Have you received an invite to join Younique?
Do you need additional information about direct sales companies and the MLM sector before making a final decision?
If that’s the case, this article is for you!
This Younique review is a good place to start your investigation journey.
I’m going to review Younique to decide if it really is the best MLM course out there.
I’ll talk about whether MLM is the right online business for you.
MLMs like Younique are a bit of a mixed bag. They CAN be a legitimate way to make money, but some have a reputation for literally ruining people’s lives – so it’s important to know what you’re getting, since each one is unique.
Like most of my readers, you were probably introduced to this one via a friend or some influencer you trust online.
And it makes sense why so many people recommend them:
Making money outside of a 9-5 can be… life-changing, to say the least.
So in this article, I want to help you explore two things:
- If MLMs are actually a worthwhile business to pursue
- If Younique is a worthwhile MLM
Before that, I want to clear the air on something.
There are A LOT of people out there who bash all MLMs in any form. However, I’m not one of those people.
Instead, I want to genuinely educate you about them so that you can make an informed decision on how to proceed.
If you’re unfamiliar with what MLMs actually do:
They’re businesses in which you pay money to a company for the ability to sell their products.
Sometimes the products are actually kind of decent (I still remember my mom throwing Pampered Chef parties when I was younger).
Other times the products are really poorly made and come with a high price tag.
Typically, the only way to really make money is to get people (mostly friends & family) to sign up with you for a recurring subscription.
If the product is 100% legitimate & valuable, it’s entirely possible to get people to sign-up and continue paying you.
If the product is subpar, you’ll usually burn those bridges kinda quickly and end up with $0 coming in each month.
The biggest issue I’ve seen is that this puts significant stress on your personal relationships, as you’re reliant on selling to your “network.”
Think about it: if you KNEW that every time your friend Sally called, she’d be trying to sell you on one of her products… you’d eventually stop answering Sally’s calls.
Now, this doesn’t mean MLMs are outright bad… it means you need to know what type of MLM you’re getting yourself into before you sign up.
Again, some MLMs provide real value to people, but MOST don’t – and so in this article, I’m going to explore what the case is with Younique.
But before that, I want to ask you a question: what if there was a way to build actual recurring, semi-passive income?
Income that:
- Doesn’t have inventory
- Doesn’t make you sell to your friends & family
- Doesn’t force you to recruit people onto your “team”
Something that you could make anywhere from $2,000 – $10,000 with consistently, month after month?
A stream of income that you can build as high (or low) as you feel like building it?
If that sounds interesting, you might want to think about using the Digital Rental Method.
If you wanna see what Younique looks like on the inside, keep reading.
Younique Overview
Founders: Derek Maxfield and Melanie Huscroft
Date Founded: 2012
Industry: Network Marketing
Website: youniqueproducts.com
Address: 3400 W. Mayflower Way, Lehi, UT 84043-3261
Telephone: (801) 207-9753
Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/YouniqueProducts
BBB Rating: A+
BBB Accreditation: Accredited Business since 10/27/2014
What Is Younique?
Younique is an American multi-level marketing company specializing in cosmetics and skincare.
The Lehi, Utah-based MLM company was launched in 2012 by CEO Derek Maxfield and co-founder Melanie Huscroft.
Between 2017 and 2019, 60% of Younique was owned by Coty, Inc.
Coty’s earnings rose in 2018 due to the takeover, with Younique seeing double-digit revenue growth in the second quarter.
However, Younique’s product sales and profits fell year over year in 2019, with Coty attributing the drop to decreasing hype, a complex business structure, growing customer awareness of the risks of MLM schemes, and Facebook’s algorithm changes.
In August 2019, Coty announced that it would cut relations with Younique, citing that Younique was “clearly different” from Coty’s other businesses.
Following regulatory approval, Coty will sell its majority interest to Younique’s original founders as soon as possible, according to the company.
The exit terms will not be made public.
How Younique Started
Maxfield and Melanie Huscroft, a brother and sister team, launched Younique, intending to turn it into a mission-driven business that would support The Younique Foundation. This organization provides healing and hope to young victims of sexual assault.
Derek wanted to draw on the untapped opportunities he saw in the direct-selling business model after 12 years of creating software for top players in the industry.
Derek’s passion is to provide a simplified digital experience in a traditional sales environment.
Instead of a traditional home party setting, Younique does this through social marketing and virtual parties.
He enjoys developing simple but powerful mobile technology that allows Younique Presenters to manage their whole business from the comfort of their mobile devices anytime and anywhere.
Melanie teamed up with her brother and collaborated to develop a completely new direct selling experience.
Younique has benefited from Melanie’s expertise in advertisement, art, marketing, purchasing, and sales, as well as her flair for fashion and beauty, since its inception.
Is Younique Cosmetics Going Out Of Business?
Despite dropping year-over-year product sales and profitability in 2019, and Coty parting relations with them, Younique seems to be going forward with a new array of cosmetic items that are scheduled to be introduced, such as:
- LUCRATIVE lip gloss
- BEACHFRONT tanning drops
- BEACHFRONT body cream
Is Younique A Mormon Company?
Both Derek and Melanie are from the Mormon-heavy state of Utah.
Both attended Brigham Young University and Rick’s College, which the Mormon Church established.
Derek was a missionary of the LDS church, which is typical of a young man from that religion.
Derek also wrote a book that talked about his faith after he suffered cancer.
What Charity Does Younique Approve?
During a chat with his wife Shelaine, Derek Maxfield expressed his wish that someone would “do something” to aid female survivors of child sexual trauma in their quest for hope, healing, and self-esteem.
They knew they could make a difference together and established The Younique Foundation, an organization dedicated to inspiring survivors worldwide.
Shelaine Maxfield continues to serve as its President and Chair of the Board of Directors.
What Does Younique Sell?
The brand takes pride in creating products inspired by three things: nature, love, and science.
According to the website younique.com:
“Scientific research is used in the development of Younique cosmetics to ensure that our products contain high-quality ingredients that enrich and nourish the skin. Younique starts with Mother Nature as a source of inspiration for our products. Our in-house scientific team then creates a formulation that pays homage to the source of inspiration while still providing cutting-edge products. Our mission is to have products that are safe, clean, and pure.”
The following is an overview of their products:
Makeup Products
- Eyes: brow, eyeliner, eye primer, eye shadow, lashes
- Face: BB cream, bronzer & blusher, concealer, contour, foundation
- Lips: lip care, lip gloss, lip stains, lipstick
Skin Care
- Their skincare collection includes serums, moisturizers, facial masks, toners, and cleansers.
- They also have a feature called Youology on their website, where you can create your own skincare solution with over 40,000 potential variations.
- You can also take a skincare quiz to see if you’re properly caring for your skin.
Fragrance
Rollerballs, fragrance sets, and signature scents are part of the fragrance collection.
Tools
They also have collections for just about everything, including brush sets, eye sets, lip sets, and face sets, among other things.
FAQs About The Products:
What Is Younique’s Best-Selling Product?
Younique Moodstruck 3D Fiber Lashes, which lengthen and thicken natural lashes, are perhaps the company’s most prominent offering.
It was their first successful beauty offering.
Touch Mineral liquid foundation, Moodstruck Splash liquid lipstick, and Moodstruck Epic mascara are among the best-selling items.
Is Younique Really All Natural?
They sell only goods that are based on natural ingredients, and the vast majority of them are completely natural.
The Natural Ingredient Resource Center (NIRC) defines an “all-natural” food as having no artificial colors, flavors, or preservatives and containing at least 95% naturally occurring components.
The remaining 5% could come from products that don’t meet their natural requirements but don’t have synthetic fragrances, artificial colors, or harmful fillers.
Is Younique Made In China?
Younique products are currently researched, developed, and tested in the United States.
The People’s Republic of China currently manufactures and packages the product.
Younique‘s long-term goal is to manufacture and package its products in the United States.
There is currently no timetable for this to happen.
Is Younique Makeup FDA Approved?
While FDA does approve color additives used in makeup (except coal tar hair dyes), they do not have the legal authority to approve makeup before they go on the market.
Makeup, however, must not be “adulterated” or “misbranded,” according to the law.
They must, for example, be safe for customers when used according to the label’s instructions or in the usual or intended manner, and they must be properly labeled.
Companies and people who sell makeup are legally responsible for their products’ safety and labeling.
If they have credible evidence that a cosmetic on the market is adulterated or misbranded, FDA will take action against it.
FDA takes action within its legal authority based on public health priorities and available resources.
Are Younique Products Toxic?
Their makeup isn’t chemical-free, but it’s targeted toward the naturally inclined and doesn’t have any harmful fillers.
Are Younique Products Paraben-Free?
All Younique products are paraben-free.
Are Younique Products Vegan?
Some are. Propolis, which is made by bees, is used in some items.
Do Younique Products Clog Pores?
Younique doesn’t have any non-comedogenic ingredients.
Is Younique A Pyramid Scheme?
In reality, most people don’t perform well with this MLM opportunity due to the high cost of the items and the need to sell $125 worth every four months.
The bonus of buying this quantity of product falls on the distributor if they don’t sell it.
This means that the only way to make a lot of money is to recruit more “presenters” into the company, making Younique very similar to a pyramid scheme in disguise.
So, Is Younique A Pyramid Scheme?
Yes and no.
Let’s take a look at the Wikipedia description of a pyramid scheme:
“A pyramid scheme is a business model that recruits members via a promise of payments or services for enrolling others into the scheme, rather than supplying investments or sale of products.”
So, based on that description, Younique isn’t a pyramid scheme because they have products that they actually market and sell.
However, although the majority of MLM companies have legitimate products or services, some MLMs sell very expensive goods that are difficult to sell and then mandate their members to sell a certain amount (quota) each month.
This means that the only way they can make decent money or avoid losing is to recruit more people to the company.
Although Younique’s “presenters” (also known as distributors, associates, or consultants) may earn money by selling the company’s expensive products, the presenters need to recruit more people to make good money.
But, when it comes to building a business, you have plenty of options.
And even if you’re dead set on becoming an MLM seller, you’ve got way better options than Younique MLM.
Keep in mind, I don’t get paid to promote any of the programs I review. I personally think MLM is a great business model, but you could end up leaving way too much money on the table.
It is entirely possible to build a profitable, successful network marketing business.
And unlike Younique MLM, it actually provides real proof of real success from real people as recently as a few days ago.
Is A Pyramid Scheme Bad?
Some companies call themselves multi-level marketing when they are actually running an illegal pyramid scheme.
Even if a multi-level program doesn’t break the law, the Consumer Protection Act may be violated if the actions, methods, or practices used to market the plan are unfair, unconscionable, or deceptive.
Understandably, people have trouble distinguishing between a legitimate multi-level marketing opportunity and an illegal pyramid scheme.
Government authorities and the industry continuously debate where legal boundaries can be drawn.
MLM is a legal and permissible business model that sells consumer products through a network of independent representatives.
The selling of products and services to the ultimate consumer must be the primary source of compensation.
Pyramid schemes pretend to be a multi-level marketing company by claiming to sell products to consumers.
However, there’s little to no effort made to market the product.
Instead, revenue is gained in the traditional pyramid scheme by recruiting others to market the program.
When new “distributors” sign up, they are often pressured to buy inventory or overpriced products/services.
Pyramid companies make almost all of their money by signing up new members, and they often tend to mask entrance fees as the cost of required training, computer services, or product inventory.
Not only are pyramid schemes bad, but they are also a waste of money and time.
Since pyramid schemes rely on recruiting new members to generate revenue, they often fail as the pool of potential recruits becomes depleted (market saturation).
Except for the handful at the top of the pyramid, most people lose their money as the scheme falls apart.
How Much Do Younique Reps Make?
The Younique Royalties Program has eight color ranks that determine the commission status of presenters: white, yellow, pink, blue, green, orange, purple, and black.
The status of the Presenters is determined by the following:
- Personal Retail Sales (PRS) – are products you have personally sold.
- CWS (Company Wholesale Sales) – products sold through the downline
- Number of presenters you personally recruit
- Number of presenters your downline recruits
Let’s start with your commission rate (also known as Retail Royalties):
When you look at the top line in the picture above, a White Presenter earns a commission of 20%, which increases to 30% once you achieve Black Presenter status.
You’ll start earning commissions from your downline once you reach Pink status (aka Circle Royalties, First Generation Royalties, etc.).
Now, moving on to the complicated part of the compensation plan:
CIRCLE ROYALTIES – the money you earn when someone you’ve directly recruited (your downline) sells Younique products.
FIRST-GENERATION ROYALTIES – a percentage of the revenue you get when someone on your downline recruits someone to your business and this new recruit sells products (e.g., your recruit starts her own downline and achieves Green status).
SECOND GENERATION ROYALTIES – the amount of money you earn when a member of the first-generation downline recruits someone who sells Younique products.
THIRD GENERATION ROYALTIES – are a percentage of the income you earn when the second generation recruits someone who sells products.
The Bottomline of the Compensation Plan?
The percentage of royalties you get (which can vary from 3-6%) is determined by how many people you recruit and how many of them go on to recruit others.
How Much Does A Younique Green Presenter Make?
To achieve Green Status, you must sell $500 each month, have three eligible presenters (each of whom must sell $125 per month), and have total circle sales of $2000 each month.
You must, however, have a limit of $10,000 in wholesale revenue for your business.
This is the total sales for everybody on your team, both the people you sponsored and those below them.
When you reach Green status, your commission increases to 30%, and you get an additional 5% on circle sales.
This leaves you with a 3% commission on the remainder of your profits, which they consider first-generation sales.
If you are paid as a Green status presenter, the very least you can get is $490.
Here’s a sample calculation to help you better understand this earning:
Personal Sales: $500 x 0.30 = $150
Circle Sales: $2000 x 0.05 = $100
1st Gen. Sales: $8000 x 0.03 = $240
Total: $150 + $100 + $240 = $490
You can certainly make money with Younique MLM, but if you’re gonna put in the amount of grueling work to become a Younique Presenter (which, trust me, isn’t easy), you might as well bring in some REAL money.
The program that helped skyrocket my online business to $40,000+ per month teaches some of the same network marketing skills but shows you how to monetize them in a much, MUCH more profitable way.
Who Is The Highest-Paid Younique Presenter?
Read Our In Depth Breakdown Of The Top 5 OppMLM Courses For 2024
Amber Voight, who lives in Elk River, Minnesota, is the highest-paid Younique presenter, earning $33,000 a month in May 2014 with 9,000 team members and $1,200,000 in sales.
Amber Voight is a Black Presenter, the highest rank in the Younique compensation plan.
Are There Alternatives To Younique?
Yes, there are plenty of MLM companies to choose from if you want to pursue this business model. Here are just a few:
Is Younique A Scam?
So, time for the $1,000,000 question: is Younique a scam?
No, not technically. They aren’t going to run off with your money and not give you what you paid for. It’s 100% possible to make money with this program.
That being said, it’s not nearly as simple as they want you to think it is.
There’s A LOT of work to be done upfront and no guarantee that you’ll be successful. The commissions are also fairly small.
Don’t get me wrong, I’m all for doing hard work now, so that I can reap the benefits later.
But if you’re going to work really hard for 3 months, and your reward is a $100 check… it’s not really a great opportunity.
If I’m gonna do that, I want the rewards to be HIGH and virtually guaranteed.
I’d rather put in that same 3 months of work (in my spare time) & build a handful of Digital Rental Properties that each produce $500-$2,000 checks every single month afterward (AKA recurring income).
And the cool part is that you can do it in a lot less time than 3-months (I personally did it in my first 2 weeks of using the Digital Rental Method).
Unlike MLMs, you can do it from anywhere in the world, so it’s a genuine “laptop-lifestyle” business.
All you need is an internet connection.
Some of my friends are Digital Rental Method that run their 6-figure businesses from:
- Camping trips at national parks
- Beachfront in Hawaii
- On the road in a camper van (with a pet pig!)
They focus on living an enjoyable life first, and focus on income second. All thanks to this program.
They can take weeks or months off, and money keeps rolling in.
Living happily is the top priority.
If the thought of living perpetually at your dream vacation spot interests you, using the Digital Rental Method might be for you!
What Is My Top Recommendation For Making Money Online In 2022?
I’ve personally tried all of the major online business models:
- I’ve sold fidget spinners through Amazon FBA
- I’ve drop-shipped a toilet bowl putting green on Shopify
- I’ve sold women’s health supplements via Clickbank affiliate marketing
And I made money with all of them, so trust me when I say: there is no “perfect” business model.
I’ve also been on the other side of old friends trying to sell me their fancy new MLM products.
That being said, my #1 recommendation for making real money online is, hands-down: being a Digital Landlord.
Whether you’re a complete newbie, or you’ve been around the block before but have never had that “big win” to propel you forward, using the Digital Rental Method is for you.
Why?
Time: If you’ve got a spare hour or two each day, you can do this. If you want to drop everything and go all in, you can do this. More time obviously means faster results, but even putting in a few hours per day is enough to see real success.
And because of that flexibility, you don’t need to trade your time for money. Once the income starts, it’s recurring.
That means you can take a month off, travel the country, pursue a passion project, chill on the beach, or charter a boat across the world.
But you can only do that once you’ve created an income stream that doesn’t require YOU to be there all day, every day.
Ownership & Control: With MLMs, you don’t really “own” anything – everything belongs to the MLM.
If you read the contracts, they can kick you out or change your commission at any time (it’s happened recently in a few high-profile MLM cases).
Why pour your soul into a business that could be taken away from you at the drop of a dime?
With the Digital Rental Method, you literally own all of the assets, which means you have ultimate control.
Big Margins: With MLMs, you’re often going to have really slim margins. That means you need to have a VERY large network to make serious money. This usually entails spending A LOT of money on ads and other methods for recruiting members.
using the Digital Rental Method, your profit margin is nearly 100%. Watch here to learn how.
Just a reminder: these Digital Rental Properties are worth (at a minimum) $500/mo in semi-passive income. And each time you create another one, your income increases, and the effort put into creating the next property decreases.
Best-case scenario, you have properties bringing in over $3,000+/mo on auto-pilot.
It’s Effectively Copy-Paste: Here’s my favorite part: once you have your first Digital Rental Property up, you can literally copy-paste another version of it and find another willing “renter” in a few days. DOUBLING your income doesn’t get much easier than that…
If you wanted to double your income with an MLM, you would need to sell twice as much inventory. And I can guarantee you, that’s a lot harder than a few clicks & a phone call.
You’re Helping REAL People: My biggest gripe with MLMs is that you’re likely going to ruin your personal relationships.
The MLM may have convinced you that you’re actually helping people, but it’s often not really true.
But With the Digital Rental Method, you’re helping solve REAL problems that people are ASKING for help with:
Small local businesses around the world need one thing: customers. Without them, their business would fall apart. If you can provide those customers, they’re going to be really happy – and they’re going to pay you for it.
You’re helping a struggling mother or father put food on the table for their families, put their kids through college, or simply live life a little bit more comfortably.
Having this type of impact on the world is what will help you sleep soundly at night.
So, the rest is up to you. You could keep looking at other MLM programs like Younique, which might make you money 12 months from now.
You could keep researching and researching for the next few months (or few years), never making a concrete decision.
OR, you can look deep inside, think about those dreams, hopes, & desires, and make the decision to ACTUALLY make it happen, just like it has for thousands of other students before you.
Making a fortune while actually helping real people that need it.
If this sounds like you, click here to see how it all works.
