Answer: That is the beauty of our mineral makeup since it will not cause skin to feel or look dry. By creating the three formulas for different skin types, this offers women the opportunity to wear mineral makeup, even those with dry, mature skin. Although our minerals are in powder form, they will not act like a typical mineral powder, but will actually meld with the face and your moisturizer, similar to a liquid foundation, but with incredible staying power. Literally remaining on the skin until you wash the minerals off.
The ingredients used are what make our minerals unique to any others on the market. Plus the composition in ratios of individual ingredients is what also keeps our mineral makeup from causing dryness to the skin. Other mineral makeup, primarily made up of Mica and Oxides, along with Titanium Dioxide and Zinc Oxide, are why women with dry skin have a difficult time wearing minerals, even if they moisturize.
Rice Powder, reduced ratios of Mica, surface treated with Methicone and Jojoba Oil, are the ingredients designed to enhance and retain moisture on the skin, never leaving the skin feeling tight, dry, or itchy. Of course, always use a good moisturizer beforehand for best results and our mineral makeup will do the rest for providing unsurpassed beautiful, velvety coverage, while leaving skin looking youthful and feeling incredibly soft like a rose petal. In fact many women have reported their dry flaky skin improved, including women with psoriasis. This is a bonus when trying to find a mineral makeup which won’t exacerbate this condition.
Plus you will never have to worry about the use of hidden coatings, like film formers, surfactants, binders and waxes which can be found in many mineral cosmetics without ever being listed directly on the label. All of these creating ongoing problems for those with dry, acneic, mature skin, including causing dry flaky skin, and mineral makeup never performs well when the face has dry patches or peeling skin showing through. The use of Allantoin in our mineral makeup helps control this as well, another bonus.
Our mineral makeup will be truly the last and best mineral makeup you’ll ever try, while also being the easiest to use.
Question Asked By:
Mary B.
Clackamas, Oregon
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Answer: Yes, and our mineral makeup formulations contributed to women with psoriasis being able to wear our mineral cosmetics successfully, which included improved appearance in texture and softness to the skin.
We have some women with psoriasis wonder if they can actually wear mineral makeup due to it being a powder. The reason behind this thinking is due to the dry scaly patches they get, and they fear it will make these tiny patches on their skin only look worse.
In some cases powdered mineral cosmetics or even standard face powders possessing Talc can and will emphasize dryness on the skin, however a lot of standard makeup brands will also do this, including liquid formulas. Drying ingredients or problem enhancers such as bismuth oxychloride or mica based products can make psoriasis appear more scaly.
We recognize this noncontagious and very common skin condition causes rapid skin cell growth which typically results in thickened red, dry patchy areas, can be as mild as a case of looking like tiny dry skin areas or get so severe it can cover the entire body in thick red patches. We also know it is considered non-curable and can be long term and chronic and in some cases it can go into remission for years only returning later for no known reason.
Since this condition worsens in dry winter months, a very good moisturizer is imperative and many report it improves in the warmer summer months when typically our humidity is higher. Sunlight exposure is also noted to improve this skin condition. But mineral makeup does not have to be a hindrance and depending on the severity of your psoriasis, you can have success with using our mineral cosmetics.
Our combination of mineral makeup ingredients of Zinc Oxide, Rice Powder, Allantoin and Jojoba Oil are what make our products perform so well on faces which can have patches of psoriasis. All of these ingredients have soothing properties including Jojoba Oil which is known for normalizing the pH balance to skin, along with rice powder, both excellent for softening skin, whereby improving its’ appearance.
Allantoin is a botanical extract from the Comfrey plant and the FDA has classified this ingredient as a safe and effective skin protectant against rosacea flare-ups, chapped, chafed, cracked, acne prone and sunburned skin. It is used for its’ skin soothing properties. It is known to produce rapid cell turnover (skin cell proliferation) by removal of necrotic tissue which can improve the texture and appearance of skin. Allantoin is used especially for its soothing properties for acne and rosacea.
We can only surmise, with this ingredient profile, it is why we have had success in women which do have psoriasis on their face, begin seeing improvement in texture, softness and are able to achieve nice coverage for reducing the redness which can be associated with this malady.
Samples are offered to try before committing to full size products to see if our minerals will work for you. For this type of skin condition we recommend our Delicate Rose Petal Foundation. You may also enjoy using our ONATI Skin Care regimen for further compliment in keeping skin soft and moisturized when using our mineral makeup products.
Question Asked By:
Lauren L.
Seattle, Washington
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Answer: Although no mineral makeup brand can guarantee to be completely irritant free, however, we certainly feel the minerals and botanicals we selected to use in our powders are rated to be 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 realize there are some women with extremely sensitive skin and may not be able to apply little to anything to their face, and for those women we still hope they give us a try. We have had many women with sensitive skin or had damage caused by other products containing Bismuth Oxychloride or were mica based, report our mineral powders actually helped improve the texture and condition of their skin overall and were able to return to wearing mineral makeup everyday.
Sterling Minerals formulations possess ingredients with the lowest risk of a potential irritant factor to skin. We have omitted the known worse offenders which can cause ongoing problems for the skin.
Beauty Tip: Break a habit – Don’t over buff our minerals since this can overstimulate the face (irritate) and grind ingredients into the pores, perhaps causing a secondary problem of an acne breakout. Simply press and sweep coverage into place. Keep brushes clean (wash at least once per week) to avoid dirty applications to the face and further avoid an acne recurrence, otherwise they become filthy with dead skin and pore clogging sebum.
Question Asked By:
Lexie B.
Monrovia, California
Answer: Yes, our mineral makeup brushes are only made from the finest synthetic fiber for providing the softest touch to skin, making application gentle and soothing. They are not your usual Taklon synthetics since these have a stiffer feel and don’t possess the soft application that our mineral makeup brushes provide. The use of the new innovation of velvetized synthetic fibers also makes these vegan friendly and excellent for picking up mineral powders. Animal hair makeup brushes are no longer necessary.
There are many that sell mineral makeup brushes with the tag line, “cruelty free”, yet they are made from animal hair. We also sold them for a time until we did some research as to what cruelty free really meant for these animals (unwillingly) giving up their precious hair. First cut hair was touted of quality you would receive in a brush and the animals supposedly are not killed for their hair. Well maybe not, but once we learned how they spend their lives, animal hair was no longer an option for us. They are kept in cages or confined to tiny pens on animal farms, and they are not roaming free and then captured to get the first cut for the softest application, and then released once more. (In a perfect world maybe) This is not economical or practical in terms of the fur trade market. In fact many of the fur bearing animals are trapped and killed for their hair.
Spending an entire lifetime in a confined space is not our idea of cruelty free, just so they can lend us a bit of hair for a mineral makeup brush.
Examples of animal hair used still today in mineral makeup brushes: Pony, Squirrel, Red Sable, Kolinsky Sable (actually mink), Badger and Capra (goat). Many times a combination of two or more are used for a different texture.
Once animals are aged out and the quality of hair declines, they are not released, but are euthanized, and as far as whether it is humanely done, well this depends on the farm. Also, cruelty free continues to be debatable especially with pony hair since we have seen some info that the hair actually comes from ponies and horses slaughtered for their meat, and goats are sheered like sheep, typically getting injured in the process. Either way, since this fur trade practice can be shrouded in mystery, and we cannot be sure of the confinement, and are not absolutely sure they are not indeed killed for their hair, we decided not to support using animal hair of any kind. And most animal hair for makeup brushes comes from Asia and some Eastern European countries, and they do not have the animal cruelty laws we possess here in the United States.
You can check out the Humane Society of the United States Website, if you are curious as to the real treatment of animals in regard to fur for fashion and makeup tools. Based on the horrific videos we have seen, leaving us sickened, the promise of cruelty free is not what is captured on tape. If at all possible, join us in supporting the Humane Society of the United States, so they can continue with their valued investigative research, providing in the future, a world where cruelty in the name of fur can be abolished.
WARNING: Not for the faint of heart if you should decide to watch. Images are quite graphic, including those of our beloved cats and dogs that are used to create faux fur or to deceive the public that it is a more expensive fur provided by other species typically found in the fur trade market. Simply appalling!
Rest assured, our mineral makeup brushes are provided to us by a U.S. manufacturer in order for us to be assured they are made from the finest, softest synthetic fibers imaginable as described by many of our customers who cannot stop at buying just one.
Question Asked By:
Dabney W.
London, England
United Kingdom
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Answer: There are many mineral makeup companies which make this claim, “so gentle and safe, you can even sleep in it.”
Though this may seem like a bonus point for making an argument for using mineral cosmetics, and chock this up as a supposedly added benefit, but in actuality this is not recommended, no matter how gentle and safe any makeup product claims.
A perfect blend of mineral makeup is ideal for keeping our skin healthier than when using liquid makeup, since for the most part, it prevents occlusion of pores by sitting on top of the skin, instead of being melted and pigments separated by sebum production or wearing off by days end. But even with mineral makeup, not all brands will create healthier skin either. Depending on ingredients used, they also can contribute to blocked pores by using ingredients for preservation or a main ingredient such as bismuth oxychloride, along with some waxy coatings on the minerals.
Mineral cosmetics are also designed to protect skin from pollutants we are exposed to day to day, and absorb excessive sebum, keeping our skin looking beautiful throughout the day. Of course the level of sustainability is also different depending on the mineral makeup ingredients used.
Sterling Minerals for instance, lasts all day and beyond until you wash it off. The staying power is unsurpassed by any other leading brand. And yes you could even wear it to bed and wake up looking great. However, no matter how fantastic a mineral makeup may be, you should still wash your face twice a day to remove the dirt, debris, pollution and oils our faces accumulate and our makeup absorbs within a days time.
This is the true path to keeping skin healthy, not because a makeup is so gentle it can be worn to bed. Though our mineral makeup is not occlusive to pores, and it does a fantastic job of keeping your face healthy and protected, it still becomes contaminated with the elements described, never mind the fact some of us tend to touch our faces during the day. This is how one major factor for occlusion can occur on the face and a cycle of acne begins.
No matter the perfection of any minerals, we still recommend washing and moisturizing your face before bed. Our faces should be allowed to rest also during the night and this is a major reason we created our Evening Rose Veil for the purpose of soothing and calming skin while you sleep.
Even with the gentle and safe nature of our mineral powders, the inevitable festivity of Holiday parties is rapidly approaching which would create a prolonged period of wearing your minerals. So if you think you’ll be out all night or will be so tired you’ll fall into bed after, then before you head out the door, take a few minutes and cleanse and reapply. Your skin will be much happier and healthier for it, and you’ll have no worries over that occasional night you go to bed with your mineral makeup on.
Question Asked By:
Brenda A.
Port St. Lucie, Florida
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Answer: Sterling Minerals is a loose powder and uses all inert ingredients of inorganic minerals. We then combine them with our organic botanical extracts, including cold pressed Jojoba Oil which is a natural anti-bacterial and anti-oxidant. This is also why it 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 simply cannot grow.
Any ingredient without chemical reaction is considered “inert” and this includes botanical extracts. Introduction of our botanical extracts does not change the chemical inert structure of our minerals, but serves to improve skin healthy benefits to fragile skin. Our use of Jojoba will actually work to inhibit the growth of bacteria in and out of the pot, including those related to acne. Jojoba is used to naturally preserve pressed powders and prolong shelf life in other carrier or essential oils.
Preservative Premise
Companies which choose to add preservatives is an unnecessary practice in terms of loose mineral powders. However, you’ll find preservatives also in pressed powders due to the addition of a moisture process for pressing the minerals into a hard compact. These can be an additional 
skin sensitizer and they actually are worthless in this form.
Pressed powders are not airtight, and with opening and closing the lid daily, and continuous dipping of brush, sponge or puff, the powders are easily compromised with dirt, skin debris and anything else they are exposed to, and the preservatives will rapidly degrade.
Besides, isn’t the whole reason for using a mineral makeup, is for getting away from irritating synthetics, preservatives and other ingredients which have been shown to cause skin problems? Sterling Minerals Loose Mineral Powders, when kept clean and dry have indefinite shelf life without the need for preservatives.
Question Asked By:
Natalie R.
Slough, Berkshire, England
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Answer: Yes we do…on ourselves and the many volunteers we have to try each and every mineral makeup and skincare product before we placed 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 skincare products to be safe when used in accordance with directions and free of any complications when used correctly. In fact our volunteers, which include our customers, love it when we have a new product to try.
None of our products are tested on animals, nor do we understand this practice, or why anyone would want to torture an animal in the name of the almighty dollar, since in today’s modern world of Cosmetics Science, we feel animal testing is outdated and unnecessary. Furthermore, we purchase our raw ingredients from manufacturers and suppliers who also do not perform animal testing since we do not wish to support this practice in any context!
Question Asked By:
Alicia S.
Sausalito, California
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