By Joan Trebilcock, RN
All our micas are all cosmetic grades. The US Government regulates all these regulations.
To use the micas or glitters in lotions, hair gels, body gels, or any combination of ingredients that are a thick liquid.. To use mica in lotions (The most economical), simply put the desired amount of lotion, gels etc. in a plastic bag, say to make 16 oz. of lotion, pour the lotion into a bag, then scent it if you want, then add about ½ of a teaspoon of mica.. (the whites and golds seem to be the prettiest), If you prefer more color, or more sparkle look, simply add more mica, and squish the mixture together until you reach the desired effect of sparkle. Then snip off a tiny corner of the bag, and squeeze the product into your bottles, or whatever you are using. This way, you don’t waste product down the sides of your container.
To use mica in the bath salts
First, make your bath salt base, (and put into a large plastic bag)..say from sea salts, Epsom salt, baking soda, or whatever recipe you use, then add the fragrance and shake well to blend the fragrance into the salt. I then divide the salts into 2 plastic bags, and in 1 of the bags, say if you have 3 cups of bath salts, put about half of 1 teaspoon of mica in it, (you can use more or less mica to give it color or your desired effect), seal the bag, and shake well to disperse the color and or sparkle of the mica. In the 2nd bag, which also has been scented, I put a whiteish color mica..say diamond cluster, or our snowflake color, and shake well to coat the bath salt crystals, and then, I will pour the 2 bags together in 1 bag, and shake only 2 or 3 times, to incorporate the first and second color.. if you over blend the 2, it will give a lighter effect of your first bag of color. You are then ready to put into your bath salt tubes, or jars, or whatever container you are using.
To use micas in cold process soaps… what works, and what doesn’t.
The colors of mica we carry that either fades out entirely or will mutate are:Dark Blue, Cloud blue, royal peacock, ocean blue, blue pearl, peacock pearl. Carmine red, Old fashioned Rose.Majestic Green, Jade Green, Teal, Teal Pearl, Green Pearl. Lavender Shimmer, amethyst shimmer, passionate pink, iridescent violet, magenta Sparkle, Purple Haze Shimmer, Pink Pearl. Our beautiful cactus blossom holds up very well in cold process soapmaking.
Mica that work in cold process soap.
White colors that work: All white colors, Transparent white, Snowflake, White Gold, Diamond Cluster, Pearl Flake, All Sparkle, Angel Wings Glimmer, City Lights Evening Star.
Red and purple Green tones
Burgundy Shimmer comes out a pretty plum color medium shade, Purple Shimmer turns a beautiful violet, Plum Shimmer turns out a light plum color, Cactus Blossom remains a beautiful rose color, Merlot Glimmer turns out a pretty light wine color, Plum Pearl and purple pearl turn out light colors. Egyptian Green comes out a pretty dark green.
Brown & Metallic Tones that work
Autumn Masterpiece, Brown Pearl, Tigers Eye, Cappuccino Shimmer, Bronze Shimmer, 24 Karat Gold, Shimmering Gold, Chrome Shimmer, Pewter Shimmer, Golden Satin, Bronze Pearl, Copper Pearl.If you use the micas in crock-pot process, hot process, oven process, and add the micas the very last thing before pouring into the mold, the micas will hold up well, as the lye has saponified.