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Data: Fair

Mica

SEARCH PRODUCTS

Other Concerns

Persistence and bioaccumulation (high) and Non-reproductive organ system toxicity (low)

SYNONYMS

● CI 77019
● GOLDEN MICA
● MICA
● MICAGROUP MINERALS
● MUSCOVITE MICA
● PIGMENT WHITE 20
● SERICITE
● SERICITE GMS-2C
● SERICITE GMS-C
● SERICITE MK-A
● SERICITE MK-B

Restricted

Restricted: EWG VERIFIED products cannot contain this ingredient without adequate substantiation

Mica is a type of highly brittle silicate minerals with diverse chemical composition; typically used as a colorant.

Common concerns

See how this product scores for common concerns.

  • LOW
    Cancer
  • LOW
    Allergies & Immunotoxicity
  • LOW
    Developmental and Reproductive Toxicity
  • LOW
    Use Restrictions

Ingredient concerns

  • CONCERNS
  • DATA SOURCES

Products with this Ingredient

Expand content Collapse content
eye shadow2097 products
lipstick1993 products
foundation1140 products
bronzer/highlighter929 products
blush911 products
lip gloss851 products
eye liner782 products
concealer556 products
nail polish464 products
brow liner440 products
lip liner361 products
facial powder205 products
lip balm179 products
setting powder/spray163 products
daily use with SPF159 products
mascara128 products
around-eye cream124 products
makeup primer121 products
facial moisturizer/treatment115 products
shampoo109 products
bar soap106 products
CC cream103 products
bath oil/salts/soak102 products
mask101 products
moisturizer97 products
toothpaste82 products
lip plumper81 products
hair color and bleaching76 products
recreational sunscreen73 products
exfoliant/scrub67 products
serums & essences62 products
body wash/cleanser50 products
BB cream48 products
conditioner46 products
40 products
glitter39 products
hair styling aide39 products
body oil31 products
facial cleanser27 products
hair treatment/serum27 products
styling gel/lotion24 products
lip balm with SPF18 products
sunless tanning16 products
anti-aging11 products
body powder10 products
bubble bath5 products
body art5 products
hair spray4 products
body firming lotion4 products
hand cream4 products
nail treatment4 products
skin fading/lightener4 products
other eye makeup4 products
shaving cream4 products
body spray4 products
depilatory4 products
tooth whitening3 products
toners/astringents3 products
baby sunscreen3 products
mouthwash2 products
liquid hand soap2 products
hair removal waxes2 products
makeup remover2 products
antiperspirant/deodorant2 products
baby toothpaste1 products
tanning oil1 products
eyelash glue1 products
foot moisturizer1 products
fragrance for men1 products
damaged skin treatment1 products
fragrance for women1 products
detangler1 products
beard care1 products
beard cleanser1 products
baby soap1 products
body cleansing wipes1 products

Persistence and bioaccumulation

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CONCERN REFERENCE
Persistent, bioaccumulative in wildlife and humansNational Library of Medicine HazMap
Persistent, bioaccumulative in wildlifeNational Library of Medicine HazMap
Not suspected to be bioaccumulativeEnvironment Canada Domestic Substance List

Organ system toxicity (non-reproductive)

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CONCERN REFERENCE
Limited evidence of gastrointestinal or liver toxicityScorecard.org Toxicity Information
Classified as not expected to be potentially toxic or harmfulEnvironment Canada Domestic Substance List
Classified as a low human health priorityEnvironment Canada Domestic Substance List

Informational

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CONCERN REFERENCE
Industry or government recommendations for safe use: restrictions on concentration, impurities, product types, or manufacturing methods - Color additive approved by FDA for use in cosmeticsFDA Color Additive Status
Industry or government recommendations for safe use: restrictions on concentration, impurities, product types, or manufacturing methods - Color Additives - Exempt from Batch Certification by the U.S. Food and Drug AdministrationCTFA International Cosmetic Ingredient Dictionary and Handbook

Data gaps

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CONCERN REFERENCE
4098 studies in PubMed science library may include information on the toxicity of this chemicalNLM PubMed

Ecotoxicology

Expand content Collapse content
CONCERN REFERENCE
Not suspected to be an environmental toxinEnvironment Canada Domestic Substance List
  • NLM (National Library of Medicine). 2006. HazMap — Occupational Exposure to Hazardous Agents.
  • EC (Environment Canada). 2008. Domestic Substances List Categorization. Canadian Environmental Protection Act (CEPA) Environmental Registry.
  • ED (Environmental Defense). 2006. Scorecard _ The Pollution Information Site. http://www.scorecard.org.
  • FDA (U.S. Food and Drug Administration) 2006. Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition. Color Additive Status List. September 2006.
  • CTFA (Cosmetic, Toiletry and Fragrance Association). 2006. International Cosmetic Ingredient Dictionary and Handbook, 11th Edition. Color Additive Information. Washington, DC.
  • NLM (National Library of Medicine). 2012. PubMed online scientific bibliography data. http://www.pubmed.gov.

Understanding scores

Cosmetics and personal care products are not required to be tested for safety before being allowed on the market. The Skin Deep® scoring system was designed to help the public understand whether a product is safe to use or whether it contains ingredients of concern.

Every product and ingredient in Skin Deep gets a two-part score – one for hazard and one for data availability. The safest products score well by both measures, with a low hazard rating and a fair or better data availability rating.

HOW WE DETERMINE SCORES

Hazard score

The Skin Deep ingredient hazard score, from 1 to 10, reflects known and suspected hazards linked to the ingredients. The EWG VERIFIED® mark means a product meets EWG’s strictest criteria for transparency and health.

Score legend
WEIGHT-OF-EVIDENCE APPROACH

A product’s hazard score is not an average of the ingredients’ hazard scores. It is calculated using a weight-of-evidence approach that factors in all of the hazards or health impacts associated with the ingredients.

Data availability

The Skin Deep data availability rating reflects the number of scientific studies about the product or ingredient in the published scientific literature.

NONE LIMITED FAIR GOOD ROBUST
Low Availability
Moderate Availability
High Availability
NONE

Ingredients have not been assessed.

LIMITED-FAIR

There is only a modest volume of research.

GOOD-ROBUST

Ingredients have been studied extensively.

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