With an ever-increasing focus on the ingredients in beauty products and just how good they are (or aren’t) for your skin, it’s no wonder that mica minerals have quickly become a hot topic throughout beauty and cosmetic circles.
You may be familiar with mineral makeup, which is offered by a number of large cosmetic companies. These products contain mica, which is part of the crystal family. According to the Crystals and Jewelry website, “Mica is a group of minerals and has reflective qualities.” It comes in a variety of colors, which makes it a great option for use in cosmetics like blushes and eyeshadows. However, mica is used in other products as well.
Let’s take a deeper look at how mica minerals may support healthy skin.
The Benefits of Mica Minerals in Beauty Products for Healthier Skin
Mineral-based beauty products are a mainstay for many women. Many of the most popular makeup brands offer minerals makeup in the form of blushes, eye shadows, and powders. These products help reflect light, giving the skin a gorgeous glow – every woman’s dream.
Mica minerals naturally occur in the earth and are crushed into a fine powder for use in beauty products (Simple Beauty Minerals provides a good overview of what mica minerals are and how they’re good for skin health). In addition to the natural-looking glow that these minerals provide, they’re also a great choice for women with sensitive skin. Mica is non-irritating and may also help calm already irritated skin.
One of the biggest issues with many beauty products is that they contain a variety of chemical ingredients that are not only difficult to pronounce, but bad for your skin health as well. These chemical ingredients are often the cause of redness, swelling, and irritation, and mica minerals do away with these ingredients and the irritation and discomfort they may cause.
Mineral-based beauty products are typically free of ingredients that may play a role in breakouts and acne, including waterproof polymers and a variety of binding agents. (For other fantastic tips on getting rid of acne, take a look at this post.) You also won’t have to worry about clogged pores, as the lack of these ingredients make it much easier to get your makeup off your skin and out of your pores.
Mica minerals may also help support healthier-looking skin overall, according to Dunagan, Yates & Alison. Not only does the addition of these minerals in popular products reduce the sensitivity of skin because of the lack of harmful chemical ingredients, Mica minerals may also provide a low-grade level of protection from harmful sun rays.
The benefits of mica minerals are many, and all are centered around healthier-looking skin!
What Types of Products Contain Mica Minerals?
While it’s no secret that there are endless makeup products that are mineral-based, there are plenty of other products as well. Below is a list of common and popular products.
- Foundation and other facial powders
- Concealers
- Eyeshadows
- Blushes
- Body powders and lotions
- Natural sunscreens
- Beauty creams
Mineral-based body powders, such as these from Shelley Kyle, are ideal for light use on the body in the morning to keep you fresh and fragrant throughout the day. They can also be lightly sprinkled over bed sheets and other linens to not only freshen them, but also support your skin health as you sleep.
There are specific brands that only create mineral-based beauty products, including jane iredale, Erth Minerals, bareMinerals, Shelley Kyle, Sephora, and Cover Girl, among others. Some of these brands also use chemical ingredients that may be harmful, so be sure to do your research when choosing brands you’d like to try.
Make the choice to keep your skin clean, healthy, and beautiful. Why not try mineral-based beauty products and see the difference they may be able to make?
Though you included the benefits of mica, there are also cons. A lot of mica is mine by children. By advertising and supporting this ingredient, you are also supporting the child labor that comes with it. A big number of children die in the mines and barely make enough to eat.