A: Our powders are a combination of soothing minerals and skin conditioning botanicals providing you with an all in one formula for truly exceptional skin care. Minerals are hailed by Estheticians and Dermatologists for their positive benefits to skin and for doing it through a natural approach. You can enjoy a 4 in 1 money saving formula of Sunscreen, Foundation, Concealer and Powder. Our minerals will do more than just calm and prevent irritation, they will assist in restoring your skins' texture and will prevent flakiness and the itchy feeling that can occur with some other brands. They are feather light on your skin and will not settle into fine lines. They will trap excess oil and retain moisture against your skin giving you a lustrous, soft, natural looking veil lasting all day until you wash them off. Colors are transfer resistant and are virtually waterproof, sweat-proof and will hold up in high humidity.

With our added Jojoba Oil you will appreciate the additional protection over and above our use of other ingredients. Jojoba will provide natural anti-bacterial, anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant properties, making it beneficial for fighting wrinkles and reducing skin irritations. Jojoba will also assist with the loss of collagen by providing a firmness to your skin due to its' natural affinity to our own and its' ability to restore elasticity as mature skin thins.

Seeing and Feeling the Difference: Through our own testing and consultations with experts in the field of cosmetics, we found much of the mineral makeup industry sticks with basic 4 - 5 ingredient formulations. Some will use Bismuth or Mica (Sericite) as the first ingredient. Untreated Mica (Sericite) will not impart color, typically has low adhesion and can cause too much shine unless treated. Sericite is a finer version of Mica and we will refer to them as one in the same.

Treated Mica (Sericite) involves coating these with Carnauba Wax (thickener, binder), Magnesium Myristate (emulsifier, binder) or Perfluoroalkyl Phosphate (film former, binder) and these are the most commonly used treatments. Others include Dimethicone (silicone oil) and Lauroyl Lysine (surfactant, binder). Micas coated with these treatments helps reduce dust, gives a certain finish to minerals and are capable of providing creamy texture, staying power, matte finish and oil absorption. In feeling these minerals between your fingers, you may notice a heavier, creamier texture yet the coatings used may not be listed on the label. And unfortunately these same coatings are what contribute to a caked look on the face if not careful with application. Bottom line, these coated powders when used in mineral makeup are one more possible skin sensitizing ingredient added to your product with or without your knowledge depending on that brands integrity in truth and labeling.

Note: Titanium Dioxide and Zinc Oxide can also be treated with similar coatings along with many others available on the market to achieve a certain texture or capability for blending with other ingredients. We only use untreated USP Grade Titanium and Zinc.

A: The Truth about Sun Protection Factor: You will enjoy the added benefit of natural UV-A and UV-B protection from crushed Titanium Dioxide and crushed Zinc Oxide used in our powders. They are different than liquid sunscreens since they provide an instant physical barrier and give immediate protection as soon as they are applied. However, we recommend using additional sunscreen in your moisturizer in order to achieve a high level of sun protection if you plan on being outside for extended periods. Just make sure your choice will not cause problems for your skin; non-occlusive ingredients only.

Unless you enjoy very heavy coverage, all mineral makeup on the market is not designed for complete sun protection, but helps to boost it. SPF rating claims cannot be achieved with the amount of powder most women typically use due to the intensity of color and coverage one gets from using so little.

Furthermore, there is less sunscreen in darker shades and more in lighter shades since Titanium and Zinc are also considered a pigment for achieving the varying shades you find in mineral makeup. Depending on your shade selection and application rates when using Sterling Minerals, SPF range can be anywhere from an SPF 10 to SPF 25 based on our own field testing. With medium coverage an SPF of 15 can be achieved on average. These ratings are beneficial, however you will need to decide how much protection you're actually getting from your use of our minerals. This is why we will not pursue our Sun Protection Factor since it is completely subjective to how much you apply.

A: Ayurveda is a 5000 year old system of medicine originating in India combining natural therapies with a holistic approach to treating the affliction. The literal meaning is "Science of Life". It is a combination in bringing our physical bodies back in harmony with nature through our mind, senses, body and soul. Through taking care of the whole body through proper diet, well being and holistic remedies such as herbs and plant extracts, you can accomplish through less invasive means a recovery from ailments without using substances not found in nature. This is healing the body from the inside out.

Holistic Medicine and Ayurveda are tied together and are chosen as alternative medicines. We believe Ayurveda should not be used to replace conventional medicine, but to complement it. This is known as CAM; Complimentary and Alternative Medicine and is part of the National Institutes of Health. Much of it used today consists of acupuncture, acupressure, massage therapy, yoga and herbal remedies. Many traditional Physicians today are looking into alternative holistic treatment for many of their patients who wish to try a more organic approach to their health care, usually with incredible results. You can now find some Veterinarians practicing similar care for our pets.

Many people are forced to look at alternative medicine when conventional means is not quite curing a chronic condition. They also will use Ayurveda to assist with side effects brought about by conventional treatments. And for those who are not sick at all, they will use Holistic practices in order to remain in good health, avoid complications from using traditional medications (example: depression, hormone replacement) and pursue the feeling of well being through herbal remedies and yoga.

It is from these principles we created Sterling Minerals and ONATI Skin Care. Botanicals and Minerals combined to create a perfect compliment to maintaining good skin health through holistic means.

A: We at Sterling Minerals handcraft and create all of our own formulations so we know exactly what is being put into our makeup jars. Many mineral makeup brands are buying in bulk from other, perhaps larger mineral makeup manufacturers and redistributing to the consumer under private label. Usually their price points reflect this business practice and an ingredient list can be deceptive.

You will know precisely what you are getting in each and every jar since we sincerely care about our savvy customers needing to know. All of our minerals are manufactured locally at our facility and are formulated in small batches for consistency and freshness.

Resellers of others products under private label, you will see a redundancy of ingredients in the products offered, so selection is limited due to a saturation of the market by private label companies. They also will not divulge a full ingredient list or they will have little knowledge of the actual products. An example: surface treated Micas, Titanium or Zinc without listing the coating ingredient and portray the mineral makeup to be simple and pure "Nothing Else Added" when in reality, it is far from it. They also do not provide their manufacturer of their cosmetics they sell as their own or declare the statement "manufactured for" and this is a violation of FDA Regulations.

However, cosmetic companies are not strictly monitored to prevent this practice unlike their pharmaceutical counterpart. There are currently no penalties for lack of label information and without penalty these companies are free to continue these practices.

Using Sterling Minerals will bring you a new and refreshing perspective on our product line and our business practices. Truth in labeling and advertising is the only way Sterling Minerals will conduct business.

Sterling Minerals is a proud member of the Indie Beauty Network and a participant and signer on the Truth in Labeling Pledge.

A: No! Sterling Minerals uses non-occlusive ingredients only. In fact most acne calms down and lessens with consistent use. Scarring can be minimal as well. We don't use Talc, Bismuth Oxychloride, Cornstarch, Silicone oils, Parabens, Preservatives, Lakes, Dyes, Waxes, Phosphates, Fragrance, Carmine, Sulfates, harsh Chemicals or irritating organics of any kind.

Using our minerals will give you long lasting coverage and leave your skin looking blemish free. They offer remarkable oil control, and for those with exceptionally oily skin, we have Evening Rose Veil to use at bedtime or with your foundation for additional oil control and for helping to pull toxins from your skin. Our Jojoba Oil offers anti-bacterial and anti-inflammatory properties for fighting acne. Jojoba mimics your skins' natural sebum and will help reduce its overproduction which can clog pores and create a food source for bacteria. Jojoba penetrates skin quickly, decongesting pores while helping to restore your skins' natural pH balance. It will also reduce acne scarring. You can learn more about Jojoba on our Ingredients page.

When you purchase Sterling Minerals we advise you not to change your skin care routine so that you may identify a potential problem. Keep it simple in the beginning. Once you have used our minerals for a couple of weeks and your skin seems status quo or is more than likely greatly improved, then we recommend you add ONATI Skin Care to your daily skincare routine.

With continued breakouts it is probably the chemical ingredients in your skin care regimen that are continuing to plague your skin on occasion, not the minerals. In fact, Sterling Minerals will help prevent your skin problems from getting worse. If you are not acne prone, you should wash your face twice per day in order to wash away bacteria, pollutants and the excess oil your makeup absorbed throughout the day. Mineral makeup companies proclaim you can even sleep with your minerals on. However safe this practice may be, it is not hygienic.

Acne Location: Another important factor to fighting acne besides our minerals is to examine where you are breaking out. If you have recurring acne located around the hairline such as temples and forehead, this can most likely be from wearing hats or the use of hairsprays, gels and certain shampoos and conditioners especially if they have film formers in them. Anything sticky that is used to defy gravity in your hair care will cause clogged pores and seal up the skin preventing it from breathing.

Acne around the mouth and chin can be caused by some unconscious habits with the hands. When sitting at your desk or in your favorite chair, are you constantly resting your chin in your hand with fingers resting against your mouth? Or are you leaning your cheek against your hand while watching television? Every time you do this you are preventing air flow to the skin and introducing bacteria that may be on your hands to what may already be irritated skin, undoing the benefits of a freshly washed face. Cleansing is moot if you keep touching your face.

Do you have allergies? Are you constantly rubbing and itching your nose? This will also cause breakouts in that area.

What you may think is an oily T-Zone problem may be due to constant rubbing or itching of your nose or pore clogging hair care in the forehead area and hands on the chin.

Even though you are tempted to feel the wonderful silkiness of our mineral makeup, we encourage you to not touch your face for the cleanest skin possible. Reexamine your use of products and body postures and you may finally end the cycle of continuous breakouts.

A: In technical terms, yes…based on the fact all of our minerals, pigments and botanicals we use in our formulas come from natural sources. However, those natural sources are then refined into the safe cosmetic grade we use in the finished product. These refined minerals are created in laboratories under strict guidelines as regulated by the FDA. Iron Oxides are refined to get the pigments we need to use in our products since those found in nature cannot be used in cosmetics. Pigments are one of the most strictly regulated by the FDA of all cosmetic ingredients.

Without laboratory manipulation of these natural sources we would be unable to use them in cosmetics. Refinement removes the heavy metals, like lead, arsenic and mercury. We only use those minerals of the purest refinement, minimally manipulated and were created under the strict U. S. Food and Drug Administration regulations. Our Titanium Dioxide and Zinc Oxide are untreated USP grade (United States Pharmacopoeia).

We have avoided Micronized Minerals and Untreated Sericite (Mica) in our foundations due to the potential for being lung irritants. Furthermore, all individual ingredients in our products are deemed as inert, non-toxic substances with a required level of safety from accidental ingestion, inhalation or contact with skin or mucous membranes as found by the MSDS (Material Safety Data Sheets) protection set for the industrial standard. Once formulated into finished products for personal cosmetic use you may use them with confidence.

So to summarize; Yes…our minerals, pigments and organics come from natural sources; No… they are no longer in their natural state once synthetically refined (minerals) by laboratory means or extracted (botanicals) by mechanical means. For more information on our ingredients in our Sterling Minerals go to our Ingredients page.

A: We know when using Sterling Minerals Cosmetics they will provide ease of application, a luxuriously silken texture for a smoother complexion and a wise color selection to fix the problem.

If you are looking pasty or caked with other mineral makeup brands, it is more than likely you have applied too much at once or chose the wrong color. Surface treated ingredients can also exacerbate this problem. Sterling Minerals will not cake or look chalky due to the composition of our wonderful blend of minerals and botanicals. You can get further help on our Flawless Face Technique page. Our mineral veils are wonderful to use for an airbrushed look and only a little bit is necessary.

A: When a color corrector is used on the skin it may diminish flaws, but it can actually have an adverse effect on your shade of foundation. Many makeup companies use green for example to neutralize red on a face or in a foundation shade. Although this works for the most part when applied directly to skin, in color theory once it blends with your regular makeup or when it is used to formulate a shade it will not give true skin tones but will actually gray the shade and will give a flat, lifeless gray pall to the skin. Skin is not green and Olive skin is not gray so using green to create Olive / Beige shades or to neutralize red on the skin will only make the wearer appear very ashen. Our shades do not have Chromium Oxide Green in them including our Olive / Beige shades, so they will not gray your complexion but will truly enhance the beautiful undertones that create this unique skin tone.

We made our foundations to also be used to conceal problem areas and suggest using a lighter shade for this purpose. You will be able to achieve excellent flawless coverage and save money too. All of our formulas are non-drying and protect your skins moisture balance without accentuating fine lines.

A: Because Sterling Minerals offers 3 different formulas providing different coverage and subtle variation in ingredients to assist with the needs of your skin. This is not a gimmick!

Certain ingredients used in different ratios along with certain formula structure of our Boron Nitride powders will give your skin the care and protection it needs without compromise to quality. Our BN powders are based on skin type and coverage ability and provide excellent anti-bacterial properties. Dewy Rose is for Combination / Normal Skin, Delicate Rose is for Dry / Sensitive / Normal Skin, and in this formula we have left out the Kaolin Clay, and Velvet Rose is for Oily / Normal Skin.

A: We are aware that Mica and Bismuth Oxychloride based mineral makeup may cause the user's skin enhanced flakiness and feel itchy. However, you will not experience this with ours due to the skin conditioners we add to Sterling Minerals. The use of our botanical and mineral blends actually assists in keeping moisture against the skin.

It is essential to understand no mineral makeup moisturizes skin but Sterling Minerals provides a protective barrier and prevents the loss of trans-epidermal moisture throughout the day. You still must moisturize well before using a mineral powder. It helps the minerals to adhere to your skin and continues to assist with moisture control depending on the level of moisturizing you gave your skin.

Experiencing dryness with our minerals is generally rare due to our use of Rice Powder, Methicone and Jojoba, but if you should still feel some dryness especially living in a dry climate, you can use a spritz of our ONATI Perfect Balance Facial Toner over your makeup or you can apply your minerals while your moisturizer is still damp for a nice melding to your skin. This method will give a more dewy appearance to the face. Using Aloe Vera Gel works wonders for areas around the eyes and for toning the skin and making for a nice assimilation of minerals without feeling dry. A few additional drops of pure Jojoba Oil mixed with your moisturizer will work wonders for relieving any dryness you may feel using mineral powders. Jojoba will also help balance and normalize skins' pH. Another reason we offer this in our foundations.

A: Yes. Since we don't use Bismuth Oxychloride we have prevented this problem. Bismuth is used to give the illusion of youthful skin. Unfortunately, this ingredient has been linked to causing itching and redness and creates considerable shine, enhancing pore size and presenting an overall oily appearance on the face. Women have reported products with this ingredient have aged their skin. Also, the very lack of certain ingredients in the leading brand of mineral foundation can't do anything for aiding in "melt out" or oily breakthrough.

Sterling Minerals uses additional custom blended ingredients to assist with staying power, shine and oil control while reducing pore size and will leave your skin looking luminous and alive. Our Mineral Veils are excellent for daytime application with our foundations or use at bedtime for additional skin healing. They are also great for diminishing pore size along with our natural looking foundations.

A: All of our ingredients are 100% pure and healthy, yet provide additional benefits to the skin. We don't believe in a one size fits all mentality in mineral makeup. Other basic formulas offered, though considered safe for most skin types, will not allow women with different skin types to enjoy the benefits of wearing mineral cosmetics.

The word "filler" is a sales hype and is used by cosmetic experts and competitors to attack products they either don't approve of or are in direct competition with. The phrase "filler ingredient" seems to imply that a cosmetic company includes certain ingredients within a formulation that are not necessary or don't create a purpose for making a product perform better.

"Filler" by definition, is any inert ingredient used to create bulk, texture or lubricity to a finished product. Every filler ingredient in our minerals or skincare line serves a purpose. It makes no sense to us to utilize an ingredient that can cause harm, irritation or any other problems for the user or the product overall.

There are far better suited filler ingredients to replace certain known irritants such as (Bismuth Oxychloride or Mica) and still be an exceptional mineral makeup. It is about the delivery of essential Titanium Dioxide and Zinc Oxide (main minerals) to the face when blended with one or more of these ingredients. First two most commonly found in mineral makeup, Bismuth Oxychloride, Mica (Sericite), (treated or untreated). Less commonly found, Rice Powder, Silk Powder, Silk Protein, Boron Nitride, Arrowroot Powder, Tapioca Starch, Silica Spheres, Methicone, Dimethicone, Silicone, Cornstarch, Talc and Kaolin Clay, only to name a few. Out of these filler ingredients we have chosen the best and avoided the rest. They aid in adhesion and ease of application similar to Bismuth and treated Mica, but the ones we have chosen actually provide additional healing benefit.

All mineral makeup has some sort of filler ingredient in it. According to professionals and suppliers in the cosmetic industry, Bismuth and Mica are categorized as filler ingredients since their primary function is to create bulk, texture and lubricity to the mineral makeup. Without additional filler ingredients the makeup would not have slip and the essential minerals Titanium and Zinc and pigments of Iron Oxides and Ultramarines would stick to your skin causing unevenness in shading and much irritation.

Also be aware that even titanium and zinc can be used as filler ingredients since they are also utilized as colorants for products and are not considered an active ingredient in this type of formulation, but to create a desired appearance to the product.

Also, when a filler ingredient like Mica (Sericite) is the only ingredient used for slip, this won't offer lasting oil control for women with oily skin or fix their T-Zone area unless they are chemically treated. Also without surface treatments it can't stabilize color. Even then their performance can be marginal at best. In testing these formulations we still experienced oily breakthrough after a few hours and varying degrees of "melt out". (Lack of staying power)

Many women reported same including experiencing irritation from Mica or Bismuth based products such as a persistent itchy feeling. Micro abrasion from buffing Bismuth Oxychloride and Mica based minerals into the skin can cause extreme discomfort for the wearer and inflame acne further making them Bismuth and Mica sensitive. Delivery of the essential minerals is what matters and we have accomplished this through the use of the gentlest and purest ingredients aimed at doing more than just sit on your face.

Sterling Minerals helps aid in the healing process while exhibiting a flawless finish that lasts all day. The use of expensive botanicals and minerals designed to promote good skin health is the main reason for our pursuit to create a truly exceptional mineral makeup.

A: The healing power of our botanicals is well known for being gentle to skin with rosacea or acne. We use Rice Powder, Allantoin, and Jojoba Oil in conjunction with our minerals and these botanicals are noted for their healing benefits. They will soothe skin with natural anti-inflammatory, anti-bacterial properties while protecting your skins' sensitive moisture balance. Allantoin is known for its capability of producing rapid cell turnover by removal of necrotic tissue, and along with cooling Rice Powder and Jojoba Oils' moisturizing capabilities will also aid in healing of wounds or skin ulcers.

We have had many women with rosacea report that their skin has greatly improved with the use of our mineral powders. Also within the rosacea patient community, they have had all three of these botanical ingredients work very well for their skin and can be found in many acne and rosacea skin care treatments worldwide.

Our Allantoin is derived from Comfrey for the finest grade and is used in Ayurvedic Medicine along with our other botanicals. These have been used for centuries in Holistic Medicine and we only use those that have shown a substantial benefit to the skin.

We were excited to learn we could add these skin healing botanicals to our dry mineral makeup formulas offering similar benefits to those found in liquid skin care products. However, not all botanicals will protect acne prone skin from bacteria like Jojoba and Allantoin can without having deterioration rates due to their composition without the use of additional preservatives. Rice Powder contributes to soothing your skin while helping to maintain a moisture balance on the skin.

Not all botanicals are created equal either! Allantoin can be found in many sources other than the purist and gentlest form of Comfrey plant and roots and those sources we avoid due to their quality in origin. (licorice, tobacco, sugar beets, and coffee leaves, many other plant leaves, synthetics and uric acid)

Your skin will be well protected and soothed with our mineral cosmetics.

A: Sterling Minerals is a loose powder and uses all inert ingredients of inorganic minerals. We then combine them with our organic botanicals including Jojoba which is a natural anti-bacterial and anti-oxidant which is included in our foundations and Evening Rose Veil. Jojoba will literally meld with the minerals and provides a nice protective barrier on the skin. Since our minerals are a dry inert powder, bacteria cannot grow.

Any ingredient without chemical reaction is considered "inert" and this includes botanicals. Introduction of our botanicals does not change the chemical inert structure of our minerals, but serves to improve their healing ability to fragile skin. Our use of Jojoba will actually work to inhibit the growth of bacteria including those related to acne. Jojoba is used to naturally preserve pressed powders and prolong shelf life in other carrier or essential oils.

Caution: Although dry, inert mineral powders are naturally resistant to bacterial growth, if they get wet inside the jar they can become compromised and this includes any form of mineral makeup. If this should happen, we recommend discarding them for safety sake since a wet environment may promote bacteria or a yeast problem. Trying to dry the minerals out won't be effective since minerals are excellent at absorbing and trapping moisture. If you should spill your precious minerals, do not gather them up and put them back into the jar since you may introduce surface contaminants into your minerals.

Applying minerals to damp skin or misting a single application with our moist method for more coverage is absolutely safe for this purpose. Cooling Rice Powder (botanical) and gentle Kaolin Clay (mineral) when mixed with skin emulsions have been successfully used in making soothing poultices for healing skin and decongesting pores and then they are gently washed away.

Sterling Minerals when kept clean and dry have indefinite shelf life.

A: Actually, it is probably the buffing action that can be causing further irritation. With our minerals you don't need to do excessive buffing. All you do is press and sweep with only slight buffing for blending. Over buffing will definitely cause irritation especially if you are grinding Bismuth or Mica into your skin. Also using an excellent high quality brush can be the answer. Our 100% vegan friendly, cruelty free premium Spa Brushes are magnificently plush and soft. For more information go to Differences you may experience when switching from liquid foundations to mineral powders.

A: Although no mineral makeup brand can guarantee to be completely irritant free…. we certainly know the minerals and botanicals we selected to use in our powders to be extremely safe and are FDA Regulated and Certified for cosmetic use. We also adhere to safety requirements for ingredients as legislated by the Cosmetics Directive of the European Union.

We know there are some women with extremely sensitive skin and for those women we hope they give us a try. We have had many women with sensitive skin or had damage caused by other products containing Bismuth Oxychloride report our mineral powders actually helped improve the texture and condition of their skin overall and were able to return to wearing our mineral makeup everyday.

Sterling Minerals formulations possess the lowest risk of irritants available today. We have omitted the worse offenders that can cause ongoing problems for the skin.

A: Bismuth is a mineral technically! However, it is actually a chemical bi-product of lead and copper refining and is used as filler ingredient that offers no benefit for skin health. In fact, in many cases it goes to the opposite extreme. It rarely occurs in nature and can be classified as a mineral salt. Some would like to claim it comes from the earth naturally, yet this is not practical and is cost prohibitive to cosmetic manufacturers.

It aids in adhesion and smoothness of application and adds luster or a pearlescent finish …that's it. Since this is also a very heavy mineral, it requires the ongoing buffing action other commercial brands instruct you to do in order to force it into the pores, otherwise it will slide off your face giving you that "melt out" appearance. This heaviness will result in clogged pores and irritation of the skin can occur as your body tries to reject the foreign matter, a substance kin to Arsenic. This is why mineral products using this ingredient accentuate pores. Bismuth Oxychloride is also the reason for ongoing acne breakouts, rashes and overall inflammation of skin. It is our recommendation those women with rosacea, sensitive skin, contact dermatitis or acne should avoid this ingredient altogether despite FDA approval.

A: No, since we don't use Talc. This is typically used in commercial preparations and is what can cause the over powdered, chalky look. Plus Talc can also enhance pore size. Improper application of certain makeup can also cause this same result. Overuse of Titanium Dioxide or Zinc Oxide within certain brands formulas can give a chalky appearance as well.

Due to the custom blend of our minerals, our foundation will take on your skin tone after a few minutes and literally meld with your natural oils. Plus, the light refracting properties of our crushed minerals will scatter light for that "soft focus" and give your face that luminous healthy glow of younger looking skin. Your skin will appear brighter and healthier than it has been in the past and your face will never look overly matte using our mineral makeup.

A: It is essential you use the proper brushes for that flawless application. The typical over the counter powder brushes (even expensive ones) are too open and fluffy and not ideal for using with minerals. They will scatter your powder everywhere except on your face. A densely bristled Jumbo Flat Top Buffer Brush, Kabuki or a Jumbo Buffer Brush is the best to use in mineral makeup application. (We offer a luxurious spa quality line of synthetic Mineral Makeup Brushes for perfect coverage).

These will give precise application and a smoother blending of your Sterling Minerals. Depending on the type of brush you select, will also control what type of coverage you would prefer. Our rich pigmentation along with their ability to build on the skin without caking is what makes using Sterling Minerals so desirable. No endless buffing like with those that use Bismuth Oxychloride. We can assist you with proper application on our Flawless Face Technique page.

Another reason for difficulty in application may be your skins condition. Even if you have oily skin you must moisturize and exfoliate especially women with dry skin. Unlike with other mineral makeup, you don't have to wait for your moisturizer to be completely absorbed. This will give slightly more coverage and will only require a bit more blending for a flawless finish. We prefer the moist method of application for a smoother look and we never worry about getting a caked finish like with other brands. Our minerals trap moisture against the skin and used with Jojoba Oil are excellent for fighting flakiness in any skin type.

Caution: Use of petroleum products or certain skin soothing oils for very dry skin or an oily lotion or cream can still cause problems with application. We recommend using this type of skin care at nighttime and apply a lighter moisturizing cream for day use to prevent shading problems. Our ONATI Skin Care is wonderful for the face and readily absorbs into your skin day or night.

A: We fully understand the color theory for formulating colors for your complexion and basically there are 4 true skin tones consisting of Fair, Light, Medium / Tan and Dark with subtlety in different undertones. Light and Medium skin tones being the most commonly used shades.

We have created and captured the correct overtones and undertones to accommodate most women of all ethnicities. We offer varying levels of Cool, Warm and Neutral Beige (Olive) with always some level of yellow undertone within the shade. Our shades go from the fairest of the fair to the richest and deepest of skin tones.

Along with fair skinned women being neutral ivory with some pink or yellow undertone and usually a combination of both, other fair skinned women may have neutral beige skin which can also be considered a cool olive skintone. No distinct pink, yellow or peach tones. Women with a richer depth of beige may appear greenish, ashy or sallow (possessing some yellow).

No matter what your skin tone, always purchase a shade that closely matches your own natural undertones. Many women have been advised by the makeup industry for years to use another shade to change your natural color in order to correct it with the idea you are making yourself appear more beautiful. Foundation should only be used to even out and correct facial imperfections, tone down redness or too much yellow and give you a nice flawless canvas to work with. Love and live with your skins natural undertones and overtones and always let your own natural beauty shine through.

Simple Advice: Think in practical terms; if you apply a foundation that doesn't match your natural skin color, it won't improve it or really even change your undertone. You will only appear to everyone around you that you have simply applied the wrong shade of foundation and then you are back to looking like you are wearing a mask of makeup. Again, this is another wonderful reason to use mineral powders since they will provide you with an even skintone while allowing "you" to shine through only with more natural, healthy looking skin. Learn more from Choosing Foundation Shades.

A: Absolutely! All too often many companies ignore women of Ethnic background and cater more to Caucasian women. Our Sterling Minerals founder was sensitive to this fact and was committed to creating a complete color line of foundations, blushes and shadows for all skin tones. Our minerals are designed to mirror your natural shade while enhancing it, so an exact match is not necessary. Providing you with the correct and balanced overtones and undertones will eliminate much of your frustration.

An example of poor shading; some offer shades with more yellow / golden or bronzy tone for olive skin thinking this will mask their complexion. This is not the answer since not all olive skinned Asian, Latina or Mediterranean women are dark. They can be fair when not partaking in sun worship. Also their skin is not described as yellow, but sallow and can be incredibly beautiful to look at and is often quite flawless in nature.

We have accomplished a rich black with the reddish / blue undertone. We also have deep caramel shades for light to dark skinned African American, Latina and Indian women possessing the deep golden undertone and rich browns with red and neutral undertones.

To avoid an ashy appearance, make sure of shade selection. Ashy skin comes from a shade possessing too much blue, olive or cool undertones if you are actually golden caramel. If you are between shades, we offer blending jars so you can shake your Sterling Minerals together to create a custom blended shade. It's that easy! For more information visit Choosing Foundation Shades.

At Sterling Minerals we don't attempt to change your hereditary overtones or undertones, but strive to enhance them beautifully without dulling your skin. Our minerals will make your face smooth, luminous and alive.

A: Well, think about the liquid formulations offered today. They are loaded with silicone oils, waxes, preservatives, chemical slip agents, dyes and other chemicals you can't even pronounce much less spell. Chemicals which can cause discomfort when applied to acne or any other skin irritation only serve to inflame already flawed or injured skin. When these go on your face it is like pouring gasoline on a fire, seeping into pores, irritating your skin, weighing it down, creating a place for bacteria to flourish until you wash it off. And the cycle repeats itself each and every day.

Sterling Minerals Cosmetics is lighter than all commercial cosmetics and allows your skin to breathe. Due to nature's chemical structure of our minerals, they sit on top of your skin and are non-occlusive. Our minerals will warm and meld with your own natural surface oils giving the appearance of natural bare skin. With our powders, you will finally break the endless cycle of fighting skin ailments. And because they are primarily inert and inorganic by nature along with our use of anti-inflammatory, anti-bacterial botanicals, bacteria cannot flourish, inflammation is calmed and reduced, creating just clean and healthier skin.

A: It is simple really…Rice Powder is an ancient secret from the Orient that offers skin softening benefits and leaves the skin with a porcelain, shine free finish. This botanical offers moisture control and slow oil absorbing properties as well. With excellent adhesion to the skin, it will stay on longer and will not melt out like Mica, Bismuth or Cornstarch. Getting it wet does not create irritation, itchy skin or promote acne and it actually will set up again nicely on the face without hassle. This silken powder soothes inflamed skin from acne and rosacea.

In fact, Rice Powder is still used today in Ayurveda (Ancient Holistic Medicine from India) in poultices to bring fast relief to inflamed or bleeding pimples or skin ulcerations. When kept dry in its jar it can have indefinite shelf life. It also has been determined to be completely safe and non-hazardous under normal conditions of use as determined by the National Institute of Standards and Technology and has been released from the required MSDS (Material Safety Data Sheet) and why we use it as a healing ingredient.

We have chosen to avoid Cornstarch since it has been linked to itchy, irritated skin especially once it gets wet or a woman perspires. Once wet, due to poor adhesion quality it can shift on your face, then thicken and begin to be occlusive to pores where it settles, and reapplication is necessary throughout the day. It offers no skin healing benefit and melt out occurs frequently with this ingredient. And in our testing of products containing cornstarch we experienced these same problems. Cornstarch is vegetable based and is an extract of corn so it does have a shelf life. Products containing cornstarch should have date of expiration for freshness unless a preservative is used in the product. Although it gives a wonderful silken texture to the makeup you may use, it offers little benefit.

Truth about Acne and Cosmetic Grade Food Starches: Acne myths persist despite the lack of evidence.

Many mineral makeup companies in their advertising postulate that use of food starches in traditional makeup or mineral makeup like Oat, Soy, Arrowroot, Rice and Corn, to name a few, feed or support bacteria and stimulate its growth on the face. These statements are completely false and misleading and designed to create negative impact against a competitor whom is clearly well informed of the benefits of some of these ingredients. The false statements or "myth" may be the popular belief, but they are not supported by scientific evidence. During our research and development of our products we learned through our discussions with many experts in the rice and cosmetic industry and Dermatologists, exactly how and why rice powder can be utilized safely in our cosmetics.

The truth about cosmetic grade food starches is they have been modified (which typically means sterilization) in most cases for use in the cosmetics industry in order to achieve a desired texture or consistency or slip and silken feel such as in baby powders, spray powders, pressed powders, moisturizers, bath soaps, facial masks, with the list being endless. Raw grade food starches are never used in cosmetics and tend to be tactile in nature with a gritty texture or moist feel. Rice or oat starches (flour) are excellent in their raw, natural state for use in poultices and gentle exfoliation of the skin. These will not possess the fine silken feel and slip we enjoy from the modified starches.

Modified food starches were developed in order to create greater stability, free from bacteria and molds, extend shelf life and create a more free flowing powder giving a better consistency in cosmetics while offering holistic skin healing benefits. Armed with this information use these ingredients in whatever skin care product you prefer with confidence.

To understand acne conditions further, you can locate information from reputable sources such as Web MD or acne informational organizations which will provide you with detailed information on causes and care of acne. The facts are as follows:

Acne is caused by a buildup of sebum in the pore that is not functioning properly, then it gets clogged and the usually harmless bacteria which is naturally occurring in your skins' pores begins to multiply which are called Propionibacterium Acnes. The bacteria take its' food source from this sebum buildup, not from any ingredient applied to your face.

As the pore remains clogged the bacteria multiply which in turn releases chemical substances, which then causes inflammation which then gives birth to the latest pimple on your face. If not tended to, the acne can grow to become cystic.

Getting and keeping the pore unclogged is the important factor and this is why using Jojoba and Allantoin in our products can help with this problem. Allantoin aids in skin cell proliferation throughout the day while Jojoba will inhibit the over production of the bacteria and help to naturally replace and dissolve the sebum plugging your pores due to its affinity to your own skin.

Rice powder gives an additional soothing, skin cooling element to the face while our use of Kaolin Clay draws out the toxins and helps to dry up the pimples. Zinc Oxide, also a natural anti-bacterial and astringent, reduces inflammation and assists with skin repair by calming irritation.

Aggravating Factors: Things like hairsprays, types of creams, gels, heavy oils, chemically-laden cosmetics and certain waxes are what contribute to acne by further clogging pores.

Body postures, wearing hats, eye glasses, masks and headbands that are blocking air flow especially after prolonged sweating or high humidity and keeping the damp fabric against your skin are a huge factor in contributing to acne.

A product that is non-occlusive like Sterling Minerals will give you better control over your acne problem by controlling perspiration on the face while allowing your skin to breathe.

Myths: like eating chocolate, drinking soda, eating greasy foods and dirty skin was once believed to be a cause of acne is now found to be unrelated. Only acne causing bacteria can create the skin ruptures of acne and not other forms of bacteria unrelated to acne such as those found in dirt or other sources. Blocked pores with an over production of sebum are the problem for acne prone skin types.

Other Factors: Hormonal changes in men and women are what contribute greatly to the problem by causing an overabundance of sebum giving that oily shine to the face. Testosterone in both men and women can be a leading culprit. Women during a menstrual cycle can have severe outbreaks. This is why hormonal teens struggle with acne as well.

Accumulation of dead skin cells can create a problem by blocking pores, so make sure you gently exfoliate your skin. Again, Allantoin is an excellent natural preventative against cell build up.

Certain drugs like lithium or barbiturates are known to play a role in the long list of acne causes.

Unfortunately, you may simply be plagued with acne due to hereditary factors and there is nothing you can do to change that except practice good skin care treatments and use our minerals for gentle makeup needs.

Also, over use of acne treatments, too much scrubbing of the skin and over cleansing will exacerbate the problem and cause further inflammation.

When the glands are working correctly, sebum is what keeps the collagen in your face healthy and naturally keeps the skin moisturized. When afflicted with acne it can damage collagen cells and the skin will begin to thin, causing scarring.

Care and Treatment: To prevent further inflammation do not pick the acne, squeeze or pop it, this can further damage the cells that produce your natural sebum.

Over buffing (grinding) mineral makeup especially those with irritants like Bismuth and Mica, since these ingredients will surely clog pores, increase bacterial growth and aggravate already tender skin.

To avoid hurting your skin further use botanical poultices, clay facial masks and our Evening Rose Veil for gentle extraction of pore clogging sebum. Also keep your pillow cases fresh since sebum and bacteria can build up on the sheets and be deposited back onto your skin while sleeping.

Note: AHA creams are great for gentle exfoliation of your skin especially BHA (Salicylic Acid). Use BHA products sparingly in order to prevent irritation and further inflammation. Not recommended for those with rosacea or highly sensitive skin. Benzoyl Peroxide creams are very drying to the skin and are not recommended.

People with acne should not use facial scrubs and should only wash their face twice a day, maximum, unless doing so after extreme exercise and even then, a simple rinsing of your skin with warm water may be all that is needed.

Use our ONATI Skin Care which is free of pore clogging ingredients with one of our wonderful gentle Waffle Weave Washcloths. Or for those with extremely sensitive skin or those who had a skin treatment of some kind, our Velvet Touch Washcloth is extremely gentle to fragile skin. They will buff skin to a lovely healthy shine without any irritation.

Remember, you must moisturize even if you have oily skin since acne treatments will tend to cause severe dryness to the face creating an environment for more sebum to be produced. You can find our Washcloths and Facial Care Products in our Skin Care Boutique.

Special Note: Please realize that the use of our ONATI Skin Care may result in a few more blemishes due to cell proliferation and detoxifying of the skin. Any acne treatment can take up to several weeks before you notice an improvement and can make it seem as though your acne is getting worse. A new acne regimen can cause a massive breakout due to the cleaning of the pores and the regeneration of new skin occurring much more rapidly. These pimples were already there hiding under the skins surface, just not showing yet. So be patient and allow the new regimen of skin care and the use of our mineral makeup time to help correct your acne problem. Be kind to your face with the proper skin care and the use of Sterling Minerals and ONATI Skin Care will be gentle to already fragile skin.

A: No. An expiration date is not necessary since Jojoba Oil is not a true vegetable oil so it will not turn rancid. Jojoba is actually a wax ester that liquefies at room temperature and is extracted from the beans of the Jojoba shrub. In fact, our Organically Grown Cold Pressed / Unrefined Jojoba is used to preserve other carrier oils. It is expensive and is a natural anti-oxidant, anti-bacterial oil used in many skin preparations.

Skin Benefits: Healing scar tissue, wounds, rashes, inflammation, acne, rosacea and other skin problems. It will assist in replenishing the skins suppleness and prevent further moisture loss. Since it mimics skins own sebum it aids in strengthening the epidermis layer whereby reducing scarring. It is rich in anti-oxidants, Vitamin E and Vitamin C and will fight the aging effects caused by outside pollutants inflicted daily on your skin whereby helping to reduce wrinkles.

Jojoba Oil, just like our minerals will utterly meld to your skin rapidly, leaving your face feeling like velvet, not oily or greasy. Multiple studies have shown Jojoba Oil inhibits bacterial growth on the skin naturally, especially those related to acne and will help restore you skins natural pH balance. It further assists with dissolving clogged sebum from the pores by replacing your own and shutting down cells that might be overproducing too much. As seen with this botanical, not everything organic can or will provide an environment for bacteria to grow by clogging pores, but perform just the opposite.

A: Yes. We are totally vegan friendly. We do not use anything in our products that would be related to animal bi-products including Silk Protein (Powder) which comes from the Silk Worm Cocoon or Carmine which comes from crushed beetles and is used to create many shades of red. We only use Iron Oxides and Ultramarines to achieve the wide array of different shades of blushes and eye colors you can find in our Sterling Minerals line. And our ONATI Skin Care is also great for vegans.

A: Only your doctor should answer this question. And this is also one question no other mineral makeup brand addresses.

We at Sterling Minerals share a genuine concern and have worked diligently to create powders with a lower risk of asthma related problems. Yes, they are comprised of dry ingredients so there is a dust potential with any dry powder. However, out of necessity due to her own mild asthma issues, our founder strove to formulate her minerals to greatly reduce the excessive fly away you can get when using mineral makeup. She carefully formulated her products without using lung irritants like Sericite and untreated Mica and substituted Rice Powder, Methicone and Boron Nitride for slip.

Sterling Minerals goes where you place them, and for the most part there is very little residual dust to be seen floating in the air especially with Jojoba Oil added. Also applying them with our moist application method will reduce this problem immensely. In Katherine's own personal experience her asthma has not flared when using her Sterling Minerals as it did with other brands tested and found the moist method application to create optimal results.

Be sure to check with your doctor first before switching to a dry powder formulation. We do not use micronized minerals due to nano-particle size which can occur since there is strong controversy over their safe use. We feel this was a positive step in order to help reduce problems that might occur for people even with mild cases of Asthma.

Although using our minerals is very safe and are non-toxic in terms of inhalation, we do realize that certain powder ingredients may cause a problem for some asthmatics while others might be completely benign and cause no significant issues at all. And if you have used other minerals which may or may not have caused significant breathing problems, you may or may not have the same result with ours. Do your research, check with your doctor and we hope we may assist you with your first purchase of Sterling Minerals.

A: Our minerals can be used right after a microdermabrasion or a light chemical peel. The minerals will provide a barrier against outside elements and from the sun after getting one of these procedures done. They will help to cover the redness and through the use of Titanium Dioxide and Zinc Oxide (natural sun protection, anti-inflammatories) will help to calm erythema that occurs and our Allantoin will help skin reepithelize. Rice powder will cool and soothe skin and Jojoba along with Methicone will provide a barrier against trans-epidermal moisture loss.

Remember, after procedures such as these your skin will be extremely photosensitive and must be protected. Even the use of AHA and BHA products can cause similar results for making it much easier for you to burn in the sun in a shorter period of time. Sterling Minerals powders will provide soothing comfort while giving excellent added sun protection through our natural SPF.

For laser resurfacing, only your doctor should answer this question. It is depending on how deeply the epithelium was penetrated. Typically it can take 5-14 days of recovery time. Once your epithelial tissue has recovered, then the minerals will provide the added protection from sun. Sterling Minerals are very gentle to extremely sensitive skin. You will not worry about using them in the least, and they will further aid in a faster healing time. The fewer ingredients used in a product, the less the irritation response. This is why Sterling Minerals is a key factor in regaining nice skin texture while offering phenomenal protection to fragile skin. Only use with a Physicians Permission!

A: Yes we do…on ourselves and the many volunteers we have to try each and every product before we place it on the market. If it doesn't work on our skin, it won't work on yours and the process of trial and error begins again.

We have determined our minerals and our skincare products to be safe when used in accordance with directions and free of any complications when used correctly. In fact our volunteers love it when we have a new product to try. None of our products are tested on animals, nor do we understand this practice since in the modern world of Cosmetics Science today, we feel animal testing is outdated and unnecessary.

A: Absolutely! In fact we have a male customer base of fisherman, construction workers and golf enthusiasts and they love to wear our products before going out to enjoy their favorite outdoor activity. Sshhh! They don't call it makeup though, but "Sun Protection Powder". They also appreciate how it covers ruddiness from prior sun damage and evens out their skin tone. In fact many men prefer our Bronzing Powders. Due to application ratios we still recommend using additional sunscreen protection for an all day outing.

As more and more men are having cosmetic procedures done, our customer base is growing. Since it appears so naturally on the skin and is so easy to use, men are grateful our minerals will discreetly minimize the signs of their procedure while aiding in faster healing without irritation.

The husband of the Sterling Minerals founder uses the powders to cover and protect his own skin after his skin treatments from sun damage. His face is left completely natural looking and all the ruddiness is covered, his complexion completely evened out and the inflamed skin is calmed. No one can tell he has anything on!