Let’s Talk Mica: Natural Beauty with Transparency. Always, Right?

Mica is natural and that statement is a bit controversial for some folks; women who wear makeup deserve to be informed and empowered when it comes to what they put on their bodies.

There’s a lot of conversation (and confusion) around mica. It’s that shimmering mineral that gives your favorite lipstick, eyeshadow, or body balm its soft glow. But behind that shimmer lies an uncomfortable truth the way mica is often mined raises serious ethical and human rights concerns. For years, stories have surfaced about unsafe working conditions and even child labor connected to mica mining in certain parts of the world. It’s one of those uncomfortable realities that many people would rather not think about when they’re choosing a new shade of lipstick, lipbalm or blush. But pretending it doesn’t exist doesn’t solve the problem either.

That’s why, at Beeyah, we believe that beauty should never come at the cost of someone else’s wellbeing and that honesty should always shine as brightly as the shimmer in your products. So we always try to pair up with suppliers that can offer us alternative choices in making sure that we do the right thing.

For us, Natural Doesn't Mean Perfection, but we always are aiming for transparent!

Let’s start with a simple fact: mica itself is a natural mineral, found in the earth just like clay, salt, or quartz. The controversy isn’t about the mineral itself, but how it’s sourced. Before you starting forming the "wtf? I only want natural!" in your mind at this very statement, let me at first explain:

Many ethical brands, including ours, sometimes rely on synthetic or lab-grown mica, which offers the same color payoff and shimmer but without the human impact. This synthetic mica is created in a controlled environment to ensure purity and consistency. Others, choose eco-certified, ethically sourced natural mica, which means it has been mined responsibly, under regulated and verified working conditions.

We don’t believe in fear-based marketing telling you that “synthetic equals bad” or that “natural means pure” oversimplifies a very complex issue. Instead, we want you to understand your choices, because that’s where true sustainability begins: with awareness.

A History as Old as Humanity

The use of color in cosmetics isn’t new. Humans have been adorning their bodies with pigments for thousands of years from red ochre in ancient cave paintings to crushed minerals used in Egyptian beauty rituals. There’s something deeply human about wanting to express beauty, personality, and identity through color.

So when people ask whether color belongs in “natural” beauty products, our answer is always: of course it does! What matters is how it’s done and what the ingredients stand for.

At Beeyah, we’ve chosen to use eco-certified, cosmetic-grade mica in some of our lip balms and skin products, to give a subtle, natural glow that enhances your features without overpowering them. It’s not about glitter or glam it’s about feeling radiant and confident in your own skin, with ingredients you can trust.

Our Promise: Responsible Beauty, Always

We’ll always be transparent about what we use, why we use it, and where it comes from. That includes being honest about mica. Because beauty shouldn’t mean compromise not for your skin, not for the planet, and certainly not for the people behind the ingredients.

When you pick up a Beeyah lip balm with a touch of shimmer, you can do so knowing it was made with care for you, for the environment, and for the people who help make it possible. We’ll continue to evolve, learn, and refine our sourcing as global standards improve. For now, our focus remains the same: ethical, effective, and beautiful skincare that’s honest from start to finish.