Mica in Makeup – Is It Safe?

Jun 13, 2011 by A. Beth Brown

bareMinerals®, launched in 1995 and sold through ubiquitous television infomercials, spawned a wave of mineral-based cosmetics. You can now find mineral-based cosmetics at all price points from popular drugstore brands to high-end boutique lines. Most of these products contain mica, a silicate mineral found in rocks. Mica in this form is a white, shiny powder that gives the makeup a sparkly quality in its container. Mica adheres well to skin and reflects light, making skin appear more luminous. Producers of this kind of makeup claim that mineral-based cosmetics are better for skin than synthetic makeup. Is it true? Is mica safe to use on your skin?

Mica often replaces talc as an ingredient in powder. Detractors claim that talc clogs pores and irritates skin, in addition to being bad for your lungs and the environment. Most of the claims against talc are overblown and without scientific grounding, but talc certainly can be a problem for some people. Is mica any better?

Mica is sourced from rocks, so it can contain trace levels of dangerous heavy metals. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulates the levels of heavy metals in consumer products and regulates the level of mica in products as well. The minute amounts of heavy metal in the small amount of mica in face powder does not pose any known health risk.

The FDA only regulates the most basic elements of cosmetic safety and labeling. The FDA threshold is quite low for cosmetics, only stepping in when a product is dangerous or unsanitary. As we all have experienced, a product that is neither dangerous nor unsanitary can still cause adverse reactions to certain individuals. There are no studies linking mica with any health problems, though as with any loose powder, mica may cause respiratory irritation especially to those with asthma. There have been a limited number of claims that the mica in mineral makeup can be quite irritating to sensitive skin, particularly those suffering from rosacea or eczema, but none have widespread or scientifically collected data to back up their statements. Mineral-based powders do appear to perform better than talc-based makeup for acne-prone skin.

Mica is certainly safe. Will it work better for you? This appears to be a personal preference. Give it try – mica may give your skin that beautiful glow you have been searching for.