Hello Everyone,
As we are sure, most of us know by now, USPS has raised shipping fees once again as of the new year, straight across the board. It doesn’t seem to matter what way we ship, fees are ever increasing. Domestically, the increase has been mildly elevated, but for our International customers, the increase has not been so kind. Even our uninsured flat rate international shipments have increased.
Canada and Mexico are now $14.00
All Other International destinations are now $18.00
Insured methods have gone up considerably. An example for the UK, one of our major territories we ship to, went from an average of $29.00 to $37.00 +. Unfortunately, our hands are tied as we truly cannot control these rising costs.
This newsletter today is only to serve as a reminder that due to the rising costs of shipping, especially international, the different shipping benefits we offer, will help to keep your costs down, and for most, this rise in costs won’t affect you.
We still offer the Free shipping domestically for those achieving a qualified purchase, and reduced international insured shipping for achieving the same. For those living abroad and wish to try our products, there is always the lower rate of Uninsured shipping flat rate, with of course the assumed risk of a loss or stolen package.
We can honestly state, that in the all the time we have been operating, not a single package has ever been stolen or lost domestically, and when it finally did happen to us this past Christmas, it was over in the UK where a parcelforce van was stolen containing, what else, a shipment to our customers, fortunately all insured. So this is still an option if willing to risk the loss, or perhaps join a friend in ordering and share the cost of insured shipping.
With the increase in freight, we researched FedEx and UPS, but alas, they are actually more money than USPS. Plus they don’t offer the benefit of rapid delivery. Same or more fees with an average freight time of 1 week or more unless you happen to reside in a neighboring state to us, then typically 2 days, but for more money than USPS.
So this has become a love, hate relationship with shipping entities, as we are at their mercy to get our packages to our beloved customers in a safe and timely fashion, and bottom line, they are still less expensive to that of UPS and FedEx.
You can Click on the link below to review our updated chart of new fees. Please remember, these are averages on some fees, subject to weight and dollar amount of insured items.
Shipping Policy
Express Delivery and Global Express: we are probably going to do away with these services altogether since we have been advised by USPS that the delivery timeframe will be the same as priority with a guarantee of second day, instead of overnight for domestic. So we figure what is the point of offering this delivery service. And international, the costs are so expensive, it won’t warrant the cost for packages that can be delivered via priority within a week typically. On this we’ll keep you posted and update accordingly within the shipping module and on our policy page.
Thanks and hope everyone has a great and prosperous week.
Hi Everyone,
Just wanted to bring you up to date on our lipsticks and lip glazes.
Well they are all gone and we are now working on getting out the new formulas with a whole new color palette with improved color depth and staying power. We will also continue to offer our colors in the neutral palettes so that women of all skin tones can wear just about any shade they wish. We have even improved our lip glazes to have a thicker consistency with more intense color and some lovely shine. In fact, we would consider these more of a liquid lipstick rather than a true gloss or glaze.
We have also decided to be more generous with the amount of product in our liquid lipstick or glaze as some can refer to, making them more economical. Plus, depending on your preferences, the lipsticks will now be created to be semi matte, while the liquid lipsticks will have more shine and lubricity to the lips. Both formulas are moisturizing, but of course the liquid version will be all the more. And of course we will continue to provide them in natural ingredients, only far improved, in our humble opinion.
You can layer them, mix and match them as before, and we are staying in tune with the ideal of offering same color match in both formulas, with the addition of a lip therapy gloss with just a hint of sheer shimmer.
Our plan is to have these on line no later than spring. Research and Development is a real time consuming venture, but we are working diligently to get this done ASAP.
Happy 2012
Katherine,
I would like to share with you the joys of having discovered Sterling Minerals Products as well as the superb customer service. Your mineral foundation truly is the best one on the market. I have tried BE, Everday Minerals, Jane Iredale, Pur, CoverFx and numerous others. I have a drawer dedicated to mineral foundations that either oxidized, irritated, or exacerbated my sensitive skin. I am cursed with eczema, mild rosacea and psoriasis. The latter being the most difficult to treat, soothe and conceal. Sterling minerals soothes and beautifully conceals my psoriasis and I don’t have to avoid going out in public anymore during a flare up. You personally spoke with me at length about using organic jojoba oil on the psoriasis patches. I used your Onati toner on those areas, applying it gently and while still damp applying the jojoba oil on top. I achieved spectacular results in about 4 days using the Onati toner, jojoba oil and gentle exfoliation every other night. The scaling was significantly reduced by 90%, and the angry red inflamed skin had drastically diminished.
Due to the flare up and lack of any foundation that would perform well and not further irritate my skin I had to miss a girls luncheon. I was able to attend the following week after following your advice. My friends thought I may have exaggerated the severity of my flare up and used it as an excuse not to go the prior week because as they said “you are not even wearing any foundation and your skin looks over fabulous”. I was wearing my Sterling Minerals foundation!
I have found that I can even put a dab of the jojoba oil over the the foundation during the day to keep the dry patches moist and it does not seem to affect the foundation finish. Also, your suggestion of using Fiorella to neutralize the mild rosacea on my cheeks worked beautifully. No more using the green primer under my foundation that left a Herman Munster grey pallor on my skin.
Thank you so very much for an outstanding product that is soothing, performs superbly, is very reasonably priced and to boot is animal cruelty free. I am forever grateful to Sterling Minerals!
Sincerely,
Claudia T.
La Mesa, CA
Hi Everyone,
We regrettably must announce that due to circumstances beyond our control, we have had a difficult time getting our lip color bases that make up our formulas. In fact it has been ongoing for some time. We are now getting time frames out as far as a couple of months and this is just too long for us to maintain customer satisfaction. So unfortunately, these specific formulas will be discontinued, and we are definitely bummed out about it.
We have a limited supply of certain shades so enjoy them while supplies last….once they are gone, they are gone forever, and all lip colors will be suspended indefinitely, not discontinued. We are actively researching new sources so we may continue to offer Lip Colors in the future, and we’ll keep you posted.
So, if you have a favorite color, get it while you can. A couple of shades are still on SPECIAL and several are already SOLD OUT.
We appreciate your patience while we go through this transition and hopefully we will be able to provide improved formulas, new beautiful colors, staying power and moisture for the lips in the coming future.
As we have learned in life and business, when one door is closed, another will open, but the hallways in between are a time for patience.
We are also grateful in times like these, that we create our own mineral makeup formulas from our own selection of raw materials, whereby the reason we have never been out of stock on any of our mineral makeup formulas. We are after all, a mineral cosmetics company, hence the proud name of Sterling Minerals®. Now achieving just last month, Registered Trademark status of our brand.
Though we have enjoyed providing lip colors as a courtesy for women to be able to shop in one location, sometimes when we must rely on others for a formula we don’t manufacture ourselves, it creates the glitch we are now facing, so apologies for this shortfall in product. Our aspirations are high, however, and we believe we will improve our situation by seeking other vendors for our lip color formulas.
Thank you for your support!
We are currently offering several lip colors in the lip glaze and lipstick category, on special for more than 20% off. Enhance your current lip color with a touch of sheen with our moisturizing lip glazes, or change up your Fall shade with a whisper of peachy gold, or soften a deep shade with the subtlety of mauve.
Fall is the time of year to freshen your lip colors and give lips a luster of looking full and plump. Try combining a different shade of lip glaze with a completely different shade in lipstick for changing the overall lip color ever so slightly. Never get bored again with the same shade.
Check out our specials today and grab yours before they are all gone at this great price.
BUY NOW!
Best Approach
Believe it or not, despite the popularity of mineral makeup, it is amazing how many women are still entering into the mineral makeup and natural skincare world for the first time.
They have read all the information across the internet super highway, and are still trying to understand the differences between all the many mineral makeup brands available. It is definitely a daunting task to be sure. We have had women searching for as much information as they can find on mineral cosmetics and skincare products, only to locate our site which continually updates and educates about all things such as ingredients, regulations, and the basics to learn how to approach making their first purchase.
Trial and Error
Of course, there is always going to be a certain level of trial and error, and finding that perfect color match or ingredient profile may take some time. Or they will nail it the first time around and those are the lucky ones. But sampling for a trial period is the norm, and is always the best approach to determine best color and best use for a particular skin type. Samples are easy, affordable, and allow for a small investment of time and money to make sure the products are performing for a particular skin type or purpose. Ingredient decks are always available with every mineral makeup and skincare product offered, so if there is a concern over a certain ingredient, it can be avoided.
And of course, when in doubt, we ask that they write to us or call us so we can answer any questions or concerns they may have.
Best Advice for Beginners to Our Minerals and Skincare
When beginning any new regimen of makeup or skincare products, even though you may purchase them all at once, we advise introducing them one at a time in order to identify the source in the unlikelihood of a reaction, especially those with known sensitive skin issues. Changing up a complete regimen can cause skin to have a reaction or slight irritation simply because it is too much for the skin to handle. And by introducing a product one at time, you can eliminate easily which product may be the cause.
Plus, by allowing skin to adjust and get used to the new products, what may have initially caused a reaction because it was all too much at once, may end up working in the long run because it was introduced gradually, allowing pH and skin to normalize to the new ingredients.
Many women are excited with their new purchases, but it is best to take ones’ time through the use of samples where available, to avoid disappointment or confusion on what works best, and this will keep the investment of time and money to a minimum before investing in full size products.
The smoother the transition, the happier you and your skin will be.
As women age, we tend to get areas on our necks and chest that crease or fold providing a spot for perspiration to gather and remain, sometimes causing discomfort in those areas. The skin can get irritated or even develop a slight heat rash. Women in menopause are all too familiar with this phenomenon.
Our Satin Rose Mineral Veil is not just fo setting your mineral makeup, but for using on areas, you wouldn’t normally think of placing it. Whether you are wearing your daily mineral makeup or not, just pick up a small amount of mineral veil on your mineral makeup brush and sweep it onto these areas or any other spot you have that tends to hold perspiration, and Satin Rose Mineral Veil, will not only cool those areas, but will help to soothe and absorb the perspiration, keeping those areas drier. Plus, mineral veil will also help with slip, whereby reducing friction on the skin and the irritation caused by it.
Some areas of concern, are the back of the neck, the area where the neck meets the collarbone, and down into the decollete. Satin Rose Veil also stands up to moisture by having hydrophobic properties, helping it to stay put throughout the day.
So next time you feel hot and uncomfortable, try a spot of Satin Rose Mineral Veil on those areas, and see if it doesn’t assist with keeping you cool and dry.
Also, on the days you do wear your mineral makeup, try placing some of your Rose Petal Foundation in these areas as well, followed by a layer of Satin Rose Veil for added moisture protection.
