FAQs

Mary Kay is a direct sales company and a beauty brand. Mary Kay was founded on a simple but powerful idea: empowering women through entrepreneurship. For over 60 years, we’ve helped women build and grow their own businesses on their own terms through the Mary Kay selling opportunity, offering high-quality skincare and color cosmetics backed by science and integrity. With Mary Kay, entrepreneurs have the flexibility to run their businesses how, where, and when they desire – creating opportunities that fit their unique goals and lifestyles.

The company is named after its founder, Mary Kay Ash, a visionary entrepreneur who started the business in 1963. After years of working in direct sales, Mary Kay Ash wanted to create a company where women could achieve success on their own terms. She built the business around her name to reflect her personal commitment, values, and belief in empowering women. Today, the name Mary Kay represents a legacy of confidence, community, and opportunity for women around the world and is recognized as one of the world’s most beloved consumer brands. Learn more about Mary Kay Ash’s story here.   

Mary Kay Inc. employs over 3,500 corporate employees across its U.S. and global in-market facilities. In addition, Mary Kay enriches the lives of Independent Beauty Consultants in over 40 markets around the world who work their independent small businesses and service their customers with quality Mary Kay products.  

Direct selling is a business model in which products or services are sold directly to consumers, outside of traditional retail stores. Sales occur through our independent sales representatives who build personal relationships with customers and offer one-to-one service, education, and product recommendations—often through in-person interactions, social media, e-commerce tools, or virtual consultations. For customers, direct selling provides a personalized shopping experience and access to trusted product expertise. For our independent beauty consultants, direct selling empowers them to run their own businesses with flexible schedules. 

Mary Kay products are sold in more than 40 markets around the world by Independent Beauty Consultants. Our Independent Beauty Consultants are your local personal beauty advisors who can recommend products based on your unique needs and preferences.

It’s simple! If you are located in the U.S.A., please visit the Be A Beauty Consultant page to learn more. Once you sign up, you’ll gain access to training, tools, and a supportive network to help you start your business your way—online, in person, or both.

No. Pyramid schemes are illegal. Mary Kay is a direct sales company that offers the opportunity for entrepreneurs to earn money through the sale of fabulous skin care and cosmetic products. We have a 60+ year history of being a leader in the direct selling industry. 

Direct selling companies like Mary Kay, who are members of the Direct Selling Association (DSA), are held to the highest standards under the DSA Code of Ethics, to which all DSA members must abide. Dozens of America’s best-selling brands and most-loved products utilize the direct selling model, which is both legal and legitimate.

Mary Kay Ash founded the company in 1963 and to this day, Mary Kay is still a family owned and operated company. In 2023, Ryan Rogers, Mary Kay Ash’s grandson was appointed Chief Executive Officer.

Yes, we’d love to meet you. The lobby of our headquarters building is open to the public during business hours. The headquarters building is home to the Mary Kay Museum, a 3,500 square feet of display space that details our rich history and legacy. To learn more, visit the museum page at The Mary Kay Museum. 

To purchase Mary Kay products, visit Around the World section and select the website for your desired location. From there, you can purchase products through an Independent Beauty Consultant either online or in-person. Online ordering availability may vary by market.

Your Independent Beauty Consultant is your personal guide to finding the perfect products for your unique skincare and beauty needs. They can provide individualized advice, tailored product recommendations, and personalized service to help you look and feel your best. You can also take our online skincare quiz to discover customized suggestions based on your skin type and goals. To get connected with a local Beauty Consultant or to explore our full range of products, visit www.marykay.com.  

Mary Kay is committed to cruelty-free product development. We advocate for alternatives to animal testing and partner with organizations that promote animal welfare globally. Nevertheless, there are still some governments that conduct animal testing before they will allow certain products to be sold in their country.

We stand behind our products 100%. If you’re not completely satisfied, contact your Independent Beauty Consultant or our Customer Support team (with valid proof of purchase) for an easy return or exchange. If you are located in the U.S.A., you can reach our Customer Service team through the Contact Us page. 

Yes. Mary Kay has been committed to sustainable business practices and operations since the beginning. Every year, we publish our sustainability report outlining our vision, continuous progress toward our goals and our global impact. To learn more about our current sustainability initiatives visit Sustainability at Mary Kay. 

Mary Kay has four company sponsored foundations supporting causes that impact women in the U.S., Canada, Brazil and China. In addition, Mary Kay supports many causes that support women and their families including domestic violence support services, cancer research and environmental conservation efforts as part of our Pink Changing Lives® global program Since 1996, Mary Kay has provided more than $230 million in monetary and in-kind donations to support women and their families. Learn more about our social impact work on the Mary Kay Global Website.