Synthetic mica Vs Natural mica | Micamoma.co.uk

Mica powders' popularity is increasing year after year. Its uses range from heavy engineering, cosmetics, and food.

Check now

In cosmetics, mica powder is loved for the shine, luster, and versatility it gives to lip, face, and nail products.

However, the use of mica powder has sometimes been controversial. In this post, we try to delve into the cosmetic industry's complex relationship with this sought-after mineral.

Different Types of Natural Mica

Natural mica is a mineral mined from the ground and typically includes four types:

• Lepidolite – which has a pink, silver, gray, or purple hue
• Biotite – normally appears black, brown, or dark green
• Phlogopite – which can be yellow, brown, green, or white
• Muscovite – generally translucent or transparent

The muscovite and phlogopite varieties are most useful for industrial and beauty sectors.

What is Sericite Mica?

Sericite is a form of mica derived from muscovite mineral rock. It can appear gray, white, or yellow. It's extremely versatile and useful in:

• Plastics – improves strength and dimensional stability
• Building material – makes cement and plaster stronger
• Electronics – used as an insulator and in capacitors & resistors
• Ceramics – adds hardness and strength to tiles, toilet fittings, and basins

The sericite mica commonly used in make-up bases like foundation is a fine matte white powder. Silicon is often added to help the foundation spread evenly on the skin.

Where Does Natural Mica Powder Come From?

Huge amounts of natural mica are mined each year, with an expected worldwide value of $727 million by 2025.

According to the World Bank, some 5,239,230 kg came from the United States alone, with China being the largest exporter at 152,874,000 kg and India a close second at 108,098,000 kg.

Madagascar and Finland are also significant players in mica powder production. A majority of Madagascar's mica is exported to Europe, the United States, and the Far East, while Finland's mica is mainly exported to Japan, the United States, and Germany.

How is Natural Cosmetic Mica Powder Made?

Approximately 18% of mica powder mined is used in cosmetic products globally. The muscovite and phlogopite mineral rocks are initially processed into sheet mica and flake mica.

Flake Mica and Sheet Mica

Flake mica, also known as scrap mica, is the most common type of mined mica and comes from smaller pieces of mica rock. For cosmetics, the wet grinding method is used to achieve the perfect size and consistency. This process produces wet ground mica, enhancing its pearlescent and reflective qualities. The mica powder is then coated with oxides, lakes, and ultramarine pigments to add color.

Sheet mica is made by cutting blocks of rock into flat, uniform pieces. It's valuable for its excellent heat insulation properties and is primarily used in heavy industry and electric appliances like toasters and hairdryers.

Is Natural Mica Powder Biodegradable or Ethical?

Natural mica powder, produced from mineral muscovite and phlogopite rock, is generally not biodegradable. The pigments used to add color may break down over time if they are organic.

Ethical issues surrounding natural mica focus on child labor in mining operations in India and Madagascar. Brands like Lush have boycotted natural mica, opting for synthetic mica instead. Other major companies like L'Oreal and Clarins have joined the Responsible Mica Initiative (RMI) to ensure traceability and child labor-free mica.

What is Synthetic Mica Powder?

Synthetic mica is artificial and lab-created, with characteristics similar to natural mica, such as transparency and heat resistance.

Where Does Synthetic Mica Powder Come From?

Most synthetic mica used in cosmetics today is manufactured in China and Japan, making up around 10% of global supply.

How is Synthetic Mica Powder Made?

Synthetic mica, also known as fluorphlogopite or synthetic fluorine mica, is a man-made compound made by heating chemicals like potassium carbonate, potassium fluosilicate, quartz sand, and fused magnesite. The resulting crystals are chemically similar to natural phlogopite mica but smoother and more transparent. This makes synthetic mica seem brighter when colored with oxides and lakes.

Is Synthetic Mica Biodegradable or Ethical?

Synthetic mica is not biodegradable and does not break down naturally over time. However, it's mainly promoted to reduce dependency on natural mica, aiming to eliminate the ethical issues associated with natural mica mining, especially concerning child labor.

Synthetic Mica Powders—An Alternative View

A report commissioned by BASF Colors & Effects challenged the notion that synthetic mica is the clear eco-friendly and ethical alternative to natural mica. The report stated that synthetic mica has a significantly higher environmental impact due to its energy-intensive production process.

The report also highlighted the carbon footprint linked to transporting synthetic mica from production hubs in Japan and China to other parts of the world.

While some see this report as biased towards natural mica powder industries in the U.S., it offers an alternate perspective on the ethical and environmental implications of choosing between natural and synthetic mica powders.

Conclusion

Synthetic Mica vs Natural Mica – Pros and Cons

Natural Mica

• Versatile: Can be used in cosmetics, electronics, and heavy industry
• Huge deposits worldwide
• Cheaper for creators and customers
• May contain heavy metals and impurities
• Potential ethical issues
• More color options available for creators
• Not biodegradable

Synthetic Mica

• Pearlescent and transparent, almost white
• Free of heavy metal impurities
• Expensive to make, increasing costs for customers and companies
• Takes longer to make and uses more energy
• No concerns about child labor, although there may be environmental issues
• Not biodegradable

Ultimately, the decision to use natural or synthetic mica will depend on the creator or buyer. When choosing ingredients for lip balms, nail polish, eye shadow, or soap, many issues need to be considered. Hopefully, this article has provided some clarity on this topic.

For more information, please visit CHIDA.

If you are looking for more details, kindly visit Mica Powder for Building.