Featured Ingredient: Mica

Mica is that beautiful rock pictured above. It is found in Canada, India, China, Finland, and other countries. The name “mica” comes from the Latin word micare, meaning “to shine”, referring to its luster. Sometimes mica is referred to as cat-gold, cat-silver, glimmer or glist. Mica’s luster is vitreous to pearly, so they are very valuable in cosmetic applications. Sericite, a type of mica, is silky to the touch.
The use of mica mineral pigments for cosmetic applications dates back to ancient times. Cleopatra was one of its more famous users. Today, mineral make-up is so popular, it seems to be taking over the demand for synthetic dyes - and rightfully so! Mica is resistant to ultraviolet light, heat, weather and chemical attack. Moreover, this soft mineral adheres well to skin without penetrating the skin barrier.
There are 37 different mica minerals. The type used in our products is muscovite or potassium mica. Mica crystals are transparent to translucent and can be white, silver, yellow, green and brown in their natural state.
Coating mica with iron oxides, derived from another rock, magnetic hematite or magnetite, results in many pigment colours. Clays absorb moisture and provide cleansing effects and are used as fillers. Corn starch and rice powder are used to absorb oils so you don’t get those greasy creases over your eyelids. Mica mineral pigments are safe natural colourants - and abundant and beautiful indeed.
Mica eye shadow and powder bronzers are durable and last throughout the day, often through one swim. Similarly, micas immersed in cream formulations often last an entire day!

Nen’s Mineral Make-up
Mica is featured in several of Nen’s mineral make-up products. The most notable are the eye shadows and bronzers, and April reveals a whole new series of spectacular colours. They are natural products compromised of corn starch, rice powder, clay, iron oxide, zinc oxide and mica. In some cases, we use titanium dioxide for greater colour options, which are not nanoparticles so they are too big to penetrate the skin. Our Tinting Moisturizer is an all-in-one cream foundation and moisturizer and is very popular! Our newest product, Lip Balm with Colour, is all the rage. It is a nurturing lip balm that provides subtle, classy, natural-looking colour. If you haven’t tried these products, you are truly missing out on something fabulous.