Is Beautycounter right for YOUR business? + FAQs (is Beautycounter an MLM?)

I remember my exact thoughts over 1 year ago when I saw all of my Nutritionist friends start promoting Beautycounter. I thought:

Hmm...that sounds intriguing, but I really don't want to become that spammy MLM lady.

Also...I have barely any social media following, who would I sell to?

I have my own business. Would this really be worth it?

...aaaand as you probably guessed, I decided to take the leap over 1 year ago when I partnered with Beautycounter, knowing that it WASN'T going to be the main focus of my business.

I did, however, view it as yet another income stream that allowed me to make money from talking about something I genuinely loved, and being part of a mission I was passionate about.

And since I know that there are a lot of Nutritionists, NTP’s and wellness bloggers who are considering taking the leap into becoming a Beautycounter consultant, I thought i'd rip the veil off what working with Beautycounter looks like in my business, and whether or not it might be right for YOUR business.

I’ll also be answering the most frequently asked questions I get about becoming a Beautycounter consultant. 

Here's what “selling” Beautycounter looks like in my business.

(I use quotes around "selling" because I view my partnership with Beautycounter as sharing with and solving problems for my audience rather than selling.)

• About 1x a week i’ll do an Instagram story about my skincare/makeup routine

• Occasionally i’ll write blog posts/e-mails to my list about the products I use to keep my hormonal acne at bay and how I was able to lighten up my sun spots and weird “sun mustache” without resorting to hydroquinone (<<< scary shit)

• A few times a year i’ll host a "social" (i.e. a Beautycounter party) like the one I did with my mom most recently during my trip to Colorado. Keep in mind I don't have many in-person contacts here in Maui, and i’m ALWAYS traveling, so in-person events aren’t really doable for me. The only other social i've done was on Facebook live (<<< super fun by the way, and great for anyone who has an online/social media presence)

• Occasionally i’ll send out free samples to the first 10 or so people that DM me after seeing my Instagram post/story. (<<< People LOVE free samples and are usually hooked after trying them, which turns them into customers)

THAT'S IT. 

Things I don't do to promote Beautycounter:

• I don't post about Beautycounter on my personal Facebook page or text my old friends from high school, or DM people on Facebook/Instagram (<<< although these methods TOTALLY work for some people, just not my style).

• I don't stress about hitting monthly minimums.

• I don’t stress about recruiting people (if they come to me, awesome!)

• I don’t feel pressure from my team to sell a certain amount, or even sell anything, period. This works well for me, because I HATE being told what to do. (#Rebel)

• I simply share which products I love and have genuinely worked for me. I even share which products DON'T work for me, and why. (The cleansing balm wasn't my favorite. Too heavy for my acne prone skin.)

Stop selling. Start solving. - Zig Ziglar

Honestly, I focus on my online courses and 1:1 business clients 95% of the time, and those things will always be the priority of my business. 

But, part of having a personal brand is sharing the things/products/makeup/food/books etc. that I truly LOVE with my audience, and for me, Beautycounter is one of those things.

Plus...it's just a fun, feminine, girly outlet for me. Who doesn't like talking about makeup and skincare with their girlfriends?

High-quality, non-toxic makeup that WORKS? Sign me up. 

Becoming a Beautycounter consultant FAQ:

Is Beautycounter an MLM?

Ahhh yes the most common question I get about Beautycounter to date. Is Beautycounter an MLM? The truth is…no. Beautycounter is not technically an MLM. It is considered “direct retail” because you don’t HAVE to buy the products through a consultant. In fact, we even have partnerships with retailers like Goop, J. Crew and Target that really set Beautycounter apart as a business and stand out from the MLM crowd. Beautycounter CAN, however, appear as an MLM because as a consultant, you do have the opportunity to build a team under you. Learn more about making Beautycounter a part of your business (and learning EVERYTHING I wish I knew, before joining, by clicking the button below!)

*Side note: MLM’s get a bad rap because of the actions of certain people who join those MLMs, not the businesses themselves. So...like…don’t spam your Facebook friends over messenger, or text old friends you haven’t talked to in years about your new “business” and you’ll be fine :)

Afraid your friends will judge you for starting a side hustle? Hmmm…I think this says more about their own career unhappiness than it does about you. I imagine if I were still stuck in a 9-5 job I hated, and one of my old friends was traveling the world, spending more time with her kids, or working from home all thanks to sharing her favorite beauty products online, I might be a hater too. 

Do you have to hit a monthly minimums?

No monthly minimums! You do have to hit $1200 in sales every 6 months however, to stay “active”. This sounds like a lot, but even if you only do 1 social every six months and that's it, this number is easy to hit. 

Is Beautycounter vegan?

Not entirely, although most Beautycounter products are vegan. Here’s a blurb from their website about whether or not Beautycounter products are vegan:

"Most of our products do not contain ingredients sourced from animals, such as musks, oils, and egg- and milk-derived ingredients. There are a few exceptions: lanolin, carmine, fish oil and beeswax; the products we use these in are listed below.” 

To learn more about which Beautycounter products are NOT vegan, click this link and they list them all out for you. 

How much does it cost to sign up to become a Beautycounter consultant?

It costs $98 to sign up as a Beautycounter consultant. And no, you don’t have to purchase any of the starter sets to get started. I started with only the charcoal bar and mask, thats it! But the benefit of purchasing a starter kit upon enrolling is #1 they are deeply discounted from the normal price, and #2 You get to try a bunch of different products, photography/video them for social media, sample them out, etc. (Great for insta stories!)

How much money can you make as a Beautycounter consultant?

The answer to this question, as you may have guessed, is completely variable. There are some women that sign up just for their own discount, and make enough extra cash each month to fund their habit (yes, you make commission on your own purchases!).

But to give you a more personal example, i’ve been a consultant now for a little over a year, and to be honest I don’t put a lot of effort into promoting Beautycounter. My online business courses and clients take priority in my business 95% of the time, because that’s where I make the bulk of my money.

Earnings as a Beautycounter Consultant in the U.S. may vary significantly and depend on many factors, such as dedication to selling/mentoring. Not all Consultants will earn money. To see more about the earnings and costs of Beautycounter Consultants, please view the 2021 Income Disclosure Statement at www.beautycounter.com/ids

What is the Beautycounter consultant discount?

As a consultant you get a 25% off discount (including your own purchases!).

What is Beautycounter's commission structure for consultants?

As a consultant you start at 25% commission, but that percentage increases (up to 35%!) based on how much you sell each month.

What is the difference between being a Beautycounter Band of Beauty member and a Consultant?

The Beautycounter band of beauty rewards program is for people who love Beautycounter products but do not want to become a consultant. It is a 29$ yearly membership that gives you free shipping on orders over $100, 15% product credit on all purchases, and a free gift upon sign up. Learn more about the Beautycounter Band of Beauty program here. 

Can you be successful if you don’t have a social media following?

YES! Actually, i'd say that if you have a lot of in person contacts (friends, family, colleagues) your chance of quickly growing you business and selling a hefty amount of product is much higher. There's nothing quite as powerful as talking about safer skincare, in person, with your friends and family members. 

Can you be successful without in-person contacts?

That being said, I became a consultant right after I moved to Maui...meaning, I knew pretty much no one. All I had at the time was a few hundred Instagram followers and a supportive Mom. But I was still able to make it work and grow my client list without having to spam old FB friends. 

So, WHY Beautycounter?

The answer to this question is obviously personal to me, and your reason for becoming a Beautycounter consultant could be completely different. But I decided to take this opportunity for a few reasons:

1. The products work. And as anyone who has ever struggled with hormonal acne knows, I was ready to do just about anything to clear up the painful, embarrassing cysts on my face, even if that meant chemical treatments (Yikes). I'm seriously lucky I never had to go that route though, thanks to these products.

       2. Beautycounter is all about education first. They are not out to scare you that your current skin cream is going to give you cancer, but they are very adamant about informing consumers about the lack of regulation in the beauty industry, and WHY safer skincare is important.  

       3. Beautycounter uses a rigorous screening process to make sure their products meet the highest standards for safer beauty, and they are transparent in all they do. They also use the highest quality sourcing as possible yet still insure their products are high preforming and department store quality. 

       4. They sell ocean-safe sunscreen that smells incredible. No brainer. 

What is the biggest reason that I choose to become a consultant? Honestly? Nothing more than the fact that I like the products, I use them myself, and I like to share things I love with you guys! Selling skincare and makeup will never be the focus of my business, but it does give me a fun, girly, and social outlet that I enjoy, and it helps pay my bills too, which is just an added perk #girlsgottaeat

Interested in joining my team?

Want to chat 1:1?

Let’s see if it’s a good fit!

 XO,

Amie

What questions do you still have about Beautycounter? Leave them below!