yes! You need to read the stories posted here- the former director stories, etc. You should notice a theme- and basically, most everyone here felt pretty much like you, if they allowed themselves to get really into the pink fog, like me an dlike many others on this site did. It took me a long time even after I left to admit that I thought it was all a scam. that doesn't mean that I think all the women in MK are scam artists, just some of them are to their own knowledge, but the women are being scammed into believing this pink fairytale. It sounds too good to be true, but we're assured that it really is true, they tell you what it's done for their family, their financial situation, their life, etc, and we believe b/c it's other women, like us, sharing this with us! so we buy it hook line an sinker and we fall right in.
don't beat yourself up. admit to yourself, your family, etc that you have wised up, admit to them how you feel you spent too much time at it, or whatever it is you feel bad about. admit to your husband what you really think of mk- just get it out there. you reallywill feel better.
tell your story on this site- look for introductions of new members here and share with them to help them out- it will help you as well.
yes, it will get better. but you cant keep looking back and beating yourself up. I'm still paying off debt from my MK days, and will be for another year, maybe two- but that's it, I'm getting it paid off and thats the end of the story- I can't keep feeling bad about it.
i sold stuff on ebay, got rid of anything MK related in my house, and that felt good. I got a little money for it all- and hey, used it to make a cc payment---
just keep moving forward. you'velearned something from this, now you can help others.

Oh, absolutely I wish I could turn back time so I didn't have to think about what a fool I must have looked like to my family and friends    But, what is done is done - now I'm just happy to be free.  I also went back to school this year and am feeling really good about myself.  It's been a ton of hard work to "undo" a lot of the MK stuff, but it's getting done    It will take a while to get over it all, but eventually it just seems to fade away - I've only been out of the fog for about 9 months, but I'm not dwelling on it nearly as much as I did for the first few months.  Good Luck!  You'll make it out!   

I think the hardest thing for me about my Mary Kay experience was the deceit.
Not deceit from any of the directors above me or other consultants, but from the company itself.  It hurts because almost every lady I met within MK seemed genuinely nice, but all deceived.  That is what is painful, many really are good Christian women who think the company is all it claims to be, and think the company really is looking out for them.  Most of the ones I know started using MK because their mom's used MK and they are trying to support a good "Christian" company.  But when I try to talk to them about my own misgivings, they can't see them.  It's almost like asking them not to trust their own mother.

I think that we must all try to always look forward but use those past mistakes as a lessons learned.  While they were not pleasant lessons, think of the growth we have all experienced and we are better women because of them.   

I have to say for me I wouldn't turn back time!  I learned so much while I was in mk.  I feel I am a better wife, mom, friend, daughter, sister ect. for the many things I learned!!  One of the main things I learned was who am I and it's ok to be just me!  I deserve to be loved and to love!!  I am who I am, take it or leave it!!  Thank you Mary Kay Ash for at least giving me that!