🔍 1. Introduction – What is Nu Skin?

Welcome to the Nu Skin Review. Okay, so Nu Skin. If you’ve ever run into some Instagram “entrepreneur” selling skincare products and promising you can make thousands a month from home at the same time… yep, they were probably talking about Nu Skin.

Nu Skin is an American company that runs what’s called MLM business (multilevel marketing) – that classic “recruit your friends to sell the same stuff” thing. Founded sometime in the 80s and nowadays they sell skincare products, supplements and all kinds of wellness stuff around the world.

But here’s the thing – Nu Skin isn’t just some regular cosmetics company. They operate as a multi-level marketing system, which means people buy products AND try to recruit others to do the same thing. Sounds familiar? Yeah, because there are tons of these companies and they always raise the same questions: does it actually work or is this some pyramid thing?

Well, that’s why this review exists. I haven’t tested their products myself (and I’ll say that straight up), but I’ve dug up all possible info from the internet, read studies, checked what real customers say and tried to figure out whether this thing works or not.

🏢 2. Company Background

2.1 History and founding

Nu Skin was born in 1984, so yeah, this company has been in the game for 40 years already. The founders were three American guys: Blake Roney, Sandie Tillotson and Steve Lund. Their original “vision” was supposedly to create a company that combines quality products and entrepreneurial opportunities for regular people.

Sounds noble, right? Well, in reality they just wanted to profit from the 80s MLM boom when people were excited about all kinds of “take control of your life” business schemes.

In the early days Nu Skin focused only on skincare products. They came to market claiming their products were “natural” and “don’t contain harmful chemicals” – which was a pretty smart move in the 80s when people were just starting to wake up to what they were putting on their faces.

Significant milestones? Well, in the 90s they went public (NYSE), which is pretty rare for MLM companies. In the 2000s they expanded to Asia, especially China, which was a really big deal for them. Then in the 2010s came the ageLOC product line, which is now their flagship.

But here’s the interesting thing – Nu Skin has also gotten quite a bit of mud thrown at them over the years. The SEC (American securities market authority) has investigated them multiple times, and they’ve paid millions in fines for misleading marketing. Doesn’t exactly inspire confidence, does it?

📦 3. Product Line Analysis

3.1 Skincare products

Okay, let’s get into Nu Skin’s products. Their flagship is this ageLOC series, which supposedly “targets the root causes of aging at the gene level”. Huh, sounds pretty science fiction-ish, doesn’t it?

ageLOC series is divided into different products:

• Me series is their “personalized” treatment routine. The idea is you take some test online and then they tell you the right products just for you. Price? Well, prepare to sit down – about 200-400€ per month depending on which package you take.
• Transforming Night cream is a night cream that promises to “transform skin in 90 days”. Pretty bold claim. Costs about 150€ per jar.
• Future Serum is their premium serum that’s supposed to be some miracle substance. 180€ per bottle, thanks.

Pharmanex supplements is then the other big department. They have LifePak vitamins, omega-3 capsules and all kinds of “superfoods”. Prices range from 50-150€ per month.

Epoch natural products is their “ethnobotanical” line. So basically products with some exotic plants. Sounds nice, but is there any point to it? Well, we’ll get back to that.

3.2 Product claims vs. reality

Here comes the most interesting part. Nu Skin claims a lot, but what’s actually behind it?

Marketing promises are pretty wild. “Gene-level aging prevention”, “60% improvements in 12 weeks”, “clinically proven results”. Sounds good, but…

Scientific research is problematic. Yeah, Nu Skin has their own studies, but the problem is they’re mainly done by themselves or commissioned by them. Independent peer-reviewed studies are pretty scarce. And what exists doesn’t necessarily support their claims as strongly as they make it seem.

Ingredient analysis reveals that the products do contain good ingredients – retinol, niacinamides, peptides etc. But the problem is you can get these same ingredients much cheaper from the pharmacy. For example, you can get niacinamide serum from The Ordinary for 6€, when Nu Skin’s equivalent costs 150€+.

Price-quality ratio is thus the big question mark. Are you paying for quality or for that MLM pyramid that needs to be funded?

⚖️ 4. Business Model Examination

4.1 MLM structure explained

Okay, here comes the part that probably interests most people. How does this Nu Skin MLM system actually work?

In principle the idea is simple: you sell products directly to customers AND recruit others to do the same. Then you get money from both your own sales and the sales of people you’ve recruited. And from the people those people recruited. And so on.

In Nu Skin the distributor hierarchy goes like this (these titles are actually in use, I’m not making this up):

• Brand Representative (beginner)
• Executive (when you sell enough)
• Gold Executive
• Lapis Executive
• Ruby Executive
• Emerald Executive
• Diamond Executive
• Blue Diamond (top)

Sounds like some video game achievement system, right? But that’s the point – they need to create that “gamification” feeling so you want to advance to the next level.

The income structure is based on three things: own sales, team sales and bonuses. And here comes the problem – almost all money comes from recruiting people, not from selling products to real customers.

4.2 Joining process

Joining Nu Skin looks really easy at first. You go to the website, fill out a few forms and boom – you’re an “entrepreneur”.

Starter packages cost about 200-500€ depending on which package you take. Includes some products, marketing materials and access to their “training system”.

Training programs sound good on paper – webinars, mentoring, sales training. But in reality most of the “training” is trying to motivate you to recruit more people. “Personal development” and “mindset coaching” are nice words, but ultimately it’s about making you an effective recruiter.

Rules and obligations? Well, you have to buy products yourself a certain amount per month (about 100€) to stay “active”. This is a pretty common trick in MLM companies – your own consumption counts as “sales”.

4.3 Compensation plan

This is the part where MLM companies try to confuse you with math and fancy charts. Nu Skin’s compensation plan is a 50-page document full of percentages and terms that no normal person understands.

But simplified, the income sources are:

• Retail profit: You sell a product for 100€, bought it for 60€, get 40€ profit
• Sales bonuses: Percentage of your team’s sales
• Leadership bonuses: Extra money when your team grows

Bonus systems are complicated on purpose. They talk about “binary compensation”, “unilevel bonuses” and “generation override”. The idea is that you don’t understand exactly how the system works, but it sounds like you could make a lot of money.

Advancement opportunities? Theoretically you can rise to Blue Diamond level and make hundreds of thousands. In practice… well, we’ll get back to that when we look at the real numbers in the next section.

Spoiler alert: they’re not nice numbers.

💰 5. Financial Realities

5.1 Real earning potential

Okay, here comes the brutal truth that MLM companies don’t want you to know. Nu Skin’s own numbers (which they’re legally required to publish) reveal a pretty grim picture.

Average earnings? Prepare for disappointment. Nu Skin’s 2023 Income Disclosure Statement tells us that:

• 81% of distributors earn 0-500$ per year. Yeah, PER YEAR.
• Only 1% earn over 50,000$ per year
• Median earnings are about 300$ per year

So wait, what? 300 dollars per year? That’s about 25€ per month. In Finland you get more money collecting bottles.

Success stories vs. reality – this is a classic MLM trick. They highlight that one person who makes 200k per year, but don’t mention that 99% of others make a loss. It’s the same as a lottery company only advertising winners and not telling you that millions of people lose money every week.

Initial investments and ongoing costs add up quickly:

• Starter package: 200-500€
• Monthly “autoship” (mandatory purchases): 100€
• Training and events: 50-200€/month
• Marketing materials: 50€/month

So on average about 200-350€ per month in expenses. But remember – median earnings are 25€ per month. This doesn’t require hard math – most people make a big loss.

5.2 Risk analysis

Financial risk is obvious – you’ll probably lose money. But that’s not the only risk.

Time commitment is insane. Those “successful” Nu Skin distributors I know about (well okay, that I’ve read about online) work 60-80 hours a week. You call your parents, friends, former classmates. You organize home parties. You post on Instagram 5 times a day. It’s not “passive income” like they claim.

Impact on social relationships is maybe the worst thing in all this. When you start selling Nu Skin, friends start avoiding you. Family gatherings turn into sales situations. People who love you start looking at you differently when they know you’re going to try to sell them some 150€ cream.

And there’s also the psychological risk – MLM companies use many of the same techniques as cults. Positive thinking, “fake it till you make it”, and the idea that if you don’t succeed, it’s your own fault because you didn’t try hard enough. That can be really harmful to self-esteem in the long run.

Plus this “sunk cost fallacy” – when you’ve already invested 2000€ and a year of time, it’s hard to admit this doesn’t work. So you continue for another year, then another year…

The reality is that succeeding in MLM requires you to be good at manipulating people. And most normal, decent people aren’t good at that. Fortunately.

⭐ 6. Customer Experiences

6.1 Positive experiences

Okay, gotta be fair here – Nu Skin does have satisfied customers. I can’t claim everything is just a scam when some people are actually satisfied.

In positive reviews people especially praise ageLOC series products. Many say skin feels softer and looks brighter after a few weeks of use. Transforming Night cream is praised for moisturizing well and not causing irritation even to sensitive skin.

Me series personalization is also praised – the test helps find suitable products and the routine feels sensible. Many like that they get a “comprehensive” treatment program from one place.

Service quality also gets praise. Distributors are usually friendly and helpful, and complaint situations are handled well. Customer service responds quickly and product returns work without hassle.

On the supplement side, LifePak vitamins are praised for improved energy and general wellbeing. Of course it’s hard to say whether it’s due to vitamins or placebo effect, but people experience positive changes.

6.2 Negative experiences

But then come the negative experiences, and there are… a lot of them.

The most common complaint is pricing. “150€ cream that doesn’t do anything more than a 20€ pharmacy alternative” is a typical example of comments. Many feel they’ve been scammed when expectations were high but results modest.

Skin reactions are also common. Even though products are advertised as “natural”, many get irritation, redness or even allergic reactions. Especially Epoch series products seem to cause problems – maybe those exotic plant extracts don’t suit everyone.

MLM structure problems come up in customer experiences. People complain that distributors pressure them to buy more, try to recruit customers as sellers, and that it’s hard to get neutral product advice when the seller has their own agenda.

Autoship system (automatic monthly orders) also causes annoyance. Many forget to cancel and notice 200€ has been charged monthly for products they don’t need.

6.3 Independent review site analysis

Trustpilot reviews for Nu Skin are… well, not good. Average hovers around 2.5-3 stars, which is pretty weak for a cosmetics company.

Negative reviews focus on three things:

1. “Products too expensive for results”
2. “Distributors annoying and pushy”
3. “MLM pyramid scheme, avoid”

In Reddit discussions Nu Skin is talked about mainly in a warning tone. The r/antiMLM subreddit has several threads about Nu Skin, and they’re full of stories from people who got involved and regret it. Lots of “lost friends”, “destroyed relationships” and “made big losses” stories.

Consumer complaint summary makes for grim reading. At BBB (Better Business Bureau) Nu Skin has a B- rating, which isn’t very convincing. Complaints mainly concern misleading marketing, difficulties canceling orders and distributors’ unethical sales tactics.

Interesting that positive reviews often sound a bit… fake? Lots of similar language, same praise, same structure. Could be that some are Nu Skin’s own people or distributors have been trained to write reviews in a certain way.

Bottom line? Customer experiences are mixed, but there are clearly more negatives than you’d expect if this was actually a good product and business model.

🔬 7. Scientific Assessment

7.1 Research evidence

This is the part where things start looking a bit questionable. Nu Skin likes to wave the “clinically proven” flag, but let’s see what’s actually behind it.

Nu Skin’s own research sounds convincing on paper. They have studies on ageLOC technology, skin aging and gene expression. But here’s the problem – almost all studies are either done by Nu Skin themselves or commissioned by them from outside laboratories.

For example, their famous “gene expression mapping” study, which claims ageLOC affects gene function – it’s done in Nu Skin’s own laboratory. It’s a bit like asking McDonald’s to research whether Big Mac is healthy food.

Independent studies are surprisingly few. I’ve searched PubMed and other scientific databases, and you can find studies that mention Nu Skin’s ingredients (like niacinamides or peptides), but rarely the actual Nu Skin products themselves.

The few independent studies that exist don’t support Nu Skin’s claims as strongly as they make it seem. For example, a 2019 study examined ageLOC products’ effects on skin elasticity, and results were “mild improvements after 12 weeks” – nothing groundbreaking.

Peer-review process is the gold standard in science. Means other field experts have checked the study before publication. Few of Nu Skin’s studies have gone through proper peer-review process in respected scientific journals. Most are published either on their own sites or in some obscure journals that don’t have the same credibility.

7.2 Ingredient effectiveness

Okay, but what’s actually in those products? And do those ingredients work?

Key active ingredients in Nu Skin products are actually pretty good. They contain retinol, niacinamides (vitamin B3), peptides, hyaluronic acid and antioxidants like vitamin C. These are all ingredients with real scientific evidence in skincare.

But here comes the big BUT – you can get these same ingredients much cheaper elsewhere. The Ordinary sells niacinamide serums for 6€, when Nu Skin’s equivalent costs 150€. Paula’s Choice sells retinol creams for 40€, Nu Skin’s ageLOC Night costs 180€.

Concentrations and bioavailability is where Nu Skin tries to differentiate. They claim their “proprietary blends” and “advanced delivery systems” make ingredients more effective. But this is hard to verify because they don’t reveal exact concentrations – “proprietary blend” is a convenient way to hide that the product actually has pretty little active ingredient.

For example, niacinamide is effective at 5-10% concentrations, but Nu Skin doesn’t tell how much is in their products. Same thing with peptides – they might be on the ingredient list, but concentration could be so small it’s mainly a marketing gimmick.

Comparison to competitors reveals Nu Skin’s biggest problem. The same retinol found in Nu Skin’s 180€ cream is also found in CeraVe’s 25€ cream. The same niacinamide in Nu Skin’s 150€ serum is also in Olay’s 20€ product.

The only difference is often fragrances, packaging appearance and that MLM markup. The cosmetics industry’s dirty little secret is that most companies buy the same basic raw materials from the same suppliers. The difference is how much money goes into marketing and sales network maintenance.

So scientific assessment? Nu Skin products aren’t bad – they contain good ingredients. But they’re also not miracle cures, and you get the same benefits much cheaper buying from pharmacy or Sephora.

“Gene expression mapping” and “clinically proven anti-aging” sounds fancy, but in reality it’s about the same ingredients that have been used in cosmetics for decades. Nu Skin just packages them in a fancier jar and sells them for 10 times more.

⚖️ 9. Legality and Ethics

9.1 Regulatory compliance

This is an interesting section because Nu Skin has been under pretty tight supervision from authorities over the years.

FDA approvals – well, here’s the thing: cosmetic products don’t need FDA approval before sale. Nu Skin’s skincare products are registered as cosmetics, not drugs, so they haven’t gone through the same testing as prescription drugs for example.

But Pharmanex supplements are a different story. FDA has monitored Nu Skin pretty closely, and in 2016 they got a warning letter because they claimed their LifePak vitamins could “prevent heart disease” and “improve cognitive function”. FDA basically said “you can’t claim that without proper studies”.

EU regulation compliance has also been challenging. In Europe cosmetics regulations are stricter than in America, and Nu Skin has had to change their product formulations and marketing claims several times. With GDPR they also had to renew how they handle customer data.

Advertising claim accuracy has been a big problem. Nu Skin has paid millions in fines for misleading marketing in different countries. For example in 2014 they paid 47 million dollars to FTC (Federal Trade Commission) because they had let distributors claim you could “quickly earn large sums” with Nu Skin business.

China operations were especially problematic – there they got fines for running pyramid schemes, and had to change their entire business model in China.

9.2 Ethical considerations

And here we come to the big question – is the MLM business model ethically okay?

MLM business model ethics is a controversial topic. Critics say it’s basically a pyramid scheme where 99% of people lose money so 1% can earn. Defenders say it gives people opportunity for entrepreneurship and financial freedom.

Reality is somewhere in between, but leans pretty heavily toward the critics. When 81% of distributors earn under 500$ per year but have to invest thousands, it’s hard to claim the system works for “regular people”.

Recruitment practices are maybe the most ethically problematic thing. Nu Skin encourages people to recruit friends, family and acquaintances. This leads to personal relationships turning into business. Many lose friendships when they start pressuring everyone to buy products or join.

Particularly problematic is how poorer people or those in financial difficulties are marketed to. “Financial freedom” and “work from home” promises sound appealing when money is tight, but in reality these people often make the biggest losses because they can’t afford those initial investments.

Social impact is also questionable. MLM companies don’t produce any new value for society – they just redistribute money within themselves. Most “products” go to distributors’ own consumption, not real customers. It’s like insider trading where everyone sells each other the same stuff at increasingly higher prices.

Plus this causes a lot of social stress. Family dinners become sales situations. Facebook feeds fill up with “amazing business opportunity” posts. People start avoiding friends because they’re afraid they’ll try to sell them something.

Ethical consideration: is it okay to run a business where you know 99% of participants will lose money? Is it okay to market “financial freedom” when you’re actually offering financial slavery? Is it okay to encourage people to exploit their personal relationships for money?

Nu Skin isn’t technically illegal – they operate within legal boundaries. But legality and ethics are two different things. And ethics… well, that’s left to each person’s own judgment.

📢 11. My MLM Experience

Got burned by MLM before. “Natures Own” → “Seven International.” €500 starter pack, bad products, endless cold calls. Signed up one person. Swore I was done. Then I found LiveGood. Online system, no cold calls, only $50 to start + $50/month. Honestly? Game-changer. Highly recommend.

📊 12. Who is Nu Skin suitable for?

 

Okay, let’s put cards on the table. Who does this Nu Skin thing actually suit?

Ideal customer profile (if such exists) would be someone who has:

• Over 3000€ monthly income and comfortable financial situation
• Interest in expensive premium cosmetic products
• Lots of time for networking and sales work
• Strong social network that also has money
• Ability to tolerate financial risk
• Desire to do sales work full-time

But honestly? A person meeting that profile would probably do better investing the money in real investment instruments or starting a real business.

When is investment worthwhile? Well… rarely. If you buy Nu Skin products just for your own use because you like them and price doesn’t matter, that’s your choice. But as a “business opportunity” this almost never pays off.

The only situation where Nu Skin reselling could theoretically work is if:

• You’re naturally really good at selling (like car or real estate sales)
• You have a huge social network with lots of money
• You can work 60+ hours per week
• You don’t care if you lose friends in the process

But even then – why not start a real business instead?

Warning signs to watch out for:

• If you’re thinking of borrowing for starter package
• If you’re in financial difficulties and hoping this as salvation
• If you’re told “everyone wins” or “no risk”
• If recruitment is emphasized more than product sales
• If you’d feel personal failure if you don’t make money

11.2 Final rating

Product quality: 6/10 Nu Skin products aren’t bad. They contain good ingredients and quality is decent. But they’re not better than competitors that cost 80% less.

Price-quality ratio: 2/10 This is the biggest problem. You get the same quality from 20-30€ pharmacy products. 150-200€ price tag is completely unjustifiable.

Business model credibility: 1/10 When 81% of distributors earn under 500$ per year but have to spend thousands, the system simply doesn’t work. It’s designed to benefit the company and top sellers, not regular people.

Overall rating: 3/10 Nu Skin isn’t a complete scam, but it’s also not a good investment. Products work but are too expensive, and the “business opportunity” is doomed to loss for most.

11.3 Recommendations

Buyer’s guide: If you want to try Nu Skin products, just buy that one product you want to test. Don’t become a distributor, don’t buy packages, and don’t commit to any monthly subscriptions.

Alternative strategies:

• Want quality skincare products? Try CeraVe, The Ordinary, or Paula’s Choice
• Want to be entrepreneur? Start a real business or buy franchising
• Want passive income? Invest in stock markets or real estate
• Want to network? Join professional organization or start hobby

Future outlook: MLM business is slowly declining as people better understand how they work. Social media has made their tactics more transparent, and younger generations are more skeptical. Nu Skin will probably have to change their model in the future or slowly die out.

📋 13. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Is Nu Skin a pyramid scheme? Technically no, because they sell real products. But in practice it resembles a pyramid quite a lot – most money comes from recruitment, not product sales. Legality is a gray area, but operating principles are very similar.

How much money can I earn? According to Nu Skin’s own numbers, 81% of distributors earn under 500$ per year. Median earnings are about 300$ per year. Only 1% earn over 50,000$ per year. So probability of earning significant sums is very small.

Are products worth their price? No. Nu Skin products cost 3-10 times more than competitors with the same active ingredients. For example, instead of 150€ niacinamide serum you get the same effect with 6€ The Ordinary product.

How do I quit the distributor agreement? Call customer service or send email. They’ll probably try to talk you into staying, but stay firm. Remember to cancel all automatic orders. Keep cancellation confirmation.

Can Nu Skin actually become a full-time profession? Statistically the probability is very small. Even though some small percentage succeed, it requires long work days, huge social network and often sacrificing personal relationships. For most, a real job or own business is a safer option.

Do I need to recruit people? Theoretically no, but practically yes. Even though Nu Skin says you can earn with just product sales, in reality significant income only comes from recruitment and team building.

Is this suitable as side business? Probably not. Side business should be something that brings extra income, not takes it away. When initial investments and monthly costs are bigger than income, it’s not side business but expensive hobby.

🎯 12. Conclusion

Okay, long story short: Nu Skin isn’t what they claim to be.

Products? Decent enough, but nothing miraculous. You get the same effect for a tenth of the price from pharmacy. 150€ cream doesn’t work miracles any better than 20€ alternative with same ingredients.

Business opportunity? Doomed to loss for 99% of people. When median earnings are 25€ per month but costs 200€+, it’s not business – it’s expensive hobby where you pay for the right to sell overpriced products to your friends.

MLM model? Works well… for Nu Skin. They get steady cash flow when people buy mandatory products every month hoping they’ll start earning someday. Spoiler: they won’t.

If you’re considering Nu Skin, ask yourself:

• Do you want to pay 10x too much for skincare products?
• Are you ready to lose friends and family relationships for money?
• Do you enjoy the thought of working 60 hours a week to earn less than minimum wage?

If you answered “no” to any of those, don’t join.

This isn’t hate speech against Nu Skin. They’re a legal company making profit. But that doesn’t mean their strategy would be good for you. Facts are facts: statistics speak for themselves, and those statistics say this doesn’t work for regular people.

Instead of investing in Nu Skin, buy good skincare from pharmacy and put the rest in savings. In five years you’ll thank yourself.

And if someone tries to sell you Nu Skin, show them this article’s section about earning potential. Friend service.