As early as 4000 years ago, Mica has been mined by ancient Hindus for decorative purposes (Ellison, 2010). As a natural pigment, it adds shimmer to many products when combined with chemicals such as titanium dioxide. Then in the 1970s, the movement to shift away from preservatives and synthetic chemicals boosted the demand for natural ingredients such as Mica, which was one of the most prominent classes of pigments used in cosmetics (Faulkner, 2012). Today, it is not surprising to see Mica in almost every product with shimmer. It is often publicized as the more environmentally friendly alternative to glitter, which is infamously known for its microplastic components.
Accompanied by makeup trends on social media such as the ‘Wet Makeup Look” (see, here for an example), demand for Mica’s shimmer is on an upward climb. However, as the title suggests, not all that shimmers is gold. Rates of Mica mining, fuelled by such demand, have only contributed to the rise of environmental pollution caused by this industry. Additionally, impacts of such pollution not only extends to that of our habitats and animals, but also to the children and women that are often involved in its mining practices.
(Source:https://mygreencloset.com/ethical-mica-makeup/)
Coming Up
I hope you enjoyed this introduction to Mica mining. As this was the main topic of my group’s presentation, it is definitely an issue that I have grown weary and attached to over the past few weeks. In this series of Mica mining, I will take a deep dive into the sector of the beauty industry to discuss the various environmental and social controversies that surround the ingredients that we often neglect in the products we use. For a good overview, do check out the short documentary below!
In the meantime, stay tuned and stay concerned!
Hui Jie
References
CNA Insider. (2021, May 1). The Dark Secret Behind Your Shiny Makeup | Undercover Asia | CNA Documentary. [Video]. Youtube. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LS_CR7UwhRs.
Ellison, G. (2010). Mica - from art to technology. Smoky Mountain News. https://smokymountainnews.com/archives/item/1510-mica-—-from-art-to-technology
Faulkner, E. B. & Hollenberg, J. C. (2021). Coloring the Cosmetic World: Using Pigments in Decorative Cosmetic Formulations, 2nd Edition. Chapter 9 (161).
Santino, C. (2021, August 25)..Move Over, Matte: The Wet Makeup Look Is Taking Over. Glam. Retrieved from https://www.glam.com/beauty/how-to-do-the-wet-makeup-trend/.
Shepherd, A. (2018, January 1). FAQ on Lush and Mica. LUSH. Retrieved from https://lush.gr/FAQ-on-Lush-and-mica.
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