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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, and 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

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eye shadow2147 products
lipstick2074 products
foundation1374 products
lip gloss869 products
bronzer/highlighter838 products
blush752 products
eye liner685 products
concealer500 products
brow liner410 products
lip liner383 products
nail polish379 products
facial powder266 products
daily use with SPF162 products
bath oil/salts/soak153 products
setting powder/spray147 products
lip balm138 products
makeup primer127 products
facial moisturizer/treatment126 products
mascara112 products
mask110 products
shampoo109 products
hair color and bleaching91 products
bar soap89 products
BB cream88 products
around-eye cream84 products
recreational sunscreen84 products
exfoliant/scrub73 products
glitter68 products
lip plumper68 products
toothpaste66 products
body wash/cleanser65 products
CC cream57 products
moisturizer55 products
serums & essences54 products
52 products
conditioner37 products
body oil36 products
lip balm with SPF33 products
facial cleanser30 products
hair styling aide29 products
hair treatment/serum16 products
sunless tanning15 products
styling gel/lotion13 products
body spray11 products
body powder10 products
bubble bath9 products
anti-aging8 products
body firming lotion8 products
toners/astringents6 products
baby sunscreen6 products
fragrance for women6 products
liquid hand soap5 products
tooth whitening4 products
oil controller4 products
skin fading/lightener4 products
shaving cream4 products
hand cream3 products
makeup remover3 products
body art3 products
detangler3 products
mouthwash2 products
hair spray2 products
styling mousse/foam2 products
foot moisturizer2 products
beard care2 products
antiperspirant/deodorant2 products
baby oil1 products
hair removal waxes1 products
nail treatment1 products
other eye makeup1 products
tanning oil1 products
hand sanitizer1 products
eyelash glue1 products
baby shampoo1 products
fragrance for men1 products
cuticle treatment1 products
damaged skin treatment1 products
baby lotion1 products
nail glue1 products
shaving cream (men's)1 products
baby soap1 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

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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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