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It’s hard to imagine anyone out there hasn’t heard of one of the most talked about skincare brands on the market but, just in case, Rodan & Fields is a well-known, premium skincare brand sold via consultants around the world.
Most of us would classify them as a direct sales, multi-level marketing company with a structure similar to that of Lularoe or Tupperware. Which, if we break it down, basically just means that the company sells their products to consultants (most of whom are women) for one price who then turn around and sell it to us consumers for another.
Rodan & Fields as a company saves on things like storefronts, advertising and marketing, employee costs, and countless other things traditional direct to consumer brands face by putting those tasks largely in the hands of their consultants who use word of mouth, social media, and their own basements and sweat to turn a profit.
It doesn’t mean that Rodan & Fields, the company, never advertises or markets or even sells their products directly to consumers –they totally do, and you can just go to their website directly and see it. But, it does mean that the largely-female consultant force they partner with is primarily in charge of moving their products into the homes of women (and men) who desire to effectively beat age and acne from their faces.
Some people have lumped them into the “pyramid scheme” pot along with the countless other companies that utilize this model to grow their profits. Personally, my one undergraduate class in white collar crime (I majored in Criminology in college 18 years ago so I’m basically about as knowledgeable as anyone who can use Google on the topic) tells me that Rodan & Fields is NOT a pyramid scheme.
To be basic here, the primary problem with pyramid schemes is that they don’t really involve the sell of anything –no product, no service, no nothing –just people convincing other people to give them money for the idea of making more money by doing nothing but convincing other people to give them their money too. The people at the top will get plenty of money, while the people at the bottom will get little or no money (well the VERY bottom gets entirely screwed), and no one ever sells anything.
Rodan & Fields sells for real skincare products.
In fact, they’ve been named one of the fastest growing skincare product lines in the U.S., surpassing a billion dollars in revenue in 2016.
The founders, Dr. Rodan and Dr. Fields are for real dermatologists with for real research and clinical study who have developed for real products that, many testify, for real work to help stop acne, smooth lines, and reduce the effects of aging on the skin.
For. Real.
Which naturally intrigues any of us who are struggling to maintain that youthful glow as the harshness of life starts to creep up into our faces. To me they are like this amazing opportunity for regular girls like you and me, to look J.Lo young and glowy for a fraction of the cost.
When I started my direct sellers feature series here on the blog, my goal was to help promote and honor some of the hard working women business owners who are finding financial freedom on their own terms via these companies. However, I will admit, Rodan & Fields caught my attention because they have a product I actually wanted to try. Because, while I can live without soft leggings (not that I want to) and cute tote bags (also, don’t want to), I seriously NEED my skin to not betray me.
I’m not ready for fine lines and wrinkles, and this adult acne is the thing my nightmares are made of.
Though my initial interest in Rodan & Fields was, admittedly, more selfish than anything, I feel like my personal desire to use these products and get to the bottom of their validity made me the perfect person to give you a lesson in them as well.
Here’s what I learned after nearly a month of using the Rodan & Fields REDEFINE line on my face.
The Truth About Rodan & Fields: I Tried Rodan & Fields for a Month and Here’s What Happened
I figured out their process.
Okay, here’s the thing about pretty much every MLM type of company I have ever encountered and decided NOT to try: they make the buying process SO exhausting. I find it continuously frustrating that I am begging people to take my money and they want to have a meet & greet and a party and a consultation and a blood test (kidding, they don’t do a blood test, but the process can be just as invasive, time consuming, and painful). It’s like, can I please just order it from a photo I see on the Internet like every single other thing I buy online? Why does it have to be different? Why can’t you be Amazon? Please stop direct messaging me. LET ME LIVE!
While I am not convinced it’s not just a marketing tactic for many, the answer, when it comes to Rodan & Fields, is really NO: they actually need to talk to you before you buy if you really want them to work.
These products target specific issues and each product isn’t going to be right for each issue on every face. It takes time and guidance to find the right formulation to help you find the answer to your skincare woes, and your consultant is there to help streamline that experience.
My consultant, Elisa Kinnee, dropped a ton of knowledge on me about the products, how they work, and the roll she and other Rodan & Fields consultants attempt to play in their clients’ lives.
They help you select the correct regimen of products to get you the results you want. They help you understand how to use the products appropriately (many of them require you use them together correctly, in the right order, at the right time of day to provide optimal results). They help you address challenging issues with other resources the company provides.
They aren’t just trying to upsell you or make the buying process more personal to make you come back, they’re trying to make sure your products don’t melt your face (kidding, seriously, they don’t use ingredients that will actually melt your face). And, as far as I’m concerned, at the price point these products sell for, I really want to be sure about my results before I buy. Even though, as Andrea Coppin, another consultant I chatted with, noted, they offer a 60-day money back guarantee because are that certain you are going to get what you expected from their products.
I learned a ton about my face.
Like how I wasn’t even getting my makeup all the way off before. And how I’m not the acne face wreck I thought I was because most of my acne pops up in a pretty predictable pattern. And how I do actually have wrinkles –a hard truth revealed thanks to getting all up close and personal with a lighted mirror.
Actually spending some time concentrating on what I really want to improve about my skin helped me learn a lot about it and how/why it is in the shape it is currently in.
I’ve come to understand that I’ve never actually used a great moisturizer.
I spent almost a whole month using the Rodan & Fields REDEFINE line (was not my first choice, but it’s the samples I had). The cleanser was, eh –I didn’t feel super clean or refreshed or anything using it, but the toner was eye opening (it’s how I discovered I was a filthy girl for not ever fully removing my makeup). But, most life changing of all were the Triple Defense Treatment and the Overnight Restorative Cream. They are so rich and moisturizing, unlike any of the basic drug store moisturizers I’ve used in the past. After just a couple of weeks of use my skin feels much more supple, smooth, and hydrated. It’s easy to see how long-term use can help with anti-aging.
I decided to not to buy Rodan & Fields.
At least not right now.
From my brief review and the several my Facebook community provided me with, I truly believe that Rodan & Fields is a great product. I like the effects it has had on my face thus far and I can see myself investing in it when the time is right. But, if I’m honest (and, I always am), it is costly, especially to get started.
The REVERSE product line (the one I really need) retails for $190 plus tax. It’s cheaper to fill in your products as they run out, but each one still retails for between $43 and $78. Even though many consultants offer sales and other incentives to help with the cost, it’s still a big investment and a noticeable addition to any modest budget.
As much as I hate to admit it, I just don’t want to make this level of consistent investment in my skincare at this point. Eventually I hope to be willing/able to make it a priority, but right now, other things (99% stuff for the Dudes) are sort of eating up that expendable income.
I discovered how important skincare is right now.
I’m not getting any younger and it’s too late to start anti-aging treatments when you’ve already aged. That’s why I’m working hard to find an affordable skincare alternative.
But, let me be clear: I do NOT suggest that alternative, drug-store available products will be as effective as the Rodan & Fields products. In fact, I don’t even believe they compare.
The Rodan & Fields product line is designed by two very experienced dermatologists, they have an entire company devoted to developing the best skincare products possible, designed to address specific issues women face with their skin. They don’t also make deodorant and shampoo and various other personal products. They are specialists focused on creating a unique skincare line that they sale via personal consultants trained in helping you understand and utilize their products effectively. Totally can’t compare to what you can order on Amazon.
But, I believe in caring for my skin well and, while I don’t have the money to do it at the level I want (because, real talk, I’d do whatever it is J.Lo is doing if I did), that doesn’t mean I can’t do it at all.
So, here are some things I am trying right now…
For cleanser, I love Jan Marini Bioglycolic Face Cleanser. At $38 a bottle it seems expensive, but if you take a look, that price snags you an 8oz bottle which is basically twice as large as what you get when you buy the Rodan & Fields cleanser. Plus, it cleans well and has really helped with my acne (I’ve used the same bottle for 6 months and it’s still not all gone).
I also decided to give Burt’s Bees products a try. I love that they have several different regimens and that they help you determine what may work best for you with their online face care guide. It’s a great way to learn about which products should be used together to help treat specific skin concerns you may have. I ordered their tomato toner, as well as their intense hydration day lotion, and their intense hydration night cream. It all set me back less than $30 so if I hate it I won’t feel like I have to auction a kidney to recover the costs.
I encourage you to reach out to a Rodan & Fields consultant to learn more about the products before you explore other options. If you need a consultant, I highly recommend that you check out Elisa, Andrea, or Jenny. They will happily chat with you about what to expect from Rodan & Fields.