Mary Kay, Inc. is an American cosmetics company founded by Mary Kay Ash in 1963. Mary Kay cosmetics are sold via direct sales through a force of two million Independent Beauty Consultants in more than 35 countries worldwide. Born in 1918, Mary Kay Ash worked in direct sales for a number of years. She achieved great success, but after the last man she trained was promoted above her and paid twice her salary, she resigned in frustration. She initially planned to write a book to help women in the direct sales industry overcome obstacles to success. Her work for the book led to the realization tha