What is Mica, and Why is it in My Makeup?

When many people purchase mineral makeup, they aren't really thinking about the fact that they're buying a jar of ground up pigmented rocks. However, when you consider that people even in prehistoric times were using mineral pigments in a very similar way that we do today, it becomes obvious why you're paying good money for those crushed silicates. It's safe, natural, and plentiful.

Mica, the most common mineral found in mineral makeup, has been the most versatile part of the cosmetic world for literally thousands of years. It is found in many parts of the world in all sorts of places, and is mined not only for cosmetic purposes, but for windows and electronics as well. Mica is extremely resistant to heat, also adding appeal to it's cosmetic applications. It has a shimmering, glittery appearance that stays when you grind it up. This gives the powder a steady natural glow, and when used in cosmetics, will bring a sleek shimmer to any pigment.

Many mineral makeups today use formulas that contain mainly mica and natural pigments. Almost everything you buy that's considered purely mineral - from foundations to eye shadows - uses pure mica powder as it's main ingredient. This is not only because of mica's shimmery appearance.

Powdered mica not only adds a radiant glow to your skin, but it's also the perfect consistency for many cosmetic application processes. Mica makeup can be found and applied in loose powder form, pressed powder form, and even mixed with other agents to become a gel, oil, cream, or liquid. Because of the versatility of mica's consistency, you can easily and professionally apply mica mineral makeups in a variety of ways.

Not only is mineral makeup made with mica an easy to wear, natural and beautiful way to enhance your skin, it's also quite possibly the best form of cosmetic, dermatologically speaking. This is because it glides easily onto your skin, and though everything you apply to your skin can possibly clog your pores, the chances of it causing harm to your skin are far less than if you were using makeup purely made with cosmetic chemical compounds. It's common knowledge that products using mainly natural ingredients are far better for your skin than anything created in a lab.

Mica mixed with titanium dioxide or zinc oxide adds natural coverage for blemishes, blotches, and other imperfections on your skin. Most naturally made mineral makeup companies always use a combination of mica, titanium dioxide, zinc oxide, and other natural pigments for their ingredients, and not much else.

To summarize, mica is an indispensable part of the cosmetic world, and will most likely remain that way for centuries to come, as it was centuries before. When you pick up a makeup product that mainly uses mica, make sure you appreciate all that this mineral has to offer.

(Helpful info from WiseGeek and Mineral-Makeup-Help)