<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001021561-17-000118.txt : 20170913
<SEC-HEADER>0001021561-17-000118.hdr.sgml : 20170913
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20170913171008
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001021561-17-000118
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20170913
FILED AS OF DATE:		20170913
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20170913

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			WOODBURY EDWINA D
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001051405

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-12421
		FILM NUMBER:		171083718

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:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		75 WEST CENTER ST
		STREET 2:		ATTN: GREGORY BELLISTON
		CITY:			PROVO
		STATE:			UT
		ZIP:			84601
		BUSINESS PHONE:		801-345-1000

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		75 WEST CENTER ST
		STREET 2:		ATTN: GREGORY BELLISTON
		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>X0306</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2017-09-13</periodOfReport>

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

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001051405</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>WOODBURY EDWINA 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>2017-09-13</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>8</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>61.77</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>4800</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">These shares were acquired through a dividend reinvestment under the Company's Deferred Compensation Plan in accordance with the Plan's terms.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <remarks></remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Gregory Belliston as Attorney-in-Fact for Edwina D. Woodbury</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2017-09-13</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
