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Answer: Mica (Cosmetic) is not currently banned worldwide, but health agencies have flagged concerns. The FDA still allows it in US cosmetics and personal-care products. Risk level: low. Commonly found in: bareMinerals ORIGINAL Powder Foundation, NYX Professional Makeup Highlight & Contour Pro Palette, e.l.f. Cosmetics Illuminating Palette.
TL;DR: Mica (Cosmetic) is allowed in the EU but allowed in the US (colorant).
Reviewed for clarity & usefulness by the BannedPantry Parent Panel
INCI name MICA. Also called CI 77019. CAS 12001-26-2.
Other names: CI 77019, Sericite, Muscovite Mica
| EU status | Allowed |
|---|---|
| US status | Allowed |
| Risk level | low |
| Where it shows up | bareMinerals ORIGINAL Powder Foundation, NYX Professional Makeup Highlight & Contour Pro Palette, e.l.f. Cosmetics Illuminating Palette |
| CAS number | 12001-26-2 |
Mica is a naturally occurring silicate mineral that provides a sparkling, pearlescent shimmer in cosmetics. It is either mined from the earth or synthetically manufactured (synthetic fluorophlogopite). Mica is extensively used in color cosmetics, mineral makeups, and highlighters.
Provides shimmer, glow, and opacity in cosmetics. Acts as a filler and texture agent. Also has some absorbency and slip properties.
Cosmetic-grade mica is considered safe. The primary safety concern is not toxicity but rather the ethical issue of child labor in mica mining, particularly in India. From a toxicological standpoint, cosmetic mica is inert and non-toxic at topical use levels. Inhalation of mica dust in occupational (mining) settings is associated with respiratory disease, but this is not relevant to consumer cosmetic use. Synthetic mica (synthetic fluorophlogopite) addresses both the child labor and purity concerns.
For educational use only. This page summarizes the regulatory status of Mica (Cosmetic)with citations to the primary sources below. It is not medical advice. Regulatory status is not the same as a proven health effect — read the cited sources for their exact wording, and consult a doctor for decisions about your or your family's health.
Synthetic fluorophlogopite as a child-labor-free, high-purity mica alternative; bismuth oxychloride for shimmer without mica.
Cosmetic-grade mica is toxicologically safe. The concern is social/ethical: much of the world's cosmetic mica is mined using child labor. Synthetic mica avoids this issue.
Synthetic fluorophlogopite is man-made mica with more consistent particle size, higher purity, and no association with child labor concerns. It provides similar shimmer effects.
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