Introduction to MICA and Natural Colorants

In the world of artisan soapmaking, few topics spark more discussion than the choice between natural colorants and MICA. Both options can produce beautiful soaps, but their origins, processing, and philosophies differ greatly. For artisans like me—those who value simplicity, purity, and staying close to creation—understanding these differences is essential.

Before going further, I want to be transparent:

I choose natural colorants over MICA.

Not out of fear or judgment, but because natural aligns with my beliefs, my brand, and my connection to God’s creation.
MICA has its place in the soapmaking community, and I respect those who use it.
But for my craft, natural colorants are the foundation.

What Is MICA?

Mica begins as a shimmering mineral known for its reflective, sparkling properties. It has long been used in cosmetics, bath products, and soapmaking to create bright, vivid, eye-catching colors.

There are two main types of mica:

• Natural mica, which is mined from the earth

• Synthetic mica, which is entirely lab-grown

Both produce similar visual effects, but their origins and processing are very different.

Natural Mica vs. Synthetic MICA

Natural MICA (Mined MICA)

Natural mica sounds appealing because it originates in the earth. However, the mineral in its raw form is not what you see in soap pigments.

Before it becomes a colorant, natural mica must undergo:

• Mining and extraction

• Washing and purification

• Grinding into fine, usable particles

• Coating with synthetic pigments

• Chemical bonding and heat processing

This leads to an important truth:

Natural MICA is only natural in its uncolored, unprocessed state.

The bright blues, purples, greens, pinks, and golds used in soapmaking do not come from the earth.
They come from engineered pigments such as:

• synthetic dyes

• lab-created oxides

• FD&C colorants

• ultramarines

• titanium dioxide

• iron oxides

Even major suppliers openly acknowledge this.

Ethical considerations also exist, including:

• child labor in certain mining regions

• environmental damage

• unsafe working conditions

• contamination of unregulated mica sources

While some companies are working toward ethical sourcing, the reality is that the final product is still a processed, pigment-coated, human-modified colorant.

Synthetic (Lab-Grown) MICA

Synthetic MICA—also known as fluorphlogopite MICA—is created in a laboratory to imitate and enhance natural mica’s reflective properties.

Synthetic MICA is:

• ultra-bright and sparkly

• free from mining concerns

• highly consistent

• extremely stable

• visually stunning

But it is also:

• manufactured

• engineered

• chemically colored

• processed with heat

• 100% man-made

It never touches the earth.
It is not part of creation.
It is a human invention that imitates nature but does not originate from it.

Why Both Are Still Man-Made Pigments — And Why That Matters to Me

Although “natural” and “synthetic” mica sound like opposites, both ultimately produce the same kind of colorant:

A human-modified, chemically enhanced pigment.

Regardless of the source (mine or lab), MICA pigments:

• require manufacturing

• require processing

• require synthetic pigment coatings

• rely on chemical formulation

• do not come straight from creation

This is why I do not consider MICA a natural colorant in the context of my soapmaking.

And this is why my heart stays with botanical pigments.

Why I Choose Earth-Based Colorants Instead

Natural, botanical colorants—clays, herbs, roots, flowers, charcoal, mineral earths—are part of creation exactly as God designed them. They are simple, authentic, honest, and unaltered at their core.

Where MICA feels:

• engineered

• perfected

• produced

• controlled

Natural colorants feel:

• alive

• grounded

• organic

• earth-connected

• true

Even their variability is part of the beauty. No two leaves look the same. No two clays produce identical shades. Nature breathes. Nature shifts. Nature expresses.

This aligns perfectly with my philosophy of soapmaking:

I want my colors to come from creation — not from a lab.

Even if mica is safe.
Even if it is beautiful.
Even if it is ethically sourced.

It does not mirror the simplicity and integrity I want in my work.

Where I Stand Today

I do not use mica in my soaps.

Mica simply does not reflect the natural, God-centered foundation of my brand.

But I reserve the right to reconsider.

If a future artistic design requires shimmer or a specific effect that botanicals cannot provide, I may choose to use mica in a limited, thoughtful way.

But for now—and for the identity of my craft—
natural colorants remain my standard, my preference, and my inspiration.