Good day to you! I'm excited to introduce you to a select group of peers from around the globe. Before that happens, I'd like to address something that I've been getting a LOT of inquiries about lately. Why did I choose to partner with Motives over other lines?
If you follow me on social media (@flawlessbyjm) or have read through my website, you know that I partnered with Motives Cosmetics & Market America back in 2012. Before that time, my professional (and personal) makeup kit was comprised of names like RCMA, Cinema Secrets, Laura Mercier, MAC, Lancome, Chanel, Armani, NYX, Loreal, Revlon, Ben Nye, Makeup Forever, Smash Box, Cover FX, Dior, Stila, Urban Decay, Cargo, MUD, Temptu, and the list goes on and on and on. Do these brands offer good products? Of course! Do I still have a "sprinkling" of them? Yes.
What you may not realize, however, is that most of them come from the same few manufacturing houses.
Yes- it's true. If you haven't yet heard, MUFE pencils are the same as Urban Decay and as a couple more. If you don't want to take my word for it, maybe you'll listen to Emmy Award(s) Winning Makeup Artist, Beauty Journalist, Educator, and Cosmetic Developer, Kevin James Bennett.
You wanna see a magic trick? Tell me which product below is Smashbox and which one is Motives Cosmetics. I'll wait...
Very comparable, right? You should see them side by side in person. The powder shades, consistency, and wear... You'd be hard pressed to tell them apart. Don't let the lighting from the photography fool you. Are they the same? I can't tell you for certain, however when they're side by side anyone would do a double take. This happens with the majority of products out there, guys. Luckily for me, I know that many of the products that Motives offers come with exclusivity contracts. Being that Market America (of which Motives is a division) is a product brokerage company, it doesn't actually manufacture anything. This is a huge plus because it means we can go with the flow of what our consumers want, without the high costs that are typically associated with products going out of style. If a product comes into favor with consumers, we will offer it at the highest possible quality (and at low prices since we don't need to cover manufacturing costs, R&D, advertising, etc). To learn more about what it means to be a product brokerage company, click here.
So to bring it back to my decision to start a partnership with this company, it was a no brainer. Back when I had every name under the sun in my kit, my clients would ask me to jot down the list of whatever I put on them so that they could buy it from the respective stores. Great for them, great for the stores, dumb for me. I was leaving hundreds, if not thousands, of dollars on the table with every client.
Being a business woman first and foremost, that tired routine wasn't cuttin' it anymore.
I knew I had to make a move, but did I really want to retail? Selling isn't something I've ever liked doing. Did I want to be one of those "Insert MLM makeup company name here" ladies? No. Not in the least. Not that those ladies were selling terrible products- they weren't. But rather because their MLM (Multi-Level-Marketing) structures & compensation plans did not make sense. They made the sweetest ladies become "sharky" and obnoxious. I witnessed this personally, many times. This was not appealing to me. MLMs weren't a good fit for my personality, for the professional quality I needed, nor for my business in general.
When I found Motives, it was like a perfect storm to me; high quality, pretty packaging, hefty pro discounts, the full spectrum of customizable shades, a business model to end all other business models, access to seminars/education/trainings both in person and online, the promise of personal growth, and no MLM structure in sight. Now, I can directly offer true professional quality products (at much lower prices) to my clients so they don't have to take a trip to the store. They're happy, along with my bottom line.
And now, let's start the show. ;-)
I'd like to introduce some beauty professionals who have also decided to partner with Motives Cosmetics. I'll add that none of these ladies are connected to me in any way other than we know each other from social media. They are not my business partners, but they are my peers in the industry. I asked them some questions... Enjoy!
Rachel Jones
Bridal & Editorial Makeup Artistry
Aries
How long have you been a makeup artist? I've been a makeup artist for 13 years now. I introduced Motives to my freelance business 5 years ago. Top 5 Motives products: 1. Complexion Perfection Primer, makes skin smooth and flawless and holds foundation in place all day! 2. Invisiline - magic eraser for fine lines :) essential around the eye area! 3. Brown Sugar Luxe Cream Eyeshadow, a great color that makes light eyes pop, also makes a great waterproof eye base for my Maven Element Box eyeshadow palette! 4. 40FY Lip Treatment cause it gave me a full upper lip! I love using it a pre-treatment on my clients. 5. Little Black Dress Gel Eyeliner! So dark, stays where I put it and works amazing in the waterline. 6. 10 years Younger Makeup Setting Spray. I know you didnt ask for 6, but I couldnt narrow it down and I can't live without the 16 hour hold of this spray! How has this partnership helped your business?
When I started using Motives on set for photoshoots, I had less work to do as an artist because the makeup didnt require touchups! I also recieved feedback from photographers that they had up to 70% less retouching to do when I used Motives on set. For my bridal clients, they have a quality brand that lasts all day and looks flawless. Using Motives gave me more confidence in the quality of work that I offer. I can also now offer makeup lessons and retail a quality makeup brand I use and love. Why this company over others?
I chose Market America and Motives because of the team aspect. I love being able to empower other artists and truly support them in building a beauty business. No other company can do this in the same way, and with this awesome, professional makeup line! Favorite band? Has to be Ed Sheeran. I have his album on loop! Favorite junk food? Fully loaded pizza... Mouth watering, especially after a full day of makeovers. Your celebrity crush? Mark Wahlberg, I love watching his movies!
Rachel Lorraine
Bridal & Special Event Makeup Aristry
Capricorn
How long have you been a makeup artist?
Over 10 years, partnered with Market America & Motives since 2013. What are your top 5 Motives products? Why are they your favorites? 1. Motives Liquid Mineral foundation - it provides a FLAWLESS airbrush-like finish! 2. Lumiere De Vie - Gave me the best skin of my life! 3. 10 years younger spray - I love the versatility, can use it to add moisture to the foundation and setting the makeup. 4. Makeup remover towelettes- They are gentle for sensitive skin and remove makeup amazingly. 5. Little black dress gel eyeliner - cause it's amazing, waterproof and THE PERFECT eyeliner!!
How has this partnership helped your business?
It provides me a support team to help answer questions and guidance about products as well as offers general business support.
Why Market America over other direct sales companies?
When I started my business, the goal was to focus primarily on bridal clients. Let’s face it, I live in North East Ohio and there is not a high demand for commercial style makeup. Luckily for me, there is a booming wedding industry! I knew right away that I would need to use and carry a product line that: 1. Would provide my clients with a flawless makeup application while standing up to the stress and emotions of weddings and all other special events 2. Allow me to offer products for purchase, for both the client’s convenience and my profit. 3. Offer my clients a cruelty-free, hypo-allergenic & customizable product 4. Be affordable to myself as a business owner and to my clients. I was skeptical at first because I did not want to be lumped in with the Mary Kay’s and Avon’s. Let’s face it, those product lines have zero credibility with my generation (20 somethings – 30 somethings). Not that their products can’t be great, but they were just not at the professional grade I needed for my professional kit. They did not offer the level of experience I wanted as a business owner nor that I wanted to offer my clients. When I was introduced to Motives, it was love at first sight. Not only was I in love with their products, I was in love with their media presence and the support I was seeing all over. New products released every few months, professional (traveling) trainers, annual conventions and the list goes on. I continue to be amazed by the support I receive from other business owners, who gain absolutely no personal benefit from helping and guiding me, and that is exactly the kind of business I want to run and exactly the kind of experience I want to offer my clients. We are a family!
What's your favorite junk food?
Ummm, french fries definitely.
Who is your celebrity crush?
Adam Levine and Gary Allen, yum!
Leigh Raeder Bridal & Special Event Makeup Artistry www.LeighRaeder.com
Capricorn
How long have you been in the beauty industry?
More than 21 years as a Licensed Cosmetologist/Makeup Artist, 7 partnered with Market America & Motives.
What are your top 5 Market America products? Why are they your favorites?
This is hard. 1) Opc-3 because it has changed my health drastically, and truly helped my clients with so many degenerative health challenges. 2) Aloe because it keeps my family healthy and is also great for skin health and so many digestive issues. 3) 10 Years Younger Makeup Setting Spray, because it ensures that when I do someone’s makeup, it will last all day. 4) Motives Custom Blend- It allows me to create the perfect formula for my clients. 5) Bliss- It helps stabilize client’s mood and decreases stress. So many people are stressed!
How has this partnership helped your business?
I was introduced to the company when I owned my salon. Over the years, that industry has changed tremendously, and “Professional” products started showing up in mass retailers. This has hurt the independent salons & stylists, and many are struggling to stay afloat. We were looking for ways to bring in revenue and really stand out from the competition. By implementing the different divisions of the company, we were able to offer exclusive products and services not found just anywhere. It made not only my salon successful, but also me as an independent UnFranchise owner. I was able to continue to cut my hours from 60+ hours a week, working almost every night and weekend, to part-time. Last year I had the opportunity to sell my salon, so now I have a much more flexible schedule, and can work around my family’s activities. I no longer have to miss the things that are important to my children. We are able to travel and achieve our dreams and goals together. I am so passionate about helping other professionals achieve their dreams too, and I have a vehicle to help them do just that.
Why MA over other direct sales companies?
When I first evaluated the company, I saw the vision. Unlike many niche companies that live or die by the success of one product, we're able to offer a variety of products and brands across numerous multibillion-dollar markets. From health and nutrition to cosmetics, weight management to home and garden, we will always provide the most popular products. The products are amazing, and they work. The compensation plan is like no other. The financial track record. The fact that the company has been around since 1992 and has never had a down quarter, and continues to grow. It’s a proven plan with clear vision and strength, enabling Independent Shop Consultants, working part-time to earn residual income, which can lead toward financial security.
What's your favorite band?
U2
What's your favorite junk food?
Ice Cream
Who is your celebrity crush?
Bono-because I admire his philanthropy.
Jennifer Fernandez
Bridal Makeup Artistry
Gemini
How long have you been a makeup artist?
Fourteen years, partnered with MA & Motives for 2 years.
List your top 5 MA products and why they are your favorite.
1) Custom blend. Hands down, the mineral custom blend sets you apart. Formulating a proprietary blend that clients can only get from you is exclusive.
2.) No More Shine Setting Spray. Eliminates and controls surface shine and sets makeup for long wear.
3) Contour palette. So easy to use! This is a great palette for achieving the perfect contour and is a great tool for pro makeup artists to offer lessons along with a sale.
4) Eye base. The eye base neutralizes unwanted tones, provides an even base, allows shadows to adhere for greater color payoff and provides a barrier from oils to eliminate creasing.
5) LaLa Mineral Mascara. This mascara is non drying/flaking. It keeps lashes moisturized while building length and volume.
How has this partnership helped your business?
I am able to offer an exclusive brand to my clients. I specialize in bridal so I can put together touch up kits for brides with a custom mineral translucent powder, lip gloss and makeup setting spray. I can conduct lessons with the palettes and kits we offer. The contour, eyebrow and element palette make it so easy and fun to offer a sale along with a service. It allows the savvy business minded artist to think "out of the box" to secure a future with work they would be doing anyway. I can work smarter, not harder.
Why MA over other direct sales companies?
Market America has continued quarterly upward growth since inception in 1992. Accredited with the BBB and recipient of the prestigious Torch Award. Loren Ridinger heading up our brand allowing you to tap into the 55 billion dollar cosmetic sales industry. With shop.com (one of Market America's divisions), the entrepreneur has an ocean of products allowing anyone to be your client.
What's your favorite band?
Foo Fighters/The Eagles
Your favorite junk food is...
New York style pizza
Who is your celebrity crush?
Bradley Cooper
Monina Wright
Bridal, Editorial, & Video Makeup Artistry
Aquarius
How long have you been a makeup artist?
I’ve been a makeup artist for 20 years, partnered with Market America for 4 years.
Name your top 5 Motives products and WHY they are your favorite.
1) Face Perfecting Primer - Helps to moisturise the skin while mattefying any shine. It also smoothes out fine lines and helps to reduce the appearance of enlarged pores.
2) Invisiline - When you apply this product in a stippiling motion, it literally acts as a filler for your crow's feet, laugh lines, and those annoying lines between our brows. I can't live without it because it is the only thing on the market that helps to reduce the appearance of my acne scars as well.
3) Custom Blend Foundation - Being able to customize my foundation and my clients' foundations has been a game changer for my business. I can create not only my Dream Foundation, but now I can create the perfect match for all my clients everytime. No matter what your undertones are or your skin type/condition I can create you perfect foundation everytime.
4) Mavens Sculpt Series - This contour palette is the perfect color range and consistency that any woman can work with to contour and highlight your face, neck, chest or shoulders. It also doubles as my own version of Dip Brow to shape and scult eye brows.
5) Lux Precision Liner - With the ease of a pen, and the cosistency of liquid eyeliner, this liner gives you the perfect winged eyeliner everytime you apply it.
How has this partnership helped your business?
Ma and Motives has allowed me to create different streams of income. Before Motives, I offerd my makeup services to brides, and to my facial clients. But this was a limited way of creating an ongoing income. So I branched out and started offering makeup lessons. But even that was limited because I was only getting paid 1 time to teach my clients how to apply their makeup. I was endorsing every brand of makeup under the sun during my lessons, but quickly realized I was not benefiting from the ongoing sales my clients were purchasing at the department stores. So when I found Motives, I was so happy to learn that I could now offer a competitive makeup line and reap the rewards of providing this line to my clients. Now as a makeup artist I can generate revenue through sevices, retail sales and more importantly, develop a residual stream of income by teaching and training others to do what I do.
Why MA over other direct sales companies?
20 years ago I was introduced to the concept of residual income when I attended my first MLM business presentation. What excited me was the fact that I can create a business that would yield me an ongoing income with no or little money or expereince. With hard work my husband and I started and built several MLM businesses since then. What we realized after a few years was that all MLMs are not created equally. In fact the downside was usually not the products or people, but the System set in place and the Compensation plan. Then late in 2011 I was introduced to Motives and the Market America System. We quickly realized that this was different, NOT MLM, and that the System and Compensation plan we had always hoped for was finally created. Because Market America offers several divisions, I was able to combine my love of makeup and skill set as a makeup artist with my Motives business. Introducing Motives/MA system into my Beauty business was seamless because it just made sense to offer a makeup line to my client base. Now offering the business opportunity to fellow artists is also seamless and exciting.
Your favorite band is...
Maroon 5
What's your favorite junk food?
Cheesecake!!
Who is your celebrity crush?
Keanu Reeves, Johnny Depp, and Adam Levine
Kinley Kay Dickrell
Bridal & Editorial Makeup Artistry
Capricorn
How long have you been a makeup artist?
I've been a makeup artist for 3 years, partnered with Motives for 1 year.
What are your top 5 MA products and why?
1) 10 years younger- magic setting spray!!! Totally freezes the makeup so it never moves.
2). Motives by LALA mascara- most nourishing formula and NEVER dries!
3) Demure eye shadow palette- perfect for every day and evening makeup
4) Little black dress- Long wearing and easy to apply!
5) Custom blend!! Gives me the opportunity to address my client's entire needs. Keeps me unique and exclusive.
How has this partnership helped your business?
It's helped me take my business to the next level. My clients are more satisfied because I answer all of their needs. I am versatile in the services I offer and I am able to capitalize on my business 100% more than before.
Why MA over other direct sales companies?
Custom blend foundation! Awesome trainings and support all over the world! Customizable program that is unique to each artist. Branding of Motives is huge! Everyone knows it and loves it.
What's your favorite band?
Maroon 5
Who is your celebrity crush?
Kim Kardashian! Lol
Jacqueline Menconi
Television, Commercial, Film, & Bridal Makeup Artistry
Aquarius
Since this is me, I'll skip to the questions that aren't already answered on my main site.
Top 5 Market America products & why they are my favorites
1) Custom Blend- Remember that time you got the wrong foundation color? Remember when you didn't return the bottle even though you didn't use it? Remember that other time you got yet another wrong shade, but kept using it and looking crazy, just because you were fed up with the whole ordeal? Yeah. That's not an issue anymore. :-) Being able to custom blend bottles of foundations for my clients has been an amazing addition to my services. Not only do they get a makeup that is uniquely created to their skincare wants and needs, but I keep their formulas on file for when they need refills. Every time they need a new bottle, they text or email me and I can whip one up and mail it to their home. I've had amazing feedback on this service and about a 90-95% client return rate.
2) Isotonix OPC3 Beauty Blend- This bad boy made my thinning hair grow back within 1 month of taking it. Even more, my skin has never looked better than it has since October of 2012 (when I started using it).
3) LaLa Mineral Volumizing & Lengthening Mascara- I've had my lashes fall out because of other mascaras on the market (that claimed to be natural, btw). This one is super moisturizing, doesn't flake, and can be layered without getting clumpy. No one wants spider leg lashes! No one!! Get out of here, Crazy!
4) Isotonix Immune- I am convinced that this has saved me from getting the flu upwards of 6 times over the past few years. As a makeup artist, I get to meet and work with amazing people on a daily basis. Sometimes, those people have sneak sneezing and coughing attacks onto my face. No bueno. Immune is my jam! It's no joke!
5) Lumiere de Vie Serum Concentrate- Oh boy. If you enjoy spending $200+ on a skincare product, then this line is NOT for you. It has the same active ingredients as La Mer for a THIRD of the price. The Serum Concentrate in particular is my favorite because it targets fine lines, moisturizes, calms, evens out tone, feels amazing, smells great, etc. As with all of the products MA offers, a little goes a very long way. I'd pay the La Mer amount, but I'm thrilled I'll never have to! #sorrynotsorry
Why Market America over other Direct Sales companies?
There is no other company that pays this much to its distributors, nor has this high of a standard to products and services across all divisions. From makeup to skincare to health & wellness to website development to getting paid to shop online and much more, Market America's global mission is to help anyone to create a Shopping Annuity by converting their current spending into earning. Our founder & CEO, JR Ridinger is a brilliant man!
Favorite band?
Metallica & Foo Fighters
Junk food?
Carbs. Cheesy carbs.
Celebrity crush?
Jake Johnson, Chris Pratt, Jason Segel
Do you have any questions for us? Please comment below!
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