Mica is a naturally occurring mineral with a beneficial effect on the skin, which is why it is widely used in skin care products. It is a component of many cosmetics, such as eye shadows, powders, blushes, makeup primers, foundations, lipsticks and pencils, lip liners, as well as skin and hair care products and also, toothpaste. What properties do cosmetics with mica have?
Mica – conditioning properties
Mica comes in the form of white or creamy, shiny or matte petals, but when applied to the skin, it becomes transparent. It reflects light, visually smoothes the skin and has anti-caking properties. In addition, it is completely safe for health.
Mica can be added to the cosmetic only after purifying harmful heavy metals. Then, the mineral is ground to a powder of various thicknesses depending on the country of destination and their standards. The finer the ground, the more dull and transparent it is, whilst the thicker the ground, the shinier the product will be.
Moreover, the product gives the skin a radiant and luminous appearance, which is why it is ideal for both conditioning and colour cosmetics. As a result, powders with mica are light and easy to spread. On the other hand, they absorb sebum worse, therefore they are not recommended for oily and combination skin.
Mica – use in cosmetics
Mica on its own cannot be used in cosmetics because it will not adhere to the skin. For this reason, it must be combined with other substances, such as:
- pigments – give mica colour. They can be natural or synthetic,
- titanium oxides, that is, natural and health-safe substances which create crystals that give a diamond shine, lighten the cosmetic and protect the skin from the sun,
- silicones – protect the skin, smooth and soften it,
- silica, which increases the looseness of mica and its ability to absorb sebum and moisture,
- other substances that increase the adhesion to the skin, for example, magnesium myristate (mattifying and whitening effect), boron nitride (matting or slightly pearlescent) or waxes.
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