Hey there, beauty lover! If you‘ve been in the virtual cosmetics world for a while, you‘ve probably heard some buzz about Younique. This social selling makeup and skincare brand has skyrocketed in popularity over the past few years. With its squad of passionate Presenters hosting livestream parties on Facebook and dropping product demos on the ‘gram, Younique has become a digital force to be reckoned with.
But let‘s be real – just because something is trending doesn‘t necessarily mean it‘s worth your hard-earned cash. That‘s why I decided to go on a deep dive into the world of Younique and share my honest thoughts with you. In this epic Younique review, we‘ll cover:
- The deets on Younique‘s origin story and mission
- An in-depth look at the products (I‘ve personally tested them all!)
- How the Younique virtual party and Presenter biz model works
- What real customers are saying about their Younique experience
- How Younique stacks up to other popular MLM beauty brands
- My brutally honest take on whether Younique is truly worth the hype (and your coins)
Settle in with your favorite beverage, because we‘re about to get real about all things Younique. Let‘s dive in!
Who Is Younique, Anyway?
Founded in 2012 by brother-sister duo Derek Maxfield and Melanie Huscroft, Younique is a cosmetics company with a mission to uplift, empower, and validate women across the globe. The brand operates on a direct sales model, with independent reps called "Presenters" selling products online through social media and virtual parties.
Unlike traditional brick-and-mortar retail brands, Younique was digital-first from day one. CEO Derek Maxfield said in an interview with Direct Selling News, "We‘re not just a beauty company, we‘re a virtual party company. Social media is in our DNA." This online-centric approach has clearly paid off – Younique‘s sales skyrocketed 400% to over $400 million in 2015, just three years after launch.
Along with its focus on digital, a key part of Younique‘s brand identity is giving back. Younique donates 10% of its profits to the Younique Foundation, a non-profit that supports survivors of childhood sexual abuse. To date, the company has given over $4.5 million to the cause. As someone who loves beauty with a side of philanthropy, I‘m a big fan of this commitment.
The Products: Younique‘s Makeup and Skincare Lineup
Alright, let‘s talk products. Younique offers a massive collection of cosmetics and skincare spanning pretty much every category you can think of. We‘re talking primers, foundations, eyeshadow palettes, lipsticks, mascaras, cleansers, serums, and more.
One thing I appreciate about Younique‘s website is how detailed each product page is. You‘ll find full ingredients lists (hello, transparency!), usage instructions, and often a "why we love it" section highlighting the key benefits and ingredients. While Younique doesn‘t claim to be 100% natural or organic, the brand does have a "clean beauty promise", banning over 1500 potentially harmful substances from its formulas.
As a bit of a green beauty geek, I do wish Younique was a little more stringent with its ingredients standards – you‘ll still find some synthetic fragrances, silicones, and mineral oil in the products. But overall, I appreciate the brand‘s effort to omit the worst offenders like parabens, phthalates, and sulfates. And you can sort the cosmetics by vegan, gluten-free, and fragrance-free on the site, which is handy.
Now, on to the good stuff – my personal product MVPs from testing out the line. Here are the standouts I think are worth snagging:
Moodstruck Epic 4D Mascara, $29
This fiber mascara is hands down the most popular product in the Younique range, with a 4.5 star average from over 6000 reviews on the brand‘s site. The dual-sided brush has a flat side that loads on volume, while the rounded side lifts, curls, and separates for a falsie effect. I was impressed with how much oomph this gave my sad, stubby lashes in a single coat without any clumping or flaking. It held a curl all day and didn‘t smudge or irritate my sensitive eyes.
Touch Mineral Liquid Foundation, $42
I‘m typically more of a tinted moisturizer gal, but this lightweight, full coverage foundation has made me a convert. The liquid-to-powder formula blurs imperfections and controls shine without feeling at all cakey. It lasted through a sweaty summertime wedding and still looked pristine in photos. The squeeze bottle packaging with a pump is super sanitary and travel-friendly too.
Moodstruck Precision Pencil Lip Liner, $18
If you‘re a liner junkie like me, you need this guy in your collection. It has the glide of a gel and the precision of a pencil with serious staying power. There‘s a built-in sharpener on the end so you‘ll always have a crisp tip, and the shade range is gorg. "Pouty", a cool mauve, is my go-to for a my-lips-but-better look.
Royalty Rose Water Toning Spritz, $39
Okay, $39 for a facial mist is a little boujee, but hear me out. This stuff is like a tall glass of water for your face. I keep mine at my desk and spritz liberally throughout the day when I need a pick-me-up. The coconut water and rose hydrosol base is super fine and refreshing, and the bergamot and geranium oils add a luxe aromatherapy moment without being overpowering. Bonus: The frosted glass bottle looks chic as hell on my vanity.
One thing to note: Younique‘s products are definitely pricier than the average drugstore finds. Most single products are in the $25 to $40 range, which I know can add up fast. However, in my experience, a little goes a long way with Younique formulas. For example, I‘ve been using the same Epic mascara daily for three months and it‘s still going strong.
How Does the Younique Virtual Party Work?
Now let‘s jump into the social selling piece. If you have any friends in the MLM world, you‘re probably familiar with brands like Arbonne and Rodan + Fields that rely on independent sales reps to get the word out about products. Younique follows a similar model with its network of Presenters.
Here‘s how it works: To become a Younique Presenter, you purchase a starter kit for around $35. This gives you your own personalized ecommerce site, access to training and digital marketing assets, and some product testers. From there, you‘ll earn 20-30% commissions on sales, with opportunities to scale up and earn bonuses as you grow your customer base and downline (aka the team of other Presenters you recruit).
Rather than schlepping products to people‘s living rooms for old-school in-home parties, Younique Presenters leverage the power of social media to demo and sell. The brand‘s proprietary virtual party platform lets Presenters host live online events where they can walk guests through the products, play games, and offer exclusive discounts and giveaways.
As someone who hates being pressured to buy stuff in person, I actually really enjoy the virtual party format. It‘s low-key, convenient, and you can shop at your own pace without any awkward hard sells. I‘ve attended a few Younique virtual parties hosted by Presenter friends and found them to be fun, informative, and zero percent pushy.
Of course, your mileage may vary depending on the individual Presenter. Like any business opportunity, success with Younique takes dedication and a willingness to put yourself out there. But if you‘re passionate about beauty and open to learning the ropes of social selling, the Younique Presenter gig could be a great side hustle.
What Are Customers Saying About Younique?
You know I couldn‘t write this monster Younique review without seeing what other real people had to say about the brand. I pored over hundreds of reviews on Younique‘s site, third-party retailers, and Reddit threads to get a balanced picture.
Overall, the feedback is pretty dang positive. On the Younique site, the top-rated products regularly garner between 4 and 5 star averages, often with thousands of reviews. The Epic 4D Mascara is the brand‘s all-time bestseller, with over 6000 reviews and an average of 4.4 stars. Customers rave about the volume and length it provides, with many saying it‘s replaced their high-end department store mascaras.
The Moodstruck Pressed Shadow Palettes are another favorite, with the Sublime palette earning a 4.8 star average from over 500 reviews. Fans praise the blendability, pigmentation, and impressive staying power of these shadows. Several reviewers over 40 also mentioned that the shadows don‘t settle into fine lines or look patchy on mature skin.
In the skin care arena, the Cleansing Balm Stick is a sleeper hit, with a 4.6 star rating. Reviewers love the travel-friendly packaging and gentle but effective cleansing power, with many saying it‘s helped clear their acne-prone skin. Hot tip: One reviewer noted that it even works as a spot treatment for breakouts in a pinch.
Now, no brand is perfect, and Younique definitely has a few dings in the review department. A common critique is the high price point, with some shoppers feeling you can find similar quality for less at Sephora or Ulta. Personally, I think it‘s all about what you value – if supporting women in business and cruelty-free, made-in-the-USA production is important to you, then Younique‘s prices may feel totally justified.
I‘ve also seen some snark about Younique‘s sales tactics, with some customers feeling bombarded by Presenter messages and event invites. Again, this really varies by Presenter – most of the Younique sellers I‘ve interacted with are super respectful and don‘t go overboard with the follow-ups. It‘s all about finding a Presenter whose vibe meshes with yours.
How Does Younique Compare to Other Brands?
As I mentioned, Younique isn‘t the only social selling cosmetics brand on the block. So how does it stack up against the competition? Let‘s take a peek.
Younique vs. Beautycounter
Beautycounter is another big name in the clean beauty MLM space. Like Younique, Beautycounter has a robust product catalog, partners with independent consultants, and emphasizes ingredient transparency. Beautycounter takes the "clean" thing a step further though – its products are third-party verified by the Environmental Working Group to be free of over 1800 potentially harmful chemicals.
Younique vs. Arbonne
Arbonne is an MLM that offers skincare, makeup, and nutrition products. It has a similar social selling model to Younique, but a slightly broader focus beyond just beauty. Arbonne also leans into the vegan, gluten-free angle more heavily than Younique.
Younique vs. Rodan + Fields
Rodan + Fields is a skincare-centric MLM founded by the dermatologists behind Proactiv. It has a tighter product collection than Younique, with more of a clinical, anti-aging bent. Price-wise, Rodan + Fields products are generally a bit steeper than Youniques.
So which one is the best? Honestly, I think it comes down to your individual preferences and priorities. If super squeaky clean ingredients are a must for you, Beautycounter is probably your jam. If you‘re a skincare junkie looking for a more serious anti-aging regimen, Rodan + Fields could be a good fit. And if you‘re here for the color cosmetics and virtual party vibes, I think Younique offers the most well-rounded experience.
The Bottom Line: Is Younique Worth It?
We‘ve covered a whole heck of a lot in this Younique review, but I know what you really want to know – is Younique legit or just an overhyped MLM? In my honest opinion, it‘s a little of column A, a little of column B.
There‘s no denying that some of the Younique products are straight up excellent and totally worth the coin. I‘ve personally been impressed with the quality of the makeup and skincare I‘ve tried, and I love that they‘re cruelty-free and made in the USA. The Epic 4D Mascara, Liquid Touch Foundation, Precision Pencil Liners, and Royalty Rose Water Toning Spritz have all become staples in my routine.
I also think the Younique Presenter opportunity could be a fun side gig for the right person. If you‘re already active on social media and love playing with makeup, getting paid to share your passion is pretty rad. No, it‘s not a get-rich-quick scheme, but what business is? Like any entrepreneurial venture, you‘ll get out of Younique what you put into it.
On the flip side, I totally understand the MLM hesitation. The business model isn‘t everyone‘s cup of tea, and that‘s okay. No one should feel guilted into joining a company or buying products they‘re not into. My advice? Connect with a Presenter you vibe with, snag some samples, see how you like the products, and go from there. And if the virtual party scene isn‘t for you, you can always shop Younique goodies directly from the brand‘s website.
At the end of the day, you‘ve got to do what feels right for you and your budget. But if you‘re curious about the brand, I hope this Younique review has given you a solid jumping off point to explore. Happy shopping, beauty babes!
