Mica is a name for a group of silicate minerals which are ground down and are sometimes used to give a shimmering effect to beauty and skincare products. It can be found in a wide variety of both skincare and makeup due to being iridescent and reflecting light, giving a highlighted and glowing appearance. Some of the products which you may find it in includes foundation, blushers and highlighters, eye shadows, lip gloss, nail polish, serums and moisturisers. 
Mica is naturally produced and is safe to use on almost all skin types. However, you may be aware that there is some controversy associated with mica and the reason for this is that most of the mica is found in India, and due to poverty in the areas where mica is sourced, there is a high risk of child labour being used in the mining of mica. Some reports show that child labour is prevalent.
We can confirm that there is no child labour in the mining of the mica used in our Illuminating Face Serum. The mica used in this product is sourced from Bihar and Jharkhand, with our suppliers being one of the founding members of the Responsible Mica Initiative. This aims to eradicate child labour and unacceptable working conditions in the Indian mica supply chain, by ensuring that no child labour is used through an adherence for to the Human Rights Charter, with auditing and monitoring, and initiatives to improve social conditions in the region. 
They ensure that the supply chain from age verification, daily wages, working conditions, access to clean water, medical check-up, safety checks for equipment, infrastructure, and protection and personal protective equipment are all met. With regular audits and training it allows the protection that no children are involved in the mining of mica.
They have also worked on improving social and living situations for the families who live in the region where mica is mined. By:
- Offering tailoring and carpentry courses in 3 schools, with more than 500 children and adolescents enrolled.
- A health centre with medical professionals on duty every day to increase access to healthcare for the regions 20,000 residents.
- A new school, which sponsors 200 students.
- Continuous feedback from the communities, to make sure that their needs are being met.
You can read more about the Responsible Mica Initiative on their website here.
About Lucy Bee
Lucy Bee is a lifestyle brand selling food, skincare and soap products all completely free from palm oil and with minimal use of plastic. Lucy Bee is concerned with Fair Trade, organic, ethical and sustainable living, recycling and empowering people to make informed choices and select quality, natural products for their food and their skin.
Any information provided by us is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent disease. We always recommend referring your health queries to a qualified medical practitioner.
