Eight months ago, I was struggling with horrible acne and was willing to try just about anything. I had visited the dermatologist, I had tried different OTC remedies and creams, and of course, I was trying different make-ups to make sure I wasn’t making things worse. I had been using Bare Minerals because it was “Pure enough to sleep in.” However, I had two problems with it.

The first problem was I am half-Mexican but very fair. What this means is that there are undertones in my skin that make it incredibly difficult to get a true match. Most other mineral Make-ups are pretty limited in what foundations are available. I had settled on a ‘reasonably close’ match, but when you have to wear a lot to cover acne and scars, the discrepancy in color becomes very very obvious. (That’s my nice way of saying … I looked pretty weird a lot of the time)

My second problem was that I had been using Bare Minerals thinking that it was good for my skin, but it turns out that it contains Bismuth Oxychloride as a filler (all mineral make-ups have fillers, it’s just a matter of which ones are used) which in some women (not all, some women are just fine) can cause itching and … acne. Keep in mind that the majority of women who use Bare Minerals are not allergic to the Bismuth and have no problems, many of my friends swear by it.

Great for them … not so much for me. So, the make-up I was using was very likely perpetuating the problem. But now what? I never had great results with other make-ups I tried either. Six to one, Half-dozen to the other, as the saying goes. But then I happened across a review online for a different mineral make-up, one that does not use Bismuth Oxychloride!  Not only does it not use it, I found that there was an incredible range of foundations shades and ways to find a perfect match.

At first I was really bummed when I realized I could only buy it via the internet. I thought it would be way too difficult to try to match my shade if I had to buy a whole bunch of foundations, besides being out the money for the ones that didn’t work. However, Katherine Corkill, the founder of Sterling Minerals, already figured that out for me! You see, they have it set up so you can try a sample (which lasted me a week) for 3.50 plus shipping. (Their shipping is very reasonably priced and VERY fast in my personal experience.) I bought 3 samples of foundation plus a sample of their blush for my first order. Within two days of receiving my package, I was completely in love with Sterling Minerals and had placed my order for the full size of my foundation. (I also loved the blush sample but Mr. Budget said, “Not right now.” )

Within a month of using Sterling Minerals, my face showed great improvement. Two months later, I had clear skin for the first time in a few years. Keep in mind I was also using the medications from my dermatologist, but I had been doing that all along. I am of the personal opinion that the make-up I had been using previously had been working against me, and once I removed the problem the medications could do their job. Now, I don’t even use my prescriptions except for certain times in my cycle. (Which of course, I don’t have right now since I am pregnant!)

Now here’s where the foundation gets even better. There are three formulas of foundation so everyone can get the right level of coverage. I get the ‘Velvet Rose Petal’ formula that is for normal to oily skin. It’s very full coverage, which is what I need to cover old scars, plus I’m just a make-up loving girl, I guess. I like to have full coverage! There are other formulas for different finishes and skin types. On the pages for each shade of foundation you will find suggestions of what shades can be combined to create your perfect match. I found a perfect match in ‘Adonia’, but if I needed it a little lighter I could have mixed it with ‘Fiorella’ or ‘Jennifer’. If I had needed it darkened, while still maintaining the right undertones, I could have tried adding a bit of ‘Jacinta’. This summer, when I’m sporting a tan, I won’t need to get a whole new foundation; I will just order the sample size of ‘Jacinta’ and mix in a tad with my regular shade each day. (Naturally, the information about which shades mix well together is available for every foundation shade on the website.)

Looking at my order history, I found I have placed an order about every 3½ to 4 months for my foundation, so it’s lasting a good amount of time, even though I am rather a heavy user.

There is a large range of products available at Sterling Minerals including a Mineral Veil that I have heard rave reviews on. Personally, I haven’t gotten to try it for myself yet, but I hope to soon… (And one lucky winner of our giveaway will get to try it for free, but more on that later!) Also, Sterling Minerals offers an organic skin care line. I was able to try a week’s worth of the cleanser, and Oh My … let’s just say that is next on my wish list. (My birthday is coming up…take note! LOL) It’s creamy and gentle but removed all traces of make-up from my skin without any rough scrubbing on my part. Best of all- I had no break outs or drying after using it!

There is a wealth of knowledge available on Sterling Minerals website; I encourage you to spend a little time exploring their site. You’ll find more in depth information on the organic line and what is in it, plus information on why they use the ingredients and how they benefit you. Also, there are tips and tutorials on how to apply the make-up either using the more common ‘Flawless Face’ dry application or for a more dramatic perfection, the ‘Moist Method’ application. (So fun!) You can also check out Sterling Minerals’ YouTube channel to view video tutorials on a variety of techniques and their blog where you will find great information on skin care and make-up.

Sterling Minerals Giveaway!

FTC Disclaimer:
I contacted Sterling Minerals and asked if they would like to provide a Giveaway for the review I intended to write. They sent a small sample of cleanser to review for this article, but I have purchased all my personal make-up myself. I was not paid to write this review.

This review contains the personal opinions and experiences of the reviewer and are not necessarily those of Destiny in Bloom.

Melissa Aulds

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