Is Bellame a Legit MLM or Pyramid Scheme? [Review]

Bellame sells beauty products using a method called multi-level marketing (MLM). Basically, instead of spending money on ads, they let people like you sell their products directly and earn money. The company is run by Scott and Melissa, a husband-wife duo. You might have heard about Bellame from a friend who recommended their stuff to you.

Feeling curious but skeptical about Bellame? You’re not alone. Whether a salesperson approached you or a friend mentioned it, it’s smart to research before jumping in.

Now, onto the big question: Is Farmasi Cosmetics a legit MLM or a pyramid scheme? We’ll dig into that. And hey, we’ll also tell you about a better way to make money from home.

Who Am I?

Hey there! I’m Benjamin, the person behind MLM Scam Insider. I used to be a sales rep at an MLM company, so I’ve seen both the good and bad sides of the MLM world.

After college, I joined HSBC as a relationship manager. Unfortunately, I got laid off due to some silly mistakes, and I felt pretty hopeless. During this tough time, a friend suggested I join his team.

He flaunted his success on Instagram with a Lamborghini (later, I discovered he had just rented it), so I believed I could attain the same. I purchased a starter kit from him and became a distributor. However, being a sales representative at an MLM company wasn’t what I had anticipated – it felt like a pyramid scheme. Uncomfortable with the idea of pitching to my friends and family, I only managed to sell a few starter kits.

Fortunately, I discovered how to make money blogging during Covid. So I soon quit my job as a sales rep and focused on my blog about budgeting, later selling it for $170k. Now, I’m a full-time internet entrepreneur running several blogs, including this one.

My goal is to provide you with honest reviews of various MLM companies, using my personal experiences to help you understand what’s really happening. I have connections with friends in the network marketing industry, and my team and I have spoken with different MLM distributors to give you the inside scoop.

What is Bellame?

Bellame is a beauty brand founded by Melissa Thompson and her partner Scott Thompson. Together, they bring 45 years of combined expertise in the beauty and digital marketing business.

Bellame combines luxury with science, developing patented technologies and ingredients, all packaged in high-end packaging.

Bellame operates as a MLM (multi-level marketing) company. This means you can buy Bellame Skin Care products through a consultant and even join the business if you love the products.

Bellame has a simple yet powerful mission: to strengthen women from within. According to the founders, Bellame believes that when people are open and honest with each other, outer beauty shines even brighter.

In just one year of operation, Bellame recruited a whopping 10,000 people and distributed $3 million in partner rewards.

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Who Are Melissa Thompson & Scott Thompson?

Melissa is experienced in direct sales. She was a top salesperson for three MLM companies selling beauty products: Avon, Shaklee, and Belcorp.

Not only that, but she’s also held senior management roles with some of the most successful direct-selling beauty companies worldwide.

Scott Thompson, on the other hand, has been in the digital marketing game for over two decades. He’s the co-founder of Astoria, a startup that made the Inc 5000 list.

When you add up their knowledge and expertise, you get a whopping 40 years of professional experience! That’s quite impressive, isn’t it?

Is Bellame An MLM?

Yes, Bellame operates as a multi-level marketing (MLM) company, selling its products through independent consultants. These consultants earn commissions based on their own sales and the sales of others they recruit into the company’s sales network.

In MLM setups, success often hinges on recruiting new members to join your team.

Here’s where it can get a bit tricky. Picture a triangle: everyone in this triangle is part of your direct downline. In MLM lingo, those below you are your “downline,” and you’re their “upline.” If the person at the top recruits 10 people, and each of those 10 recruits 10 more, you’ll earn commissions from everyone in this triangle. Recruiting 10 people could mean earning $1100.

Typically, those at the top of the triangle see the most financial success, while those at the bottom earn the least. To thrive in an MLM like Bellame, you need a sizable downline.

That’s why many MLM participants prefer earning ongoing passive income through recruitment rather than one-off commissions from product sales, even if the MLM offers a variety of products.

Learn more: What is Multi-level Marketing?

Is Bellame A Pyramid Scheme?

No, it’s not a pyramid scheme. Let me explain. 

A pyramid scheme is a scam where a supposed marketing company promises big profits if you recruit new participants into the scheme.

At first glance, it might seem like a legit company selling products or services. But the real aim is to get more people into the scheme, not to increase product sales.

In pyramid schemes, participants usually pay membership fees and get commissions. They’re also required to buy a certain amount of product inventory every month to stay in the company. But there’s often little focus on actually marketing and selling products.

Bellame is a multi-level marketing (MLM) company where consultants are compensated for selling beauty products. While they do get rewarded for recruiting new members, Bellame requires consultants to meet sales targets.

To stay with Bellame, consultants must sell $300 worth of cosmetics in three months. This means they spend most of their time selling products instead of recruiting.

It’s important to know whether Bellame is a pyramid scheme because such schemes are illegal in the United States. In most cases, the people at the top of a pyramid scheme are also the ones running the scam. That’s why the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has repeatedly banned such schemes.

To determine whether or not Bellame is a pyramid scheme, you can also ask someone who is trying to recruit you the following questions:

1. How much profit do you make from retail sales?

If the person makes less than 50% of their profit from retail sales, Bellame can be considered a pyramid scheme.

2. How many people were hired as your direct employees?

If the leader has more than five direct subordinates, a pyramid scheme may exist.

Learn more about the differences between MLM and pyramid scheme. 

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An Overview of Bellame’s Products

Here are the products Bellame offers:

• Hydrating cleanser: A five ounce bottle goes for $48. It’s meant for your face and promises to keep your skin healthy and vibrant.
• Hydrating Serum: For $88, you get a one ounce bottle that’s supposed to prevent wrinkles.
• Hydrating Eye Cream: At $88 for just 0.5 ounces, this cream is targeted specifically at your eyes. But it’s unclear why that’s so important.
• Hydrating Moisturizer: This 1.7 ounce face product will run you $78.

Now, there are plenty of reviews out there for these products, but it’s hard to say how reliable they are. Some may be negative comments from Bellame’s competitors, while positive ones might be from paid distributors. 

So really, the only way to know for sure whether these products are worth it is to try them out yourself.

How Can You Make Money With Bellame?

If you’re into beauty and skincare products, then you might want to consider joining Bellame’s business partner program.

So, as a Bellame partner, you can get a discount of up to 40% on all products you purchase for yourself. Plus, you can earn a commission of up to 40% for every sale of Bellame products you make.

That’s not all, you can also earn a commission of up to 35% on your downline’s product sales, which means building a team can really pay off!

It’s a pretty straightforward compensation system. The more sales you make, the more money you can earn. And, if you build a strong team, you can earn some residual income too. As a partner, you’ll receive different bonuses based on your position within the company.

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Bellame’s Compensation Plan

Lots of MLMs make their payment plans super confusing. But Bellame stands out. They keep it simple and clear. Unlike some others, they’re not trying to make your head spin.

Here’s the deal with Bellame’s payment plan. It’s straightforward. There are three main ways to earn:

1. Sell products directly to customers (good old salesmanship)
2. Get new customers to join the Bellame’s sales network
3. Move up the ladder as an affiliate

Now, let’s take a closer look at each revenue stream:

1. Retail Rewards

As an affiliate, you can earn commissions of 30-40%, depending on where you stand.

While this might happen with some MLMs, it’s not common. 

2. Affiliate Levels

Bellame has eight levels for affiliates, from “Affiliate” to “Platinum Executive Director.”

Each level has its own requirements to move up, like making $300 in sales every three months to stay at the Affiliate level or bringing in at least six directors and keeping up a certain sales volume to hit Platinum Executive Director.

If you climb high enough, you can snag a 30% commission. Fall short, and you’re looking at 5%. But hit the Executive or Platinum levels, and you’re looking at 35% or 40% commissions.

Just remember, only about 1 in 300 folks who sign up for Bellame make it to the top ranks.

3. Residual Rewards

The third way to earn is through residual commissions. This depends on the people you recruit.

The more recruits you get, the more you could earn.

To rake in cash with Bellame, focus on bringing more people aboard.

How Much Does It Cost to Join Bellame?

To get started, all you need to do is purchase their Influencer Kit for a one-time fee of $99. This kit is packed with tools that will set you up as an affiliate, including

• A Bellame Boutique website
• A binder full of training materials
• A Bellame box
• 10 sets of product samples
• 10 brand brochures
• 10 opportunity trifolds.

Once you’ve purchased the Influencer Kit, you’re officially a Bellame affiliate and can start earning money right away.

They also offer a range of optional value packs priced from $35 to $300, as well as sales tools that cost between $8 and $16, to help you grow your business.

Of course, it’s entirely up to you whether or not you choose to purchase these additional items.

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Pros and Cons of Bellame MLM

The Pros

1. Strong Leadership: Bellame is led by a couple with a proven track record of success in sales, giving confidence in the company’s direction.
2. Retail Focus: The company prioritizes retail sales, requiring affiliates to make $300 in sales every three months to maintain status. This encourages direct sales to customers rather than just recruiting, setting Bellame apart from other MLMs.

The Cons

1. Pricey Products: Bellame’s products come with a high price tag, which many users feel doesn’t match their value. Cheaper alternatives are available from other vendors.
2. Limited Success: Bellame’s MLM model has a low success rate, with only a small percentage of members achieving significant financial gains. According to surveys, the success rate for Bellame is similarly poor, with 93% of members ending up broke.
3. Social Strain: If you’re not accustomed to sales, recruiting friends and family for Bellame can strain relationships and make people uncomfortable.

Is Bellame a Scam?

No, Bellame is not a scam. It’s a legitimate MLM company. You can purchase their beauty products and give them a try. However, when it comes to working with them as a consultant, I wouldn’t recommend it.

Here’s the deal: MLMs, or multi-level marketing companies, have a bad reputation. While some people have had success with them, there have also been many reports of people losing money, getting stuck with unsold inventory, and feeling pressured to recruit more people into the business.

In fact, statistics show that around 73% of participants in MLMs don’t make any money or lose money.

And even for those who do make some money, it’s not much to write home about – about half of them make less than $500 per month.

Not only do you risk losing money, but you also risk losing friends. Around 40% of people don’t even want to bother with MLMs because they don’t want to annoy their friends and family by trying to sell them things.

And let’s be honest, if you’re not a natural salesperson, you’re probably going to struggle.

So save yourself the trouble and don’t bother with Bellame. Trust me, there are better ways to make a living.

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Other MLM Opportunities

Here are the other MLM companies we have reviewed:

Is There A Better Way To Make Money From Home?

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With affiliate marketing, you recommend products or services to people and earn a commission for each sale made through your affiliate links.

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But How Much Can You Earn with Wealthy Affiliate?

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