Direct Selling Self-Regulatory Council Refers Sweet Minerals Product Performance and Earnings Claims to the FTC for Possible Enforcement Action

McLean, VA – October 25, 2023 – The Direct Selling Self-Regulatory Council (DSSRC) of BBB National Programs has referred direct selling company Sweet Minerals, LLC to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and the Maryland Attorney General’s Office for possible enforcement action. The referral comes after Sweet Minerals failed to respond to a DSSRC inquiry into earnings and product performance claims made on social media by its salesforce members.  

DSSRC is an independent national advertising self-regulation program that monitors advertising and marketing claims in the direct selling industry. Sweet Minerals is a direct selling company that markets makeup, personal care, skincare, and cosmetics products. 

The earnings and product performance claims at issue in this case include, but are not limited to:

Earnings Claims

• “Unlimited income” 
• “part-time or full-time income”
• “Grow a team and earn recurring monthly income if desired! …win prizes such as past trips to Cancun, Montego Bay and Punta Cana with the Sweet Minerals team!”
• “I have made over $500 cash in my wallet, over $600 free makeup money, and all kinds of free goodies in less than 90 days!! 

Product Performance Claims

• “I have in the past had dermatitis…I had tried all kinds of creams from the doctors and everything but nothing ever healed it…now that I’m using healthy products that are natural it has actually transformed my skin to be absolutely amazing.” 
• “I was diagnosed with Rosacea at 24, and have struggled for many years to find relief. Over the course of a few weeks wearing the Sweet Minerals makeup, I noticed a remarkable decrease in the frequency and intensity of my skin flare ups and irritation”

DSSRC determined that these posts expressly and inaccurately claim that Sweet Minerals salesforce members can earn full-time and/or unlimited income, receive free trips, and that Sweet Minerals’ products can effectively treat serious skin conditions. 

After multiple attempts, Sweet Minerals has failed to respond to DSSRC’s inquiry to provide substantiation for the challenged claims, including competent and reliable scientific evidence to support the health-related product performance claims. Pursuant to DSSRC Policies and Procedures, Sweet Minerals has now been referred to the FTC and the Maryland Attorney General’s Office for possible enforcement action. 

All BBB National Programs case decision summaries can be found in the case decision library. For the full text of DSSRC decisions, visit the DSSRC Cases and Closures webpage.