-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 UMrXUP6ma4yA5R8UMqX57dDe5eW2cszajslGhYlpNxyw0ASaeKG87KCLMHC/5o5r
 KzHflfDTW4AXT1vDC/8HPw==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001021561-10-000021.txt : 20100222
<SEC-HEADER>0001021561-10-000021.hdr.sgml : 20100222
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20100222193621
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001021561-10-000021
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20100222
FILED AS OF DATE:		20100222
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20100222

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			Ussery David D.
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001438801

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-12421
		FILM NUMBER:		10624006

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		75 WEST CENTER STREET
		CITY:			PROVO
		STATE:			UT
		ZIP:			84601

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			NU SKIN ENTERPRISES INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001021561
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	WHOLESALE-DRUGS PROPRIETARIES & DRUGGISTS' SUNDRIES [5122]
		IRS NUMBER:				870565309
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1208

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		75 WEST CENTER ST
		STREET 2:		ATTN: D. MATTHEW DORNY
		CITY:			PROVO
		STATE:			UT
		ZIP:			84601
		BUSINESS PHONE:		801-345-6100

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		75 WEST CENTER ST
		STREET 2:		ATTN: D. MATTHEW DORNY
		CITY:			PROVO
		STATE:			UT
		ZIP:			84601

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	NU SKIN ASIA PACIFIC INC
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19960919
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>edgar.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0303</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2010-02-22</periodOfReport>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001021561</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>NU SKIN ENTERPRISES INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>NUS</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001438801</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Ussery David D.</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O NU SKIN ENTERPRISES, INC.</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>75 WEST CENTER STREET</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>PROVO</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>UT</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>84601</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Class A Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2010-02-22</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>M</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>5000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>15.42</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>7800</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Stock Option (right to buy)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>15.42</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2010-02-22</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>M</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>5000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2009-05-17</value>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2018-06-26</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Class A Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>5000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>0</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes></footnotes>

    <remarks></remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Clayton Jones as Attorney-in-Fact for David D. Ussery</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2010-02-22</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
-----END PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----