Mary Kay Products Hold More Than 800 Patents for Innovation

Creativity and innovation has guided the growth of Mary Kay Inc. since the company's founding in 1963. The very first product line, displayed on a single metal shelf, contained four skincare products and five color cosmetics. Today, Mary Kay's product portfolio is a robust collection of more than 200 skincare, fragrance and color cosmetics products sold by an independent sales force in more than 35 countries.

The technology and design behind Mary Kay's current product portfolio are protected by more than 800 issued and pending patents, with 54 patents most recently issued globally in recognition of Mary Kay's innovative product formulation and creative packaging design.

"The millions of people around the world who enjoy the benefits of Mary Kay skincare, fragrance and cosmetics challenge our teams to continually advance all aspects of our product design and development," said Beth Lange, PhD, Chief Scientific Officer for Mary Kay Inc. "The ingenuity represented by these recent patents, and the more than 800 patents Mary Kay holds globally, underscores the innovation and creativity our independent sales force and customers have come to expect from Mary Kay over our 50 years in business."

Mary Kay's Botanical Effects Skin Care for Normal Skin and recently launched Clear ProofTM Acne System both were awarded utility patents for product formulation. Three design patents were granted for the Special-Edition Mary Kay Dance to LifeTM Eau de Parfum bottle, the Mary Kay Nail Lacquer bottle and the Mary Kay NouriShine Plus Lip Gloss bottle.

Mary Kay also conducts more than a half million tests every year to ensure that every individual ingredient and finished product meets the highest standards of safety, quality and performance.

About Mary Kay

Irresistible products. Positive community impact. Rewarding opportunity. For 50 years, Mary Kay has offered it all. With 3 million Mary Kay Independent Beauty Consultants and $3 billion in global annual wholesale sales, Mary Kay is a top beauty brand and direct seller in more than 35 markets around the world. To learn more or to locate a Mary Kay Independent Beauty Consultant in your area, please visit marykay.com.