Though I’ve not tried the products for myself, the seeming army of Arbonne converts in my back yard claim this Swiss hair and skincare line is the absolute shiz. I have about a dozen friends who have signed up as representatives and they’re all clamoring to slather me with the stuff. Since I value their friendship, I’ve declined every offer for a demo.

My concerns about the company aren’t about whether or not their products are good — if they weren’t moderately effective this explosion of interest would not be happening. That it’s a network marketing arrangement…I have my opinion, but more on that later.

The simple truth is that there isn’t much difference between a product of high quality and a product of medium quality. There is a huge difference between a product of high quality and a product of low quality. The beauty industry knows this but consumers rarely think about it because we buy products based on emotion. There’s nothing wrong with that, it’s just how we are.

Where Arbonne really sits in the quality spectrum depends on what you feel when you use it, and what attracted you to it in the first place. If a product fits your budget and does what it says it’s going to do, you’re golden. If it’s not doing the job, it could very well be that Grecian fig leaves are better than Argentinian ones, so you’ll need to give up your weekly mocha latte ritual to literally save your skin. Or it’s entirely possible that you’re paying too much for something that isn’t going to work because fig leaves just aren’t what you need.

In other words: if you’re using a Dove bar to clean your face, chances are good that Arbonne will feel like nirvana. If you’re using Rodan + Fields, however, you may not notice any difference at all. So why switch, unless you’re looking to help out a friend?

I think everyone should try new beauty products because it’s less traumatic to pick out a new moisturizer than it is to pick out a new boyfriend. If someone is willing to take the time to demo you, go for it. Pay meticulous attention to their ingredient list versus your allergies and medications. My advice is to never, ever buy full-sized products on the very first demo. Buy a week’s worth of samples, then give things a real whirl.

In all honesty, nearly everyone looks and feels fresher when they’ve had a facial and a makeup job (there’s the emotion part again!), but subtle reactions won’t show up until you’re in your routine. Think about your lifestyle – lots of smog? Lots of sun? How is it reacting with your new cosmetic? Does your face still feel as good after eight straight hours of job stress? Do you wake up on day seven and wish there were only three steps instead of five? Finally, if your skin’s as sensitive as mine and you find a big red blotch on your cheek on day three, your investment won’t have been overwhelming and you won’t have to bother with the return policy.

There’s also the very diva option of simply saying, “no, thanks. I’m happy with what I have. Can I buy you some groceries instead?”

And now for my opinion on network marketing: Ew!

There are enough products available in the world today to boggle the mind. The pressure to pick the right ones for yourself is huge, and it doesn’t get easier when your friend’s livelihood depends on your purchases. Sympathy buying, just like desperation buying, can drive you into the poor house if you’re not careful; it taints your otherwise academic approach to whether or not you really need a new hair or skin care technique. Everyone feels bad when the demo proves less than impressive, or if the minimum sale hasn’t been met. This isn’t the same as getting a good recommendation, it is their job to sell things to you. You’ve gone from friend to client, and that isn’t always good. To top it all off, network marketing requires recruitment, which means you’re in line to become their next peon.

Over time, all networks begin to unravel at the bottom (recruitment) level. That unraveling works its way upline and nobody comes out a winner. If you don’t believe me, ask yourself how many Herbalife reps you know this year compared to fifteen years ago.