What Does Mica Do In Makeup
Mica is incredibly mutual in makeup. If yous check your cosmetics you lot will likely find it listed equally an ingredient in most of them (it can besides be labelled every bit CI 77019 or serecite). Mica is a mineral that gives the states glowing highlights, shiny lips, and glittery eyes. It's too unfortunately an ingredient with upstanding bug, kid labour, and human rights abuses.
After learning more virtually mica I started looking into where brands were getting theirs from. It was incredibly disappointing to meet many brands who market themselves as "cruelty gratuitous" with zero transparency about their mica sourcing. Why is this something so many beauty brands seem to be ignoring or hiding?
So I've done some earthworks (no pun intended) and put together a listing of green and cruelty-free makeup brands that also use ethically sourced mica.
What Is Mica and Why Is Information technology Bad?
Mica is group of sparkly minerals which are obtained through mining and used in a diverseness of products including makeup and beauty items. If it's got shimmer it's almost probable mica in your makeup!
The industry has a huge child labour problem. Children are, unfortunately, particularly suited to mica mining as they tin easily maneuver through the narrow mines and reach small spaces. It's extremely dangerous and children ofttimes suffer from cuts, cleaved basic and lung disease. "Of all forms of hazardous work, mining is past far the nigh mortally dangerous sector for children," according to SOMO's mica mining report.
I highly recommend watching this short documentary to go a good overview of the kid labour problems with mica mining:
While I know the term "cruelty-free" is used in regards to creature testing, it does feel incredibly hypocritical to telephone call yourself a proud cruelty-free brand while having unsafe and unethical child labour in your supply chain. 🤔
Tin Yous Avoid Mica in Makeup past Sticking to Matte Products?
This was i of my get-go thoughts, but unfortunately the reply is no. Even though mica is best known for adding shimmer, it's also used to color matte products as well. In that location are some mica-free products, but generally they're difficult to find.
While mica is the base of operations fabric, information technology's actually coated in oxides to reach unlike colours and finishes. In makeup, titanium dioxide (CI 77891) is near commonly used as well every bit fe oxides.
Upstanding Mica used in Makeup
The brands who are actually addressing the issue with mica generally take two different routes: some utilize constructed mica created in a lab (also called synthetic fluorphlogopite) while others are trying to ethically and transparently source their mica.
While both approaches have pros and cons, I definitely think information technology's something all brands should exist taking action on and looking into their supply chain!
What Is Synthetic Mica Made Of and Is Information technology Safety?
Synthetic mica (synthetic fluorphlogopite) is made from magnesium aluminum silicate sheets, weakly bonded together with potassium, which permit it to be separated into thin pieces. Fifty-fifty though information technology is synthetic I retrieve information technology'south important to note that information technology's not made of plastic.
I cannot find whatever testify of risks with constructed mica in cosmetics. The just potential hazard is lung damage due to inhalation but this is the same with natural mica. It might actually be more than safe than natural mica equally there's a chance natural mica can incorporate trace heavy metals. Constructed mica likewise has a more compatible shape, dissimilar natural mica which can have precipitous points and edges that may damage the skin.
Are There Ethical Mica Certifications to Look For?
One event with trying to find ethical mica is there isn't a 3rd party certification or regulatory body to audit and oversee suppliers. The Responsible Mica Initiative is an organization prepare to help monitor and meliorate child labour and poor working conditions, but they rely on "voluntary collaboration" and don't perform audits.
In nigh all cases, nosotros have to accept the brand's word that their mica is mined fairly and free of kid labour. There definitely is some trust involved.
While nosotros can't be 100% sure, I do call up the following brands I've researched intendance and seem honest well-nigh their mica sourcing.
Cruelty-Free Makeup Brands Who Use Synthetic or Ethically-Sourced Mica
(please note: some affiliate links are used in this list which means nosotros might get a small-scale commission with purchases)
Clove + Hallow
A vegan makeup brand who claims to be "child labor free" and sources their mica from the U.S.
What they say: "[Mica is] a natural shimmery mineral that we source ethically within the United states"
Pure Anada
A Canadian natural cosmetics and skincare line.
What they say: "Our Mica supplier ensures that their production is mined ethically in Republic of india without the apply of child labour. They own their own mines, fund schools and daycare centers so that the quality of life for their employees is fair."
👍 I really appreciate that this information is included and easily plant in their about section, unlike many other brand sites where it can be hard to find or not publicly available at all.
LUSH
A bath, torso, and beauty company.
What they say: Lush has been vocal and transparent nigh mica bug. "When nosotros were no longer able to guarantee transparency in the supply chain, nosotros decided to make the alter to constructed mica. Every bit of January ane, 2018 we will not be using natural mica in production."
Au Naturale
A "clean beauty" cosmetics line.
What they say: "Our micas are child labor costless – mined, processed and distributed sustainably world wide. We take a purists opinion when it comes to colour – refusing to partake in unethical sourcing practices that are harmful to people, animals or the surroundings."
And on a mica web log post they say: "Since our suppliers ain their supply chain from harvesting to processing and distribution, we can clinch only the highest quality micas, mined without the utilize of child labor, are used in our formulations".
Athr Beauty
Vegan beauty brand which uses both natural and synthetic mica.
What they say: They have a whole blog postal service most mica in makeup. Pertaining to their own employ, they explicate: "We use a combination of natural and synthetic mica. When we utilise natural mica, we source only from U.S. suppliers with ethical labor standards. Nosotros avoid all mica from Republic of india or Madagascar where labor standards are unregulated and child labor is rampant. We choose constructed mica when nosotros can't vet and guarantee that the source of our mica is child-labor-free."
Blood-red Apple Lipstick
A gluten free, vegan, natural dazzler brand (not just lipstick).
What they say: I couldn't find annihilation on their website, only when I reached out to them they said, "We source all of our ingredients from the United states, a few from Europe and some others from Canada. All of which nosotros make certain do non involve kid labor, and that workers are paid fairly." Specifically most their mica they said, "We source all of our mica from the U.Southward. from privately owned mines. This allows united states of america to be assured that child-labor is never used, and that miners are paid adequately + treated very well."
Fat and the Moon
A bath, trunk, and beauty company based in herbalist traditions.
What they say: I couldn't find anything on their website, merely when I reached out to them they said they use synthetic mica. From a DM: "The mica that we use is lab-created, not mined. We know almost the horrendous circumstances in which mined mica is a consequence and do not back up those practices. The mica that we use is made of natural ingredients that mimic mined mica."
🚩 Note that they just listing "Mica" in their ingredients. This is legal, simply I'd adopt brands specify that it is synthetic mica.
100% Pure
A natural makeup, skincare, and beauty make.
What they say: "All of our products apply ethically sourced mica."
I reached out to them for more info and this was their statement: "We condemn the use of child labor in particular, in industry and service of any raw materials. All of our mica suppliers are required to annually provide certificates that child labor is not used in mica mining and the subsequent manufacturing processes."
Dr. Hauschka
A natural beauty and skincare brand.
What they say: I couldn't find annihilation on their website, but subsequently reaching out they sent me a statement from their head visitor (WALA Heilmittel GmbH) which includes this: "Due to close co-operation with the local regime, a amend co-operation with the miners and regular and unannounced on-site audits, our supplier can guarantee, since the centre of 2011, that all mica retrieved by them from India is gratuitous of kid labour."
This is likewise what they say on their website regarding fair trade standards and mining: "Where minerals come from the third earth and emerging countries, we need the relevant certificates, and we have these for many raw materials, including mica." However they besides acknowledge that traceability is non always straightforward but they try hard. I appreciate the honesty regarding transparency issues.
Inika
A natural and organic beauty and skincare brand.
What they say: "INIKA Organic is very enlightened of the issues associated with the mining of Mica. Our suppliers have been pro-active in assuring that they work within the Ethical Trade Initiative and do not utilise child labour in the mining and processing of their products."
RMS Beauty
Organic and "clean" makeup brand.
What they say: In an e-mail: "All of our ingredients are sourced off-white-trade and cruelty-complimentary. For proprietary reasons, we cannot provide specific sourcing information for the mica nosotros utilize, only delight know that our founder Rose-Marie spends much of her time sourcing ingredients from sustainable and environmentally friendly sources. We would never source ingredients from a facility that utilizes child labor."
And they also said: "We are working on getting ours 'certified child labor costless' merely the certification has non been finalized yet."
I really wish this info was bachelor publicly in their ingredients intermission-downward!
Jane Iredale
A brand with mineral makeup and skincare formulated for sensitive skin.
What they say: In their ingredients glossary, they say they apply synthetic mica to avoid heavy metals that may be present in natural mica.
🚩 Note that they merely listing "Mica" in their ingredients. This is legal, merely I'd prefer brands specify that it is constructed mica.
Elate Cosmetics
A Canadian natural and low-waste makeup brand. Shopping from the U.Due south.? You tin can find them here.
What they say: "The mica used in Elate products is fair trade, and sourced from suppliers who are active members of the Responsible Mica Initiative."
🚩 Please see above almost about certifications and the RMI
Mica-Free Makeup Brands
Haut Cosmetics
Canadian makeup and beauty line with all mica-free products. They have many blog posts most mica and their stance on it, including: "natural mica vs synthetic mica," "the importance of titanium dioxide complimentary and mica free makeup," and "mica – beyond the ethical concerns."
Omiana
Omiana is a mineral makeup make for people with sensitive pare. They have a mica-free makeup collection. It is not clear from their website whether the mica in their other makeup is synthetic or ethically mined.
Rejuva Minerals
Nearly all Rejuva Minerals makeup is mica-free, with the exception of a few products, which they list on their Product Safety page. They say they use "ethically sourced mica" for those products. This is a great brand for people with sensitive skin!
For some ethical mica inspo, my friend Kassia created this gorgeous expect featuring some of these brands!
Mica products used:
- Pure Anada pressed eye shadow in Sweetheart – lid
- RMS Dazzler eye shadow inEnchanted Moonlight – outer corner
- RMS Beauty Sensual Skin Trio
- Blush in Demure
- Luminizing Powder in Madeira Bronzer
- Luminizing Powder in Grande Dame – highlight
- Red Apple Beauty lipgloss in Sun Sparkles
And check out the shimmery holiday makeup post we did together for more than ethical mica makeup looks!
Those are the brands I've found so far! Check back as this post volition exist updated equally I find new brands. Overall, there is withal a huge lack of transparency about this issue, which I promise will improve; all the same, this is at least a proficient beginning to better awareness and more than responsible sourcing.
If you know of any other mica-free or ethically sourced makeup brands please share them in the comments!
Is Mica In Other Products As well?
It's too important to know that mica isn't only used in makeup. The electronics industry consumes the about mica (about 26%), followed by paint (24%), construction — typically used in drywall (xx%) — and so cosmetics which uses nearly xviii% of mica produced. (Source: Global Mica Mining and the Touch on on Children's Rights)
The unfortunate thing is that in these other industries it's even harder to avoid or find transparent and upstanding alternatives. With makeup nosotros at least take some more than power equally consumers to make better choices, but this isn't the only area where child labour in mica mining is an consequence.
Updated March twenty, 2022
Source: https://mygreencloset.com/ethical-mica-makeup/
Posted by: bischoffwassis1948.blogspot.com
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