How to Make Mica Powder With Pigments

Loose mica powder

Mineral makeup shimmers and glows, thanks to mica pigment powders. Many people mix their own mica powders because it is an all-natural, hypoallergenic and inexpensive alternative to store-bought makeup. Mica pigment powders provide the nontoxic color base and sparkle for eye shadow, blush, foundation and bath products. Using the correct ingredients, anyone from a casual hobbyist to the professional makeup artist can make a glittering palette of mica powders.

Things You'll Need

• Mortar and pestle
• Measuring spoons
• 6 tbsp. titanium dioxide
• 3 tsp. magnesium stearate
• 1 tsp. bismuth oxychloride
• 4 tsp. selected iron oxide pigments
• 5 tsp. sericite mica
• Jojoba oil
• Plastic jar with lid

Instructions

1. Add the titanium dioxide, magnesium stearate and bismuth oxychloride to the mortar. Using one hand to steady the mortar, grind the powders together with the pestle. This mixture provides the base for the mica powder.

2. Determine what color mica powder you want to create. Select and measure the iron oxides pigments that mix to make that color. Blend the sericite mica and half of the iron oxide pigments with the base powder. Add more pigment until the mixture is the desired shade.

3. Put 1 to 2 drops of jojoba oil in the powder and blend thoroughly. The oil acts as a binding agent and maintains the consistency of the mica powder.

4. Transfer the mica powder to the plastic jar and secure the lid tightly. Label the jar with the date. After six months, discard any unused powder.

Tips & Warnings

• The size of the sericite mica particle determines the finished product's luster. For a more opaque color, use a smaller mica particle. Select a large mica particle size for a shimmer effect.

• Use a coffee grinder instead of a mortar and pestle for less labor intensive blending.

• Stock up on red, yellow, and blue iron oxides. With these basic colors, you can mix any shade of your liking.

• Bismuth Oxychloride may trigger an allergic reaction. If this is a concern, substitute zinc oxide in the recipe.

• Avoid inhaling any mica powder.

References

• From Nature With Love: Color Additives
• Ponte Vedre Soap Shop Inc.; Mineral Eyeshadow; January 2006
• Green Health Research

Resources

• Read this Article in Spanish
• Mineral Makeup Ingredients
• Monave: How To Make Mineral Makeup