One of the most prominent uses of mica raw is in the cosmetics industry. Mica is frequently utilized as a key ingredient in make-up products, such as eyeshadows, blushes, and highlighters. When ground into fine particles, mica can impart a shimmering effect to cosmetics, enhancing their visual appeal. Additionally, it acts as a filler, providing texture and improving the consistency of these products. Many consumers are increasingly aware of the ingredients in their cosmetic products; thus, the demand for natural and mineral-based components, like mica, is on the rise. As a result, cosmetic manufacturers are keen to source high-quality mica raw to meet consumer expectations while emphasizing the benefits of using natural ingredients.

Natural mica powder and synthetic mica powder also have great differences in electrical insulation, mechanical properties, chemical stability, application range and cost. Natural mica powder has good electrical insulation, but the volume resistivity is lower than that of synthetic mica. Synthetic mica powder has better electrical insulation properties, high volume resistivity and stable dielectric constant, and is suitable for high performance electrical insulation materials. The hardness of natural mica powder is relatively low (2-3), and it has good elasticity and peeling property. The hardness of synthetic mica powder is higher (between 3 and 4), and the tensile strength and compressive strength are better than that of natural mica powder. Natural mica powder is stable in acid-base solution, but it is easy to decompose at high temperature. Synthetic mica powder is stable to acid and base at room temperature, but will be slowly corroded by sulfuric acid above 300℃. Better thermal stability, not easy to release gas. Natural mica powder is widely used in electrical appliances, welding rods, rubber, plastics, paper making, paint and other fields. Synthetic mica powder is mainly used in high-end electrical insulation materials, aviation, aerospace, national defense industry and other high-tech fields. Because synthetic mica powder needs to be produced through complex chemical processes, its production cost is usually higher than that of natural mica powder. Therefore, in the market, the price of synthetic mica powder is often higher than that of natural mica powder. However, with the continuous progress of production technology and the gradual emergence of scale effects, the price of synthetic mica powder is expected to gradually decrease.

A group of parallel cleavages can be seen in a photograph of biomica under orthogonal polarized (left) and single polarized (right) mirrors.

The formulation of cosmetic pigment powders is a sophisticated process. Manufacturers blend different pigment types to produce a spectrum of shades that cater to diverse skin tones and preferences. Additionally, the quality of the powder is dictated by particle size and texture, which affects how well it adheres to the skin and blends during application.