Arbonne
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Overall Rating: | Overall Rating |
| Type of Business: | Multi-Level Marketing / MLM | |
| Skill Level Needed: | N/A | |
| Income Potential: | N/A | |
| Website: | https://arbonne.com | |
| Recommended: | No |
Arbonne MLM Review
Arbonne.com, originally founded in Switzerland and now headquartered in the U.S., offers a wide variety of skincare, nutritional, and personal care products.
They market these items through a multi-level marketing (MLM) structure, meaning their distributors earn money not just by selling products—but by recruiting others to join the company and do the same.
In this review, I’ll show you what really happens behind the scenes with Arbonne:
The reality of income potential, product pricing, the recruitment push…
And whether this is a legitimate business model or something far more concerning.
Products Wrapped in Premium Hype
They pitch the offerings as high-end, plant-based, hypoallergenic, and cruelty-free.
Yup, it all sounds great.
But while they do highlight ingredients like aloe and chamomile…
They leave out the fact that many of their formulas also include synthetic compounds like polysiloxane and artificial fragrances— a far cry from “clean beauty” by most expert standards.
Several health-conscious sites have noted that you can’t even access full ingredient lists on Arbonne’s website unless you’re a distributor or know where to dig.
That’s not very transparent, and for a company marketing itself on purity and safety, that’s an instant red flag.
What Arbonne Doesn’t Want You to Know About Earnings
Like nearly every MLM, they paint a picture of financial freedom—working from your phone, earning passive income, living life on your own terms.
You know, the usually MLM shtick.
But their income disclosure tells a completely different story.
The vast majority of their consultants earn less than a few hundred dollars per year, not month… year!
And that’s before expenses.
And those expenses?
Between the monthly product autoship requirement, promotional materials, training events, and product samples, reps often spend exceedingly more than they make.
Healthline, Reddit, and even their own community have discussed just how difficult it is to break even…
Let alone turn a profit.
A 2017 class-action lawsuit alleged that 86% of Arbonne’s reps lost money.
The suit was dismissed, but the claims weren’t far-fetched.
And in 2020, the FTC issued a warning over inappropriate health and income claims—especially ones linked to COVID-19.
These aren’t just outlier concerns.
Those are clear patterns.
Arbonne Recruitment: The Actual Priority
Yes, they sell products, but the structure makes it clear that recruitment is where the real money is made.
Thus, it’s the core focus.
In order to qualify for commissions and advance through the ranks, reps must recruit and maintain a sales team.
True end user product sales take a back seat to growing your downline with business builders.
It gets worse.
Reps are restricted from using platforms like eBay or Amazon to off-load their products – supposedly to “protect brand value.”
But reps are often just looking to unload extra inventory they don’t need, even at a loss.
That’s probably the real reason why they’re not allowed to sell on those platforms.
That means you’re stuck selling through social media or in-person parties, which is only viable if you’ve got a strong warm network.
The vast majority of people do not.
Even with all the effort, a typical rep walks away with $30–$250 per year, according to independent reviews.
And that’s if they’re making sales.
Well over 80% of reps make nothing.
The High Cost of Staying “Active”
To remain eligible for commissions, you need to buy a preset amount of product each month.
This often means buying items you don’t need and can’t sell—just to keep your rank and earn crumbs from your downline.
Arbonne’s prices also don’t help.
A basic protein shake runs around $70 for 30 servings.
Similar products from reputable health brands can cost half that.
It’s not about value, it’s about profits.
Plain and simple.
Add in shipping, VAT, and optional tools like your own Arbonne-branded website or tickets to their conferences, and you’re quickly in the hole for $200+ per month.
That adds up fast—especially when sales are slow or nonexistent.
Arbonne certainly doesn’t make it easy for its distributors to succeed.
Here’s What ScamXposer.com Recommends Instead…
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Questionable Tactics & Customer Complaints
There are countless stories from customers who were promised free products with qualifying orders—only to be told after purchase that the minimum spend was higher.
And when they reached out for help?
The rep blamed them, and Arbonne corporate washed its hands of responsibility.
One particularly shady scenario: a customer was told they’d receive $200 worth of free product for ordering $200.
After ordering, they were told it needed to be $250.
Then corporate claimed the promo never existed at all and suggested reporting the rep.
This kind of buck passing finger-pointing solves nothing—and leaves people stuck with overpriced product they didn’t want in the first place.
If you try to return it?
Good luck.
The hoops are extensive, and you’ll often lose out on VAT, shipping, and restocking fees.
MLM Culture and Psychological Pressure
Multiple Reddit threads reveal how Arbonne parties and training calls can feel more like indoctrination than business mentorship.
New reps are coached to “believe in the system” and stay positive—even when they’re losing money.
One user described a 3-hour party that turned into a high-pressure pitch.
Others were guilted for missing out on events or for not recruiting a high enough number.
Emotional manipulation is often disguised as “empowerment.”
Reps are also encouraged to keep buying products to “walk the talk” or “be a product of the product”, even if they’re already drowning in inventory they don’t want and can’t sell.
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Here’s What You Really Need to Know
At the end of the day, Arbonne may offer real products, but the business model relies far too heavily on recruiting than retailing the products.
That’s a recipe for failure for all but the most skilled and connected marketers, the top 1%.
The 1% that is deeply isolated from the revolving door of new people that join, stick with it for 1–6 months and then quit.
And often times will end up becoming a customer, what they wanted all along!
Between the excessive pricing, aggressive upsells, monthly quotas, and widespread financial losses, it’s hard to see how this benefits the average person.
If you’re looking for a real online income opportunity, you’re better off avoiding the MLM trap entirely.
You can take a look at our recommended businesses here.
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Reviewed by David Harris.
I’d have to agree with everything in this review. Looking elsewhere for something to do online. THanks for looking out.