Pigment questions, answered.

Mica powder is a finely ground, light-reflecting mineral used to add pearlescent color and shimmer. Coatings such as titanium dioxide and iron oxides create different colors and effects.

MEYSPRING mica powders are different from our True Metallics, which contain real metal, and our glitters, which have their own compositions and particle sizes. Choose the product family that suits your intended finish and application.

Read more about mica powder and its creative uses.

In the U.S., mica is an FDA-permitted cosmetic color additive that is exempt from batch certification when it meets the applicable requirements. That does not mean every colored mica blend—or a cosmetic made with it—is FDA approved.

Each ingredient in a pigment blend must be suitable for the intended use. Lip products and eye-area products have specific restrictions. Check the exact shade’s ingredients and use guidance alongside the FDA color-additive listings. If you make cosmetics for sale, check the requirements in the markets where you sell.

Our lip-use guide explains why color-additive restrictions depend on the ingredients and application.

Our mica powders create a pearlescent or shimmery effect rather than a flat, matte color. The amount of visible sparkle varies by shade and particle size. An opaque or matte base can soften the color and reduce the shimmer.

Mica itself is noncombustible. That does not establish the flammability or heat performance of every coated pigment, glitter, or metal powder. Follow the Safety Data Sheet (SDS) and application guidance for the exact product.

A pigment’s heat tolerance also does not determine the heat resistance of the cured resin or other material you mix it into.

Our mica powders are made without animal-derived ingredients. Vegan refers to ingredient origin; it does not mean a pigment is edible or suitable for every cosmetic application. Check the exact shade’s intended-use information before choosing it for a formulation.

No. MEYSPRING pigments are not sold as edible products. Do not eat them or use them as edible glitter or food decoration.

Cosmetic suitability does not establish edible or food-contact suitability. See the FDA guidance on non-edible decorative products for more information.

We choose suppliers with policies against child labor and human exploitation. Our suppliers have provided statements that the mica supplied to MEYSPRING is not sourced from mines in India or South Africa.

For questions about a particular pigment or its sourcing documentation, contact us.

Mica-based powders are generally odorless. A lack of odor is not a safety test: continue to avoid breathing pigment dust and follow the handling precautions for your pigment and the resin or other medium you use.

Dry mica powders generally have a long storage life when kept free of moisture and contamination. Close jars or resealable bags tightly and store them in a dry place.

Follow any product-specific storage instructions. Once pigment is mixed into resin, paint, or another base, the mixture’s storage and working life depend on that material.

Compare powder and liquid pigments, including their storage considerations.

They can. The shade, fabric, and any resin, oil, or paint mixed with the powder all affect whether a mark comes out. Treat spills promptly according to the fabric and medium manufacturers’ care instructions, and test cleaners on a hidden area first. We cannot guarantee stain-free results.

No. Mica particles disperse through a medium rather than dissolving in it. They may settle in a thin liquid, so stir as needed.

A powder dispersing well does not guarantee compatibility with a resin, paint, or other base. Make a small test batch before starting a larger project.

Learn how mica particles disperse in resin.

Measure and mix Part A and Part B exactly as your resin manufacturer directs. Then add a small amount of mica powder and stir until evenly dispersed, unless your resin maker specifies a different pigment-mixing method.

Add pigment gradually. The shade, resin, and layer thickness all affect the final color and opacity. Do not change the resin-to-hardener ratio to adjust the color or consistency.

Read our guide to using mica powder in resin.

For small crafts, our approximate starting amounts per 1 US fl oz of mixed epoxy (resin + hardener) are:

Use level mini measuring spoons and add gradually. These are starting points, not guaranteed opacity levels; color and layer thickness change the result.

For mica powders, MEYSPRING recommends a maximum of 3% of the combined resin + hardener weight, or your resin maker’s lower limit. Too much pigment can interfere with curing. Spoon amounts are approximate; use a scale to check the weight limit.

For small batches up to 16 US fl oz, use our pigment calculator.

Yes. A smaller amount usually produces a more translucent effect; adding more increases coverage. The shade, base resin, and pour thickness also influence the result.

Test a small sample at your intended layer thickness. Do not exceed the 3% mica weight limit—or your resin maker’s lower limit—just to make a color more opaque.

Explore our mica-to-resin amounts and opacity guide.

For 16 US fl oz (2 US cups) of mixed epoxy, our approximate small-craft starting amounts are:

• Translucent: 1/4 tsp
• Semi-opaque: 1/2 tsp
• Opaque: 1 tsp

Use level mini measuring spoons, start small, and adjust gradually. Your shade and layer thickness may need a different amount.

For mica powders, MEYSPRING recommends a maximum of 3% of the combined resin + hardener weight, or your resin maker’s lower limit. Too much pigment can interfere with curing. Spoon amounts are approximate; use a scale to check the weight limit.

See the small-craft pigment guide and calculator.

Deep river-table pours can need much less mica per fluid ounce than thin crafts. For an 8-US-gallon batch of mixed epoxy, our approximate deep-pour starting references are 1 1/2 tsp for translucent color or 3 tsp for opaque color.

These references are for deep pours, not thin craft layers. Test your shade at the intended depth before mixing a large batch. For batches of 1–8 US gallons, select the river-table setting in our pigment calculator.

For mica powders, MEYSPRING recommends a maximum of 3% of the combined resin + hardener weight, or your resin maker’s lower limit. Too much pigment can interfere with curing. Spoon amounts are approximate; use a scale to check the weight limit.

Read our guide to pigment amounts for larger epoxy pours.

White Pearl is one option for white accents in ocean resin art. Artists also use pigment pastes for foam, cells, and lacing.

No pigment alone guarantees a wave effect. Resin viscosity, working time, pigment amount, airflow, heat, and technique all influence the result. Follow your resin maker’s guidance on heat tools, and try our white pigment paste tutorial and resin effects guide for techniques to explore.

Choose a resin designed for the project rather than selecting by brand alone. Check the manufacturer’s intended applications, maximum pour depth, working time, cure conditions, and heat resistance.

• Coatings, resin paintings, and geode art: Look for a resin intended for coating or art applications. Viscosity and working time affect how much colors move and blend.
• River tables and deep molds: Use a deep-pour or casting resin rated for your planned depth and batch size.
• Coasters and trays: Check the cured resin’s temperature limits. Do not assume every art resin is suitable for hot items.
• Food-contact projects: Obtain guidance for the complete cured system, including added pigment. A claim about uncolored resin does not automatically cover a pigmented finished piece.

Test a small pigmented batch through the full cure before committing to a larger project. Our resin selection guide explains the main differences.

Only when the exact pigment blend is suitable for lip products. A pigment suitable for general skin use or the eye area is not automatically suitable for lips.

The shades below are listed in MEYSPRING’s lip-use guidance. Confirm the current ingredients and intended-use documentation for your chosen shade before formulating. Do not use Gilded Gold or Sterling Lining in lip products; their current product guidance excludes lip use. Ingredient suitability does not establish the safety or compliance of a finished lip gloss. Consult the FDA color-additive listings for U.S. permitted uses.

Two Tone Collection:

• Wine Red
• Royal Gold
• Charcoal Black
• Peach Gold
• White Pearl
• Pure Copper

Gemstones Collection:

• Golden Labradorite
• White Chalcedony
• Bronze Stone
• Rose Quartz
• Violet Crystal
• Purple Amethyst
• Silver Druzy
• Green Pyromorphite

Geode Art Collection:

• Mystic Opal
• Indigo Obelisk
• Dusklight Crystal
• Dazzling Diamond

Read our guide to choosing mica for lip products.

Some shades can be used in cosmetic formulations, but suitability depends on the exact ingredients and intended area of use. Check the shade-specific guidance for skin, lips, or the eye area before choosing a pigment.

Do not use a general “cosmetic grade” description as approval for every application. Use a tested formulation, and confirm that both the ingredients and finished product meet the requirements for your intended market.

Explore mica uses in cosmetics and DIY mineral makeup.

We do not recommend adding mica powder to wick-burning candles. Mica does not dissolve in wax and can clog the wick or interfere with burning. Sprinkling it on top is not a reliable workaround because it can enter the melt pool.

For a shimmering wax project, consider wickless wax melts made with a compatible mica and wax system, following the wax supplier’s instructions and testing the finished product. Read our mica and candles guide for more detail.

Color stability varies by shade: some pigments change color or fade in the high pH of cold process soap. Our existing soap-use guidance identifies the mica powders in the Gemstones Collection and these Two Tone shades as cold-process options:

• Wine Red
• Royal Gold
• White Pearl
• Tropical Blue
• Pure Copper
• Charcoal Black
• Peach Gold

Make a small test batch with your exact recipe and color before a full batch. A collection name alone does not establish suitability: the Geode Art Collection includes different pigment families, and mica guidance should not be applied to True Metallics or glitters.

See the soap-making section of our mica uses guide.

Choose a mica suitable for soap, add a little to the melted base, and stir until evenly dispersed. If you pre-disperse the powder, use an ingredient and amount allowed by your soap-base manufacturer.

For distinct colors or swirls, prepare separate colored portions and work within the base manufacturer’s pouring-temperature guidance. The base’s thickness and pouring temperature affect how much the colors blend. Try a small batch first; there is no single pigment dose or temperature that works for every soap base.

Explore melt-and-pour soap ideas in our mica uses guide.

Yes, when the exact shade is suitable for the intended cosmetic use. Mica does not dissolve in bath water and may collect on skin or tub surfaces. Using more pigment can increase staining.

A dispersing ingredient such as polysorbate 80 can help distribute color, but it does not guarantee stain-free results. Follow a tested bath-bomb formulation and your ingredient suppliers’ usage guidance, and test the finished product on the intended surfaces.

Yes. Mix mica into a suitable paint binder or medium—not water alone—to make a paint that adheres to a surface. A clear or gloss medium generally shows the shimmer more clearly than an opaque or matte base.

Start with a small amount, disperse it thoroughly, and test the dried finish. Follow the binder manufacturer’s guidance on additives and pigment loading.

Learn how to make acrylic paint with mica powder.

Mica can be dispersed in a compatible acrylic pouring medium. A clear or gloss medium generally preserves more shimmer; an opaque or matte base may mute the color and effect.

Follow the medium manufacturer’s mixing instructions rather than assuming every paint additive can be used as a standalone binder. Test a small amount and allow it to dry fully before judging color, adhesion, and finish.

Explore our mica and acrylic-medium guide.

Yes. A suitable watercolor binder, such as a prepared gum arabic-based binder, can hold mica on the paper and create a shimmery paint. Water alone does not provide a durable binder.

For homemade water-containing paints, preservation and storage matter. Essential oils or vinegar are not a substitute for a validated preservative system. A prepared binder used according to its supplier’s instructions is a practical starting point. See our watercolor paint guide for the basic method.

You can disperse mica in water for a temporary wash, but it will not dissolve and may settle. Stir as needed. Without a suitable binder, the dried pigment may rub off.

For a lasting painted finish, choose a binder compatible with the surface and test a small sample.

Learn how a watercolor binder helps mica adhere to paper.

Only if the exact pigment and nail-product system are suitable for that use. Adding pigment can change the product’s consistency, coverage, and curing behavior, so follow the nail-system manufacturer’s guidance rather than using a general mixing ratio.

Avoid creating airborne dust when handling powders. Do not assume that a resin-art pigment is suitable for nail products simply because it mixes into acrylic powder.

For a different technique, explore surface nail-art ideas with mica.

Yes. Brush a suitable mica onto unbaked polymer clay for surface shimmer, or mix it into the clay for a subtler effect. Opaque clay can mute the color and shimmer.

Follow the clay manufacturer’s baking instructions and check the exact pigment’s application guidance. Do not assume that mica guidance also covers every glitter or True Metallic pigment.

Explore ways to use mica powder with polymer clay.

Glass painting and kiln firing are different applications. Each requires pigments and binders compatible with the particular glass and process.

We do not provide a universal glass-firing recipe or temperature for MEYSPRING pigments. Obtain technical guidance for the exact pigment and glass system before firing, and test a small sample.

Opaque concrete and grout can mute mica colors and hide their shimmer. We do not have a universal tested pigment ratio for these materials.

For predictable bulk color, choose a colorant recommended by the concrete or grout manufacturer. If you want to experiment with mica, first confirm compatibility and test the cured result in a small sample.