Hi, friends!
By now, I'm guessing you're all very much aware of how much I hate multi-level marketing companies. It's something I'm very passionate about and I've made several very lengthy posts about it on Facebook. I'm not going to get into all the reasons why pyramid schemes are awful and predatory in this post, though. Today, I'm focusing on things you can buy if you're in the market for the stuff they sell but don't want to support something so despicable. (As always, no offense is meant to the non-malicious sellers of pyramid schemes; I don't hate you, just the company that's trying to drain your bank account and ruin your friendships.)
LuLaRoe - dresses and leggings
I know finding modest dresses can be a huge struggle, but there is no need to resort to potato sacks with roller rink carpet patterns. If you unironically like the #patternmixingqueen look, you still have better options.
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| Needs more layers and at least one #LuLahack if I ever want to use it as a "LLR addict" costume. It's a very good outfit for being comfy-spooky around the house, though! |
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| Oh, boy! I've always wanted a paper-thin skirt with intestines all over it! Thanks, LuLaRoe! |
Old Navy is another place I've had decent luck when it comes to modest church clothes. Their prices are generally a notch or two lower than you'll find at DownEast. Again, their sizes make sense and their styles are cute and flattering.
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| If an actual XXS person wore this, they'd be draped in a circus tent. |
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| Someone please get those stripes under control. They're all over the place! |
For leggings, I'm going to recommend Walmart again. I don't really wear leggings because they aren't pants I don't have much of a reason to, but I do have some that I got for about $4 at Walmart that are very nice. I have plain black ones in case I ever move somewhere that occasionally gets cold as well as the ones with metallic orange witches and bats all over them that I'm wearing in the first picture of the post. Once again, a cute pattern that isn't obnoxious or skewed weirdly. (I also found some silver holographic leggings in the Halloween costume area. Still have no idea when I'd ever wear them, but they're very fun.)
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| If you've ever wanted to have an optical illusion on your legs, LuLaRoe can do that for you. |
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| There are no words. |
LipSense - long-lasting liquid lipstick
First of all, none of my alternative recommendations are going to burn your lips or smell like vodka, so they aren't going to be exactly the same as LipSense. You're welcome. (Also, if a consultant tries to tell you that it's "supposed" to feel like your lips are melting or that it's only doing that because of all the ~wax buildup~ from inferior products, they're definitely lying to you. The only lip product that's supposed to feel uncomfortable is "plumping" lip glosses that basically irritate your lips into being slightly bigger.)
So, if you want something that won't smudge around or rub off, here's what I suggest:
- L'oreal Infallible Pro-Matte Liquid Lipstick: The regular version smells like vanilla frosting and their chocolate-themed line smells like hot cocoa.
- Maybelline SuperStay Matte Ink: This smells pretty similar to the non-chocolate L'oreal ones, but closer to yellow cake than frosting.
- Maybelline SuperStay 24: Similar to the Matte Ink, but it has a balm on one end of the tube to help your lips feel and look a bit less dry. The smell is kind of like raspberry lemonade.
- Wet N Wild Liquid Catsuit: I've heard the lighter colors can be a bit patchy. The ones I have are all red, berry, or dark — who saw that coming? — and I've never had any issues with them. There's no discernable smell.
To get these things off your lips at the end of the day, you might want more than a normal makeup wipe. I like the Kiss It Goodbye remover from e.l.f. for getting rid of the color without having to scrub too much.
Younique / Avon / Mary Kay / SeneGence - makeup
Ask me about a makeup product and I can probably recommend something inexpensive you can find in Ulta or other places where drugstore makeup is sold. The only exceptions are eyeliner (since I never use it) and foundation/concealer (since my options are rather limited).
Maybelline Fit Me foundation has a huge shade range and options for dry or oily skin. Milani's eyeshadow primer keeps color from creasing during the day. Wet N Wild makes great eyeshadow quads and palettes. ColourPop's cream shadows are fun and easy to use. CoverGirl has some awesome mascaras. The e.l.f. blushes are very nice. There's a single shadow by Essence that makes a fantastic highlighter.
Seriously, I can find a replacement for any MLM makeup product you may have enjoyed in the past.
Rodan + Fields - skincare
I don't know a lot about skincare, honestly, but it's really easy to find recommendations for whatever your needs may be online. (Watch out for fake reviews, though!) The moisturizer I've been enjoying lately is by CeraVe, since a lot of people in various internet discussions I've found have recommended that brand. If all else fails, talk to a dermatologist, an esthetician, or a friend who's really into skincare.
doTERRA / Young Living - essential oils
Once again, we return to Walmart, but this time we're going to the scented candle area. Essential oils don't heal anything, they just provide a smell and sometimes chemical burns. My preferred method of making my house smell awesome — aside from baking something — is to put a candle on our candle warmer.
Want to calm down? Get out a lavender candle and listen to Enya. That'll work a lot better than rubbing concentrated lavender oil on your left knee or whatever they tell you to do.
Also, never ingest essential oils. The same goes for candles. Stick to eating and drinking normal things with supplements and actual medicine as needed.
Scentsy - scented wax
See above. I'd much rather get inexpensive wax smells from Walmart, thanks.
Herbalife / Plexus / BeachBody / ItWorks! / JuicePlus - weight loss and health
Keep your calorie consumption at an appropriate level and try to make good food choices. If you have a vitamin deficiency and your diet isn't getting you enough, take a legitimate supplement. There are no magic shakes or fat-blocking pills, nor will a wrap have any real benefits. My only product recommendation here is the free MyFitnessPal app for tracking your food intake. I know it's not easy to stick to a controlled diet and do regular exercise, but that's what leads to results.
There are definitely companies and products I'm missing here, but these are the main ones I've seen talked about among people I know.
Saying this makes me sound like a heartless jerk, but please don't buy anything from multi-level marketing companies. No matter how many times your friends claim they own their "small business" that totally isn't a pyramid scheme, they can't change the truth.
The SEC has an official alert advising people to steer clear of pyramid schemes. ("But Lizzie, pyramid schemes don't have products to sell and they're illegal!!" Recruitment is heavily pushed in MLMs because it's extremely difficult to make a decent profit by just selling the products. The products are only there to make things seem legitimate.) There's also a report on the FTC's website stating that MLMs are unfair and deceptive and that 99% of MLM recruits lose money. That report also says, "As a business model, MLM is likely the most successful con game of all time." Can't get much more clear than that.
The best way to actually support someone who's been recruited into an MLM company is to help them get out, not give them false hope by buying their products. I'm absolutely in favor of supporting local businesses and the real small businesses of people you know. When it comes to MLM companies, though, stay as far away as possible.
Love,
Lizzie
First of all, none of my alternative recommendations are going to burn your lips or smell like vodka, so they aren't going to be exactly the same as LipSense. You're welcome. (Also, if a consultant tries to tell you that it's "supposed" to feel like your lips are melting or that it's only doing that because of all the ~wax buildup~ from inferior products, they're definitely lying to you. The only lip product that's supposed to feel uncomfortable is "plumping" lip glosses that basically irritate your lips into being slightly bigger.)
So, if you want something that won't smudge around or rub off, here's what I suggest:
- L'oreal Infallible Pro-Matte Liquid Lipstick: The regular version smells like vanilla frosting and their chocolate-themed line smells like hot cocoa.
- Maybelline SuperStay Matte Ink: This smells pretty similar to the non-chocolate L'oreal ones, but closer to yellow cake than frosting.
- Maybelline SuperStay 24: Similar to the Matte Ink, but it has a balm on one end of the tube to help your lips feel and look a bit less dry. The smell is kind of like raspberry lemonade.
- Wet N Wild Liquid Catsuit: I've heard the lighter colors can be a bit patchy. The ones I have are all red, berry, or dark — who saw that coming? — and I've never had any issues with them. There's no discernable smell.
To get these things off your lips at the end of the day, you might want more than a normal makeup wipe. I like the Kiss It Goodbye remover from e.l.f. for getting rid of the color without having to scrub too much.
Younique / Avon / Mary Kay / SeneGence - makeup
Ask me about a makeup product and I can probably recommend something inexpensive you can find in Ulta or other places where drugstore makeup is sold. The only exceptions are eyeliner (since I never use it) and foundation/concealer (since my options are rather limited).
Maybelline Fit Me foundation has a huge shade range and options for dry or oily skin. Milani's eyeshadow primer keeps color from creasing during the day. Wet N Wild makes great eyeshadow quads and palettes. ColourPop's cream shadows are fun and easy to use. CoverGirl has some awesome mascaras. The e.l.f. blushes are very nice. There's a single shadow by Essence that makes a fantastic highlighter.
Seriously, I can find a replacement for any MLM makeup product you may have enjoyed in the past.
Rodan + Fields - skincare
I don't know a lot about skincare, honestly, but it's really easy to find recommendations for whatever your needs may be online. (Watch out for fake reviews, though!) The moisturizer I've been enjoying lately is by CeraVe, since a lot of people in various internet discussions I've found have recommended that brand. If all else fails, talk to a dermatologist, an esthetician, or a friend who's really into skincare.
doTERRA / Young Living - essential oils
Once again, we return to Walmart, but this time we're going to the scented candle area. Essential oils don't heal anything, they just provide a smell and sometimes chemical burns. My preferred method of making my house smell awesome — aside from baking something — is to put a candle on our candle warmer.
 |
| It's beginning to smell a lot like autumn... |
Also, never ingest essential oils. The same goes for candles. Stick to eating and drinking normal things with supplements and actual medicine as needed.
Scentsy - scented wax
See above. I'd much rather get inexpensive wax smells from Walmart, thanks.
Herbalife / Plexus / BeachBody / ItWorks! / JuicePlus - weight loss and health
Keep your calorie consumption at an appropriate level and try to make good food choices. If you have a vitamin deficiency and your diet isn't getting you enough, take a legitimate supplement. There are no magic shakes or fat-blocking pills, nor will a wrap have any real benefits. My only product recommendation here is the free MyFitnessPal app for tracking your food intake. I know it's not easy to stick to a controlled diet and do regular exercise, but that's what leads to results.
There are definitely companies and products I'm missing here, but these are the main ones I've seen talked about among people I know.
Saying this makes me sound like a heartless jerk, but please don't buy anything from multi-level marketing companies. No matter how many times your friends claim they own their "small business" that totally isn't a pyramid scheme, they can't change the truth.
The SEC has an official alert advising people to steer clear of pyramid schemes. ("But Lizzie, pyramid schemes don't have products to sell and they're illegal!!" Recruitment is heavily pushed in MLMs because it's extremely difficult to make a decent profit by just selling the products. The products are only there to make things seem legitimate.) There's also a report on the FTC's website stating that MLMs are unfair and deceptive and that 99% of MLM recruits lose money. That report also says, "As a business model, MLM is likely the most successful con game of all time." Can't get much more clear than that.
The best way to actually support someone who's been recruited into an MLM company is to help them get out, not give them false hope by buying their products. I'm absolutely in favor of supporting local businesses and the real small businesses of people you know. When it comes to MLM companies, though, stay as far away as possible.
Love,
Lizzie
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