from the Mary Kay formula. These ingredients help not only with hydration but improvement in firmness, wrinkles and suppleness of the skin.

Now that is age fighting!

19 comments:

Unknown said...

Where are you finding your "cancer causing" sources? With the highest degree in chemistry achieved, I can safely say that most if not all the red highlighted words are NOT carcinogens!!! I'm sorry that you don't have the confidence and intelligence to CORRECTLY inform your clients!

Maya said...

I have to agree with Faye Claire. Before you start trashing others at least quote your own sources.

Unknown said...

I've never seen such a biased, willfully ignorant review by a supposed skin care professional

ChristineBrown said...

The Environmental Working Group (http://www.ewg.org/skindeep/) has a database of over 69,000 cosmetic products and ingredients listed on their website with information about toxicity and carcinogens....and just as you say! I'm checking all of my cosmetics against this database from now on to make smart and HEALTHY choices. Thank you for the information!

Karley Ziegler Mott said...

As an esthetician with 2 decades in the industry & product formulation background, this article is pure fear mongering. There is NO science behind this. I am a blogger too -- a reformed green blogger. After spending years buying into the bogus studies of the EWG, I urge you to read peer reviewed studies. I also have to say-- I freelance for a high end, dermatologist-developed line sold at Ulta. All of my products (right down to the $78 eye cream) are free. What do I purchase on my own because they work? Mary Kay...

Karley Ziegler Mott said...

As an esthetician with 2 decades in the industry & product formulation background, this article is pure fear mongering. There is NO science behind this. I am a blogger too -- a reformed green blogger. After spending years buying into the bogus studies of the EWG, I urge you to read peer reviewed studies. I also have to say-- I freelance for a high end, dermatologist-developed line sold at Ulta. All of my products (right down to the $78 eye cream) are free. What do I purchase on my own because they work? Mary Kay...

Anonymous said...

Ok you ladies are insane! Calling toxic poison toxic poison is not fearmongering or exaggerating! There is absolutely no reason to put these horrible disgusting fake ingredients on our NATURAL GOD GIVEN Skin. Period!! We are nature, not plastic or toxic artificial poisons, but you all are clearly acting like the latter...

Unknown said...

IF A BIG MAKEUP CHAIN CAN'T OR WON'T REVEAL INGREDIENTS, THAT RED FLAG IS HITTING YOU IN THE FACE.
I SELL YOUNIQUE COSMETICS, AND THEY MAKE IT VERY CLEAR WHAT IS NOT IN THEIR MAKEUP, AND IT'S CRUELTY FREE. WE ARE ALL OVER THE GLOBE, AND THEY ARE MADE RIGHT HERE IN THE USA, INTERESTED???, LET'S ME KNOW.
JOIN ME ON MY FB PAGE UNDER, KELLIE LAPIER, ARIZONA.

shalesa said...

Mary Kay is cruelty free as well

shalesa said...

Mary Kay is cruelty free as well

Unknown said...

The woman who wrote this article is very accurate and even missed a few ingredients such as the ones that start with "PEG". All of you please look at the environmental working group or the app called "healthy Living". Beautycounter products are the only ones that uphold the European union standards, that include 1500 band ingredients that are in our cosmetics and skin care lines because they are dangerous for our skin and body. Did any of you know that those products going to her bloodstream and 26 seconds so are you even looking at the ingredients? ?? Do your research please for the sake of your health. I joined beauty counter because the whole mission is to get safer products in the hands of women. There's so much crap out there that's inside of our daily products that we use

Unknown said...

Mary Kay upholds EU standards we are sold all over Europe. Try again

Sunshine said...

Mary Kay isn't sold in Europe, they "brag" about only being available in the US. Parabens are banned in Europe and are in every single Mary Kay product. Try again.

Kelsey said...

2014 SELDIA report (European direct selling organization) references MK multiple times. Not sure where you are getting your information about MK only being sold in the US. It is sold internationally and has been for years. I'll include my source as you did not include any references for your claims: http://www.seldia.eu/images/annual_report/Seldia_AR2015_web.pdf

Unknown said...

FYI: Mary Kay is not completely cruelty free.

http://www.snopes.com/critters/cruelty/avontesting.asp

Also, Younique claims to be cruelty free but, they do not know if some of the ingredients they use in their products have been tested on animals, prior to being added to their products. You can't claim cruelty free if you really don't know.

http://ethicalelephant.com/younique-animal-testing-not-cruelty-free/

Monica said...

Mary Kay absolutely follows EU Standards and is most definitely sold internationally. As far as the parabens, there are 5 parabens that are banned in Europe which Mary Kay complies with, the other parabens have been deemed safe for use... Read attached article http://europa.eu/rapid/press-release_IP-14-1051_en.htm

In addition, as far as the animal cruelity... Mary Kay does not test on animals unless required by law, which is only required in China, and yes this is something they are heavily working on with China for alternative testing methods. This is why they were removed from the cruelty-free list, but they are making every effort with China to change that. Everywhere else (all 35+ countries) they are cruelty-free. Read this article... https://newsroom.marykay.com/en/releases/mary-kay-leads-efforts-to-pursue-alternative-safety-testing-in-china

It is OK to have an opinion of which companies/products to use & support, research should be done if people are going to make claims to be sure to not provide inaccurate and uneducated information to the public. That being said, everyone should take the time to do their own personal research and find what works best with their body and beliefs.

Unknown said...

Does MK contain animal products?

Unknown said...

this is absolutely false

LFC said...

Mary Kay posts ALL their ingredients on their product boxes and on their website.
This is from their website:
Our Commitment to Product Safety
Our Always List
WE SCREEN We carefully screen every ingredient. If we can’t verify its safety, we won’t use it.

WE TEST To ensure product safety, quality and performance, we spend millions of dollars and conduct hundreds of thousands of tests every year, including clinical studies with independent dermatologists, ophthalmologists and other medical experts.

WE INVESTIGATE We actively investigate and monitor issues related to product safety and take action based on scientific fact.

WE PROHIBIT We go above and beyond the more than 1,300 ingredients banned worldwide to meet our high standards of product safety.

When it comes to product safety, we always put you first.