what is mica used for in makeup

While some families have small plots of land to farm, the tired soil yields precious little, and many kids must work in mines alongside their parents in order to make ends meet. It is usually the main ingredients in foundations, but then some brands don’t use … Mica is a phyllosilicate mineral that has numerous uses in makeup. Many shimmery makeup products contain mica—37 crystalline minerals often mined via suspicious practices, including child labor—but big players in the industry are working to change that. After all, if they manage to procure the specific grades of mica required for their various products, they should be able to find out who is extracting it. India's mica belt is among the poorest regions in the country and has high rates of illiteracy and unemployment. The word mica, from the Latin micare—to shine, flash, or glitter—actually refers to a group of 37 crystalline minerals that have dozens of industrial applications and are used to add shimmer to everything from car paints to cosmetics. European news reports and public-awareness campaigns have educated consumers about the sometimes-shady origins of the substance, but many Americans remain unaware of the inconvenient truth about this beauty mainstay. Cosmetics that contain natural minerals are known as mineral makeup. Further testing is needed to ensure nanoparticles are safe. "Traces of the mineral mica, mined by children's hands." Mica is the term for 34 types of layered or flaky phyllosilicate minerals, or minerals containing silica (USGS). Mica-Free Makeup Haut Cosmetics. We may earn commission from the links on this page. How Does “Intelligent” Matching Makeup Work. Seven children had been smothered to death in mica mines in the span of just two months. Mineral makeup companies don’t use the same product formulation. "You arrive in some remote villages and everything is sparkling—the ground, the hair of the children," she says. Mica, titanium dioxide, zinc oxide and other chemicals that are often found in mineral makeup may pose a health hazard. For years, the brand had been buying mined mica to use in products like bath bombs, but in 2014, its main supplier admitted that it could no longer guarantee its product was child-labor free. The mineral is used in various beauty products and cosmetics recommended for makeup. "Write to them and request that they disclose the source of their mica," says Ribhu, who has little patience for brands that feign ignorance about what goes on in the mines. Mica likely got its name from Latin, where the word “micare” means to shine. Marie Claire participates in various affiliate marketing programs, which means we may get paid commissions on editorially chosen products purchased through our links to retailer sites. Her stories and books have been published on Amazon Kindle. Clean brushes with a brush cleaner every two weeks. Claire van Bekkum, who heads the mica team for TDH, which produced those television spots, has visited the Indian states of Bihar and Jharkhand, the country's so-called mica belt. The beauty industry might seem a little out of place, when compared to industrial processes, manufacturing and appliances, but such is mica’s adaptability that it also has various uses in mineral makeup and cosmetics. The particles can get into the lungs and cause scarring. It is mostly used for this process. What Makeup Products Contain Mica? Many believe that mica’s name origins refer to its lustrous qualities (Mineral Information Institute). Flake mica can be a by-product of processing feldspar. While Indian law prohibits children under 18 from working in hazardous industries, 70 percent of India's mica mines are operated illegally, by a mafia of sorts whose members have no qualms about using child labor—and don't take kindly to inquisitive outsiders. Different particle sizes can help makeup manufacturers offer consumers different looks, from a silky satin sheen to something that appears more glittering. The DOs and DON'Ts of Wearing Makeup While Working Out. Heather Deeth, ethical-buying manager for Lush, admits that the company "struggled to find the right path forward." The thorny nature of the issue may be why the British company Lush has chosen to take a different tack. "The alarm bells went off," says Simon Constantine, Lush's head buyer, when he was told he could visit the mine in question only if he was accompanied by armed guards. Despite this, it's not known for sure what long-term effects nanoparticles in makeup could cause. Surely something unseemly was happening then. "Many products contain traces of child labor," says the voice-over. How is Mica Used in the Beauty Industry? But what exactly is mica and how does it work? It helps in preventing cracks by acting as wadding in gypsum wall board combined compound. The idea would be to consolidate the industry into a few bigger mines that would operate according to strict environmental and labor guidelines. Nicole Hering is a writer, licensed esthetician, certified fashion stylist, makeup artist and a certified wedding planner. Apply the mineral foundation in circular motions on face. In cosmetics and personal care products, Mica, from muscovite mica is used in the formulation of a wide variety of product types, including makeup, nail products and skin care products. It is also … While this doesn't specifically relate to mica in cosmetics, it does suggest that it may be a good idea to be in a well-ventilated area when applying mica makeup. Most of the mica powder that is used in commercially manufactured cosmetics or sold for the purpose of making them, soap, and candles at home are naturally mined – but likely underwent a coloring process in a lab. India accounts for large portion of mica export across the world. Use a kabuki brush and tap the brush to remove excess powder. Basically if a product has a shimmer effect, it's almost definitely mica. Depending on the type of rock that mica comes from, there are different color properties. Always remove the mineral makeup from skin at the end of each use with a good cleanser. Mica … A common ingredient in mineral makeup is mica. The mineral mica is abundantly used in items that you use everyday, like cosmetics and electrical appliances. Information posted should not be construed as personal medical advice. She's watched kids flee into the forest, leaving small tools scattered on the ground next to baskets of flaked shards. Uses of mica. A few years ago, the Natural Resources Stewardship Circle, a French collective of cosmetics and fragrance companies, partnered with KSCF to fund work in more Indian villages. While this doesn't specifically relate to mica in cosmetics, it does suggest that it may be a good idea to be in a well-ventilated area when applying mica makeup. Size can also affect the color; at various nanometers mica can emit red, blue, green, etc. Often, makeup can appear very flat and adding something iridescent can create depth and give wearers a move “alive” look (L’Oreal). Mica is also used in construction materials that require the use of protective gear and masks when exposed, as prolonged exposure may cause lung scarring. But, adds Bhuwan Ribhu, a Delhi-based activist who's worked with Kailash Satyarthi Children's Foundation since 2002, consumers can do their part too. It is not intended as and does not substitute for medical advice. Mica is a mineral that occurs in nature. Many women rave about mineral makeup and how it's much better for the skin than liquid foundation because it's "all natural". The result was the Responsible Mica Initiative (RMI), whose 40-plus members include NGOs and forward-thinking beauty brands such as Estée Lauder, L'Oréal, Clarins, Coty, Chanel, and Burt's Bees. Boycotting is always the last resort, she says. Open a window before applying or be in a well-ventilated area. And in 2016, a two-day summit in Delhi gathered companies and NGOs involved in the mica industry with representatives from the Indian government and from some of the 700 villages involved in extraction of the mineral to confront the issue. Cosmetic companies are required to ensure products are safe for sale on their own by law. Mica is used as a filler during the manufacturing of lightweight plastics. Adding in iron dioxide can help to craft earthier and more gold hues (SPC). An advertisement currently running on Dutch television features a woman emerging from a car. The shimmer in eyeshadow often comes from mica. It can help to create shine and color, but is also useful for creating natural looking and “alive” makeup that can be used for better coverage and contouring. According to makeup artist Troy Surratt in his article "Busting the Myths of Mineral Makeup," featured in "Teen Vogue," the chemicals that found in many so-called mineral makeup products -- particularly bismuth oxychloride -- may clog pores, irritate sensitive skin and dry out sensitive skin. On top of this, the haphazardly dug mines can crumble without warning: A 2016 report by the Thomson Reuters Foundation found that seven children had been smothered to death in mica mines in the span of just two months. Canadian makeup and beauty line with all mica … Mica is what gives makeup those lovely flecks of sparkle. "If you're a big buyer, you should stay and influence and make a difference." How is Mica Used in the Beauty Industry? The FDA does not have legal means to enforce tests on ingredients in cosmetics except color additives. Workers who inhale mica can suffer severe consequences to their lungs. She writes on makeup, hair, fashion, books, movies and pregnancy. Mica adds shine to cosmetics and car paint, but it’s also used as an electrical conductor in electronics, a more durable alternative to glass in stoves and kerosene heaters, and even as a soil conditioner in potting soil mixes. The ingredient, created by extracting silicate crystals from other minerals processed at high temperatures, is also used by brands like Skin Owl, which makes an illuminating face oil.

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