Avon vs Mary Kay: An Honest Side-by-Side Look
Two options, side by side, with the real costs and the honest downsides. No hype, just what I'd want my own family to know before they choose.
| Avon | Mary Kay | |
|---|---|---|
| Overall rating | 3 | 3.5✓ |
| Monthly cost | $0 | $0 |
| Category | Network marketing | Network marketing |
| Pros | One of the best-known beauty brands in the world; Low barrier to start, with no large starter kit required; Earn 20% to 50% commission on qualifying customer orders; Discount of 20% to 50% on your own qualifying orders | Starts at $35 with the Mary Kay eStart; Earn 30% profit right away on sales through your online My Shop; Up to 50% profit once you are active; No recruiting required, and inventory is never required; Mary Kay buys back unused inventory at 90% of your cost within a year |
| Cons | Commission tiers only apply to orders of $40 or more; Your commission level depends on your sales volume; Earning more usually means building and managing a team; Margins on lower-priced beauty items are small | The 50% profit level needs $450 in personal retail sales in a month; Optional Pro Start and inventory purchases add to your costs; You must sign up through an existing Beauty Consultant; Career car rewards go to the top 1% of the sales force |
| Verdict | Avon is a familiar, low-cost way to start a beauty side business, especially if you already have friends and family who buy makeup and skin care. Income depends on steady customer orders, so it works best for people who enjoy selling face to face or on social media. | Mary Kay is one of the most established direct sales companies, with a low $35 start and a model built on selling products rather than recruiting. The 90% inventory buyback is a real safety net. Your profit depends on retail sales: the full 50% needs $450 in personal sales in a month, so it suits people who enjoy selling beauty products person to person and online. |
Choose Avon if you want a famous beauty brand without a large starter kit. Choose Mary Kay if you want a $35 start, no required inventory and a 90% buyback safety net.
Avon
A beauty company, founded in 1886, where Ambassadors sell makeup, skin care and personal care products and earn commission on customer orders.
Mary Kay
A direct sales beauty company, in business for over 60 years, where Independent Beauty Consultants sell skin care, makeup and fragrance.
What I chose for my family
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