They both know that years ago I used to be an independent product consultant for Mary Kay. I used to teach classes and most of my close friends and family used Mary Kay products from head to toe. Dena and Val have recently asked me for info as to why I stopped using and selling Mary Kay.
Here is what I have to say about that.....
The book that changed my life is called "Green Babies, Sage Moms" written by Lynda Fassa (who believe it or not, I am friends with on FaceBook. Crazy huh'? She is an amazing woman.) This is not a book just for someone who is pregnant, wants to be pregnant or even a mom. This book is for anyone and everyone who wants an explanation of what is going on around us. Lynda writes from her heart, sharing all that she has learned. And it all makes sense. From the foods we eat to the lotions and makeup we apply to our bodies every day. This book discusses how candles and air fresheners are harming our kids and the real truth behind hair coloring and our favorite mani's and pedi's. I highly recommend you buy and read this book. Highly.
In Lynda's 2nd chapter, titled "Beauty Is More Than Skin Deep" I found information that rocked my world and I have never been the same. Thank God, I have not been the same. She referenced a 2004 British study in the Journal of Applied Toxicology that cited parabens as a "cause for concern." As a former 7 year Pharmaceutical Representative, this, of course intrigued me. So I headed to google to find this study and dissected it myself. Here it is.
Basically what this study showed was 20 women, who had breast cancer, donated their surgically removed tumors to science. And scientists found trace amounts of parabens inside all 20 tumors. Scientists, then of course, concluded that there was a link between parabens and breast cancer. Parabens are NOT a naturally occurring element in our body, so how did the women get the parabens inside their tumors??
And as most of you know, studies have linked products containing parabens to a variety of hormone disorders, including underdeveloped testes in infant boys, to quote Lynda Fassa.
"Over and over, parabens have been linked to cancer in lab animals." "In lab tests on sunscreen that contained parabens, fish and frogs began to change sex, from male to female." There are safe sunscreens to buy and make yourself. But for the most part the sunscreens on the shelves are doing more damage than they are helping us. Sick....I know.
To quote The Cancer Prevention Coalition, a nonprofit advocacy group, "The cosmetic industry has been as reckless as the tobacco industry and the FDA has remained silent."
Common parabens to look for on your labels are...
-methylparaben
-propylparaben
-ethylparaben
-butylparaben
"About 99% of all consumer cosmetics contain one or more parabens, a group of powerful preservatives that extend a product's shelf life."
All of this makes me sick! WHY in the heck (submit a different word there) are these chemicals still allowed in our body care and makeup products??????????????
Why are chemical ingredients banned in other countries that are allowed here in the U.S.???? WHAT IS GOING ON??????
I can't control the FDA. Heck, I can't even control my own kids or my life, but I CAN inform YOU of what is going. I can teach you what to LOOK for when you are at the store deciding on what product to put in your cart. And if you can't get it at your local store, you have Amazon.
So, please start reading labels. If you put it on you or you put it in you BE INFORMED about what is in it. Take responsibility for yourself. No one else is going to do it for you.
It took me 3 days to muster up enough courage to go look at the ingredients in my Mary Kay products,after finding the study I referenced above. When I did, I was shocked. A few of the Mary Kay products had 4 different parabens in them, not just 1, but all 4 of the parabens used in 1 product!!!!!! And all but 2 or 3 of them had at least 1 paraben in them. So, obviously, I stopped selling Mary Kay. I sent back what inventory I had left and was refunded at 60% of the value, if I remember correctly and, get this.....I was blacklisted. Blacklisted=I would never be able to sign up and sell Mary Kay products again, for the rest of my life. To that I replied, that is fine...if you don't green your products up, why would I want to sell them anyway?? If I was selling something that could have been causing cancer in my family and friends than I was D.O.N.E.! They Blacklist anyone who returns the products back to the company for partial reimbursement.
I then switched to Mineral Fusion for all of my makeup products, and I love them. I buy them at Whole Foods, Earth Fare and Amazon.
I make my own facial cleanser, my moisturizer, eye makeup remover and hair gel is organic virgin coconut oil that I buy here and I buy my shampoo, conditioner, shower gel, lotion and hairspray from Whole Foods. Whole Foods has a generic line called 365 and I pay $4.99 for a 32 oz fl oz bottle of their shampoo, conditioner, shower gel and lotion.
I buy the unscented shampoo, conditioner, shower gel and lotion. I put the body wash into a 16 oz glass bottle with a lotion type pump that I buy from here and then add my own "do" essential oils to make one FABULOUS concoction (click here to see that post)!!!! If you have any questions about "do" message me or click here. Their essential oils are the absolute best in my opinion. And the only essentials oils I will use or recommend.
So.... that is why I quit selling Mary Kay products.
You can reference the Environmental Working Group to see how your body care products measure up. It is a very cool website and they even have an app now.
Keep living green. Make a step every day. Even if it is a little one.
**Update May 2017. I am currently using and loving LimeLight by Alcone. Check it out here.... www.deblye.com
I currently wrote this... What facial products do I currently use?
***Update: A Mary Kay consultant contacted me January 2017 sharing that Mary Kay is removing parabens from quite a few of their products (see pics below for list). That is wonderful!!!! But please keep reading labels. We should not be putting anything on our bodies that has aluminum in it. Here are the pictures the Mary Kay consultant shared with me. Thank you Sally for sharing.
******Update: A beautiful lady by the name of Bella contacted me this week letting me know that Mary Kay has in fact created a new skin care line that doesn't use parabens! Wonderful! Launched in 2020!! Thank you Bella for contacting me and letting me know. I really appreciate it.
I am still going to leave this post up so everyone can see the lists of ingredients that we should be avoiding. Take care everyone and God Bless!
Posts
Thank you Kerri, from the bottom of my heart, for taking the time to put this article together. It breaks my heart to see someone fighting illness while paying good money to put harmful chemicals on and in their bodies. This is a keeper!
ReplyDeleteI am so glad you posted this. I have recently left another multi-level company for many of the same reasons you have posted above for leaving Mark Kay and they are still chasing me.. (weird, huh?) I will look into that book and will respond in kind if they do not stop with the emails. How many times do I have to say no? LOL
ReplyDeleteTeri
Hi Teri, I highly recommend Lynda's book! I don't know how I didn't see your post. Please forgive me. I hope they stopped chasing after you. Keep striving for GREEN! Blessings, Kerri
DeleteThanks for this informative article. I've been really studying up on the harmful ingredients of parabens and toxic metals in products. I was recently a MK Consultant but stopped. 1. Because I didn't enjoy it, and 2. because of my study on chemicals. Thanks for the Mineral Fusion line. I'll have to check it out. I saw that Target also sells that line. Have a great day.
ReplyDeleteHi Jen! You are very welcome. I am now using and loving Ava Anderson's mineral powder foundation and I love it. :-) I still use Mineral fusion for everything else.
DeleteWow...thank you for this information!
ReplyDeleteYou are very welcome.
DeleteI just recently left Mary Kay after learning about these chemicals as well. Glad to see more ladies on board with safer skin care! :)
ReplyDeleteHi Crystal! Happy to hear from another GREEN sister!
DeleteI am looking and looking for where you found these ingredients.. please help me-- I'm currently in love with MK products...
ReplyDeleteHI Jessica! Back when I wrote this the ingredients were on the outside of the box the products came in. You can also reach out to the company via email or phone and ask for an ingredient list. Hope this helps. Keep striving for GREEN! Kerri
DeleteI had a mary kay get together so a friend could tell me about the business. I asked about their "natural" line of products that had no fragrance etc... But the first bottle I looked at of their natural stuff had aluminum in it and I'm like oh no... I'm not sure about this.
ReplyDeleteHI Stacy! I stay away from aluminum altogether. I even quit using aluminum foil in the kitchen. There is to much research that links aluminum with cancer and Alzheimer's. Hope this helps! Stay GREEN! Kerri
DeleteNYR Organic is the REAL DEAL!!!! I sell their products, but I'm not trying to sell them to y'all. I jyst want people to know there are Total green products out there! Best company EVER! PLEASE, pass it on....save people from our FDA that doesn't care about people, just money!
ReplyDeleteThanks Sherri! I will check it out. As of now I am using Ava Anderson and LimeLight by Alcone. Thank you for sharing! Stay GREEN! Blessings, Kerri
DeleteWow, I've always found myself to be a very Green person. I currently sell Mary Kay and I love so much of their products. But after reading this, and continue to do research, I can't see how I can continue. Thank you for the information. I started using essential oils, so maybe i can make the switch easily ;)
ReplyDeleteHI Jessica! Yes, it's hard in the beginning. I have switched to Ava Anderson and LimeLight by Alcone. I have friends whom I buy from. Keep striving for GREEN! Blessings, Kerri
DeleteWhat chemicals are in Mary Kay and what products have them? I don't want to use.
ReplyDeleteI have been looking into Younique makeup.
Hi Anonymous! Back when I wrote this it was all the parabens. There are 5 possible parabens that are used as preservatives in makeup, lotions, shampoos, etc. I wrote about them in this article. I remember one Mary Kay product had 4 out of the 5 of the possible parabens in it. If you contact your Mary Kay consultant, she should be able to answer that question. I just looked at the ingredients on the Mary Kay products and researched what each ingredient is. It was scary.
DeleteI hope and pray they have changed the ingredients they use by now. But I don't know that for sure.
I have started to use Younique too. Though I was surprised after I had bought the products, some products do have aluminum in them. We need to stay completely away from aluminum too. Make sure you read your labels.
I love Ava Anderson's line. A friend of mine sells it, if you are interested.
Keep Living Green!!!
Kerri
Is there a way I can follow you or are you on Facebook? Im looking into a "greener" living
ReplyDeleteHI Megan! My Facebook page is called the same...."It's time to green." Let me know if you can't find it. There is a link to it from this blog too, on the main page. I'd love to help in any way I can. Keep striving for GREEN!!! Blessings, Kerri
DeleteHi and thank you for your article. I've been using Mary Kay products for over 20 years. I used to sell it as well, but haven't for at least 10 years. I'm slowly gaining more and more information about what products my family and I are putting into our bodies. I'm hoping Mary Kay had changed since your article.
ReplyDeleteA side note about you returning the products. You not being able to sell MK again had nothing to do with your reasons for returning the products. Since these products were in your home, they had to be destroyed. They refunded you and took on an expense by doing so (refunded you and they cannot resell they products). All MK consultants have the option of either going inactive (where you'll be able to sell anytime in the future that you wish) or by terminating that ability by returning the products. This is described in the initial agreement you signed. So they did not blacklist you for any other reason other than it being their policy.
Thank you again for your insight. This is all so overwhelming because they put so much crap in our food and products. I'm sickened by it all.
Hi Brandi! Thank you for clarifying that for me in regards to being blacklisted. No one explained that. I thought it was because they hated me. Lol. Just kidding. Keep striving for GREEN Brandi. It is more work. But in the end we will be healthier. Blessings! Kerri
DeleteGood for you, Kerri! It's amazing what companies can get away with putting in their products! Have you ever tried Arbonne products? We have skincare, cosmetics and nutritional supplements that are vegan and free of parabens and so many other nasty toxins. I'd love to share more info with you, if you're interested. :)
ReplyDeleteHI Thuc! Thank you. Yes, I used to sell Arbonne too. That is where I went after Mary Kay, if I remember right. Gosh, now I can't remember why I left Arbonne. That's sad isn't? But now I am using Ava Anderson and LimeLight by Alcone and loving them. Thank you and stay GREEN! Blessings, Kerri
DeleteBeautycounter is a great option for safer products that do not compromise on performance. We self-ban 1500 questionable ingredients. I hope you'll check us out!
ReplyDeleteThanks Anonymous! It is so great to see other companies greening up their line!!! So awesome! Thank you for sharing! Stay GREEN!! Blessings, Kerri
DeleteExcellent info Kerri. I have known about these chemicals in personal care products, including MK for many years. I have used and recommend Blackbox Cosmetic skin, hair and personal care almost 5 years now and they are now coming out with a makeup line, all chemical free, gluten free, green with refill packaging, and very affordable, no hype company. I highly recommend their products to all my clients.
ReplyDeleteBlessings,
Sue Seward
GlutenFreeLady
HI Sue! Thank you so much for sharing. Isn't is awesome to see how many green companies we have to choose from now?! It's amazing! Thank you and stay GREEN! Blessings, Kerri
DeleteHi, may I know where need I check the ingredients on Mary product? After read your blog, directly I took my cleanser and moisturizer to check the ingredients but it not wrote at the back of packaging.
ReplyDeleteHello hihi, it could have been on the box that the product came in. If you don't have that, you can go online and send the company an email or call them and ask for the ingredients. I hope that helps. Keep striving for Green! Blessings, Kerri
DeleteI've eliminated about 80% of lotion use (maybe more like 90%) in my family--except for my facial creams! When it comes to vanity, I'm having a hard time. But I am getting there more and more. I have a friend pushing Mary Kay on me and I want to support her, but so far only use the make-up remover and concealer. Mary Kay just reeks of parabens, IMO.
ReplyDeleteHI Jodi! You will laugh at what I normally use for my moisturizer......organic coconut oil!! But if you want something more I have to tell you about LimeLight by Alcone. One of my bestie sells it. I had to buy their line when I saw the transformation of her skin!! Simply amazing!! Let me know if you want more info. Yes, I agree on Mary Kay. I hoped They would have greened up their line since I wrote this article back in 2014....but that doesn't seem to be so. :-(. The only body and hand lotions I use are from Whole Foods...their 365 line is inexpensive and doTERRA. Love them both. Thanks for reading and keep striving for GREEN!! Blessings, Kerri
DeleteI have been using Mary Kay since the early eighties. After reading this article and doing my own research, I contacted my consultant about returning my products. They have all been purchased within the past four to six weeks and only one has been opened. That one would have to be a product return, but the other three items could be restocked and sold to another customer. I did not tell the consultant the real reason (toxins) that I want to return the items. They were expensive, so I offered to to buy some non-makeup items, thinking this would make her more inclined to refund the difference. She doesn't want it to mess up her inventory, so she will only accept two of the items on trade. She wants me to wait to do the rest of this transaction. I think she is hoping I will keep the last of the unopened items. No way am I going to do that! Kerri, may I ask what decade of life you are in? My daughter is in her early twenties. After researching about the toxins in Mary Kay, she now uses coconut oil, avocado oil and olive oil. There is no exfoliating ingredient in these, and as far as I know, nothing for helping to maintain and improve elasticity. I am in my fifties and look about ten years younger than my real age. I'm just not sure those oils would be right for me. Even at my age, I still have the oily T-zone. I even have oily eyelids, which keeps me from being wrinkled. What do you suggest?
ReplyDeleteHi Anonymous!
DeleteI am so glad to hear that your consultant is working with you on this. I would think heavily on telling her the truth now or at some point. Her eyes need to be opened. Refer her to the book Green Babies, Sage Moms....it was a major eye opener for me in the beginning.
I am 40. :-) And I will tell you that I am starting to switch over to other products. One of my best friends uses LimeLight by Alcone and I have seen an AMAZING difference in her skin. She looks 15 years younger. So, I have started to use their products and to say that I impressed would be an understatement. The products are amazing. You can check out her website at www.deblye.com These products are so green and clean you could eat them if you wanted! lol
I hope this helps! Take care of yourself and keep living GREEN!! Blessings, Kerri
Mary Kay offers a 100% money back guarantee even if you used the WHOLE product. If your consultant isn't honoring that, something is very wrong. The company will replace the product for her. Inventory is a lame excuse. You can contact the company directly if she won't service you as agreed to in the consultant agreement and they WILL honor the policy. Their return policy is the most generous and fair of any I've seen. It's too bad about the parabens.
DeleteJen, Thank you for sharing this information. Blessings, Kerri
DeleteOlive oil, avocado oil and coconut oil are OILS. They are not noncomedogenic and just because they are "natural" does not make them better for your skin. Obviously they will clog pores. Arsenic is natural but it's not good for you. A little common sense would go a long way. You also talk about the use of ingredients that are "harmful." Often when these ingredients are tested they are tested at levels way beyond what would equate to normal human consumption. At low levels these ingredients can be harmless. I did lots of research in college and I know how to interpret statistics. I am not fooled by sensationalistic blogs.
DeleteHi Susan, Thank you so much for your input. Though I am not sure you even read this post or the comments made by other readers. At low levels but constant levels, ingredients can be harmful. And I encourage you to research the Oil Cleansing Method, which is what is being referred to above. OCM does not clog pores. I used it for years and my complexion was more radiant than ever. Parabens and aluminum in our products ARE harmful which is why I referenced a research article on breast cancer tumors. I am very glad you do research. I do too. That's exactly what I encourage people to do through this blog. RESEARCH. We need to know what we are putting in and on our bodies. Just because a food or a cosmetic is sold doesn't mean it is safe for us in the long run. Thanks for stopping by It's Time to GREEN. God Bless, Kerri
DeleteThanks so much for posting! I'm a Manager and Educator with Beautycounter and doing MK research - I have a client who wants to switch to safer and currently uses some MK products. I've been searching high and low for their ingredients and can't find them - not even on EWG. Since I can't find them on MK's website and I don't own any MK, any idea where I can look up MK products? I wouldn't be surprised if I can't... Sad that there are companies out there using harmful ingredients and hiding it from their customers - makes me angry that they put profit ahead of people! I've learned a lot since joining Beautycounter since we're all about educating consumers, so thanks for getting the word out too! Since learning some of the insider tricks, I now avoid Fragrance/Parfum as well as Parabens, and 1,500+ other ingredients Beautycounter has banned from their products. When we know better, we do better, right?!
ReplyDeleteKerri - have you heard of Beautycounter? It's a pretty new company, so most people haven't yet, but press coverage and word of mouth are really starting to take off. I'm a huge fan of our Ingredient Selection Process and the testing of makeup for heavy metals (I didn't know heavy metals were an issue until I joined the Beautycounter team - so glad I know now!). I think it sets us apart from others. We're also a B Corp and are lobbying Washington for tougher industry regulations - so the whole market will one day move forward. Everyone deserves to have safe products! Take care, Stacey
Hi Stacey,
DeleteBack in the day I had a guide that listed all of the ingredients and of course I had the products in my supply. Sadly, I didn't keep the guide. Have you tried calling Mary Kay and asking? I would approach it from an "I'm gathering information about your ingredients" angle. They may be more receptive to sharing. Just an idea.
Knowledge is key today. Body care and the food we eat.
I have heard of Beautycounter Stacey. Someone posted back in February about it. It sounds amazing!
Thank you for your post!
Keep staying GREEN!
Kerri
You may contact your local MK consultant and she can print out the ingredients of any product that MK sells. It's not a mystery and it's not deceptive. Stop sensationalizing nonsense.
DeleteHi again Susan, As you can see from my comment above that is exactly what I recommended Stacey to do. Thank you again for your input. Blessings, Kerri
DeleteThank you so much for speaking out I'm about to do a Live so I am gathering information to ensure I explain things accurately I am a Beauty Guide with Limelight By Alcone like your friend thanks for the amazing information
ReplyDeleteHi Jennifer!!!
DeleteAWESOME about LimeLight! I love everything I have bought from them!
You are more than welcome!
Keep living GREEN!!
Kerri
Thank you so much for this well sited info! It's going in my Life Tips Pinterest board for keeps. I've felt like God has been answering my prayers for a while now to help me and my family live a long life to serve Him well with and setting TONS of information before me about how to do just that. Not dying certainly helps... This may be just what I need to finally let go of my MK business as well. I'm going to pass this on to my director and see how she responds. Thanks! :)
ReplyDeleteHi Jessee, You are very welcome. I understand that feeling. With knowledge we can all live longer, healthier lives. It was a real shock to me when I learned that just because something is available for purchase in a store or from someone doesn't mean it is good for us. We have to learn how to read labels and research the ingredients. Keep striving for GREEN Jessee! God Bless.
DeleteThank you for sharing this article....
ReplyDeleteYou are very welcome! Keep living GREEN. Blessings, Kerri
DeleteHello��
ReplyDeleteI just read your article. I have been looking into non-toxic makeup, and that's when I came across Limelight. I recently saw that Limelight has a paraben in the Botanical foundation. I'm really disappointed about that.��
Hi Danielle,
DeleteHow this one slipped by me is beyond me. I contacted LimeLight and they responded that the paraben they use is a wax based paraben. Which means it sits on the skin and does not absorb into the skin. They are currently working on reformulating the foundation to remove this paraben all together. Thank you for bringing this to my attention! Stay GREEN!
Here is a complete list of harmful ingredients you should look out for when you are pregnant. Avoid these at all costs! https://www.ladysoma.com/harmful-ingredients-for-women-pregnant
ReplyDeleteHere is a complete list of harmful ingredients you should look out for when you are pregnant. Avoid these at all costs! https://www.ladysoma.com/harmful-ingredients-for-women-pregnant
ReplyDeleteHello Smith,
DeleteGreat list! Thank you!!
hi. im from malaysia. i want know if mary kay have bad reputation in your country? can you give me link or article people using that product have breaout face or anythig else? in my country this product not sale in any mall just got from BC.So far this product never get complain. please asking if my question not clear. sorry my english broken 😩
ReplyDeleteHello Liha Azhar,
DeleteIt depends on who you talk to here. For me personally, I will not use Mary Kay products. They need to clean up their line of products. I hear they have started to, to which I say THANK GOODNESS!! Right now I am using LimeLight and doTERRA products. As there are many green companies out there you have to do some reseach. Reading labels is the best way to stay healthy and live green. Learn what the chemical names mean by researching. I hope this helps!
hi kerri, thank you so much for sharing this. i just look at my mk package which opened and tried last night. this morning, i looked at the ingredients and shocked!there is paraben. all this while, i always opt for paraben free product. i feel sad and tricked by "pink do green" motto. when I start searching, your blog was on the top result list. I think I need to follow your decision to stop using this.
ReplyDeleteHi Murni, Yes it is very sad. That is why I stopped using their products. I hear they are trying to green up some of their products. Which is great. But for now their are greener choices out there. Right now my go to products are doTERRA and LimeLight. Take care and keep striving to live a healthy life!
DeleteKerri, I recently viewed an 8 episode docu-video called the Broken Brain by Dr. Mark Hyman. One toxin almost everyone of the professionals spoke about toxins and one of the worst is phthalates. Have you done any study on that toxin in beauty or healthcare products?
ReplyDeleteHi Sharon. I haven't found phthalates in many beauty or healthcare products. But where I have found them is in candles, air fresheners, plug-ins, anything that makes the house smell perfumey. I switched to coconut and bees wax based candles with no lead in the wick. They are more expensive but when you are talking about the health of my family, phthalates don't belong here. Always read your labels. One everything. Hope this helps!
DeleteThere are lots of lines that no longer use parabens if you want check out www.motives.com/littlecharisma
ReplyDelete