Hi everyone, this is a topic that deserves more awareness and attention, so I really don't want this video to get suppressed by youtube! One of the best ways to update the ethically-sourced mica brands I find is through a blog post, however the youtube algorithm doesn't like when people watch a video and then leave youtube. So either please open the list of brands (which you can find here mygreencloset.com/ethical-mica-makeup ) in a new tab and check out after watching another video or two - a great video to watch after this is the documentary I mentioned! ua-cam.com/video/IeR-h9C2fgc/v-deo.html Or if you check it out right away, please keep youtube open and come back to watch at least one more video. 🙏 Also sharing this video really helps! I really appreciate your consideration with this! It's unfortunately very difficult to share info and resources when the youtube algorithm punishes you for sending viewers off-site. :(
contact me I am down to collaborate with you explain my brand beside being just mineral makeup , my cosmetics is halal cosmetics which I export to middle east since they love 100% halal makeup.
I was made aware of it through the Refinery 29 video you referred to, but felt a little lost in figuring out what brands were doing about it. So thank you for this video and blog post about brands that are doing something!
I had no idea this issue existed. Once I use up my current makeup I have been planning on buying more ethical sustainable replacements. I'm glad I learned about this so I can keep it in mind when looking for brands.
I actually watched that refinary21 video and I think they did a great job to show what the child labour and mixing in supply chain looks like and I think we need to bring more awareness to this issue however, mica is really not limited to the beauty industry!
No it's unfortunately not. There are at least more options and alternatives in beauty for consumers though, unlike electronics, paint, or construction products where it's almost impossible to avoid mica or get any transparency from brands.
Dear Erin: Thank you so much for bringing awareness to Mica mining and child labor issues. Your eloquent presentation is what we need if we are going to succeed. More consumers taking their dollars to ethically mined Mica brands and refusing to be a part of the atrocities condoned by big cosmetics is one answer. Erin: Good Work!
Every time I go to field days or expos and sites are selling makeup especially Thin Lizzy I ask about mica and nearly no one selling know anything about it. This is shocking and well hiding by the cosmetic industry. That said there are some brand that can prove where they get mica from and that it is child labour free
This was a new one for me so thank you so much for continuing to shine a lite on new and different sustainability issues. However, I would be interested in a wider discussion about makeup and why so many women use it almost every day. I stopped regular makeup use years go. Now I will put some on for a special occasion maybe twice per year, if that. Perversely, even though I am pretty average for my age, people often think I am younger because they are used to women my age being covered in a layer of fake color. Ladies, we look fine without it. No one at work will cry in horror at your clean face and no one will ask you to leave the restaurant. No matter how "ethical" the brand the makeup industry on a whole feeds off telling women we are not good enough as we are. 98% of time I reject that. I don't in anyway judge anyone's personal choice to use makeup, but I do think we should start considering why we do this. If you like it and it makes you happy, fine. But, if you do this because you think you have to, or because its a habit, or you think people will look at you funny, please don't. Be free, spend your cash on something else. You are great as you are and nobody will even notice!
Aaahhhhh, mica! Yes, thank you Erin! It's been on my mind especially every time I read ingredients lists on cosmetic packaging, there it is.. So I buy much less stuff now which is also easier. Will check out these brands and realize I need to let my favorite brands know this is not okay.
I'm so glad you're talking about this!!! This issue is much more important to me in both skincare and makeup than even being all-natural or not tested on animals, although both of those are also important. I can't seem to find info anywhere!!
Hi Erin! I am so glad you made a video about mica. Since you mentioned it a few months ago, I wanted to do some researchs about it but had difficulties finding infos about mica. I am so grateful that you invested your time and effort in it to share all of those precious informatins with us. As always, your work is so appreciated and I will check out your blog post to see the brands you mentioned. For about 2 years now, I stoped wearing makeup (except for very rare occasions) and it was a great experience but lately I found myself missing the artistic part of it and I want to create my own minimalist capsule makeup with the cleanest products I can find. So your video comes in perfect timing! Thank you!
Thanks for this video! I originally watched Refinery 29's video and found it interesting yet disturbing. This situation with the extended use of child labour needs to stop! I found this video (and blog) really informative about the specific brands which are better to use. I would also check out the Responsible Mica Initiative (RMI), which many makeup giants have joined, including Chanel, Shisheido and LVMH.
I'm not a makeup person,but I'd always assumed products with natural materials like mica must be ethical as well--not so! I appreciate your point about supporting child-labor-free mica operations rather than closing the door on mica altogether. Clear, well-rsearched, and entertaining video as always!
Thank you for opening my eyes into this catastrophic event that's happening to the children of India. I don't think I can take part in this, and I will definitely not be silent about this either. Thank you again! :)
Thank you so much for sharing this important information. After watching this, I watched the one you linked from refinery 29 and I’ve come back here to comment. I’ve avoided fast fashion for years but haven’t known about the issue with mica. I already try to follow a simple, leaning towards minimal, lifestyle. This has certainly made me even more determined to resist consumerism and has given me an extra dimension to my shopping decisions. Thank you again.
I remember finding mica when hiking in southern Switzerland in my childhood, it is something so pretty! I definitly wasn´t aware of this issue, but on the other hand I haven't used make up in years and I don't own any beauty products. Thank you for this well made and informative video though, now I know and maybe I can contribute to a conversation about green beauty products one day :)
Thank you so much for taking the time to make this video and the list! I switched to cruelty free makeup about a year and a half ago and have never heard of an issue with mica until now.
Thank you very much for sharing your research. I wasn't aware of it at all, thankfully I hadn't purchased much cosmetic products due the last years. But know I am searching for natural sunscreen and I was suprised to find mica in some of them. And until now I didn't see any explanation/clarification for the mica in their products - frustrating.
So I wanted to make make-up zero waste and with a friend we found mica so we thought of buying a lot in internet and make make-up in glass and wood packages, but looking in internet I found all the horros of mica since I just wanted in internet is impossible to buy ethical. Good video I learn more.
Thanks for noticing the elephant in the room, I did a couple of years ago and that is why I stopped using make up until further notice. It would be so cool if we join forces and solve this. I got a brilliant idea when I got to be awared of this. 💋
I had no idea about this! Thanks for putting the info out there. The next time I need to buy makeup I’ll definitely be shopping from one of the brands you mentioned!
Thank you so so much for this! I haven't purchased makeup in years ever since I found out about the mica industry. Do you have any info about brands like Kjaer Weis, Kosas, and ColourPop, who claim to purchase their ingredients ethically from suppliers in Europe, Japan, or the U.S.?
I’m goth so I like I use lots of interesting colours and weird things like NYX’s white eye-liner, and I really want to make the switch but it’s gonna be a struggle to find my weird products
It is a very interesting video but the issue I see with this is that the cosmetic industry only represents 17% of the global mica market and construction, electronics and painting for cars, trains and planes about 72% together … so what shall we avoid first?
It's true, electronics is the highest at about 26%, then paint, construction materials, and then makeup. However unlike makeup a lot of the other things can be purchased secondhand. There also is unfortunately even less transparency and options in the other industries. So while we can push companies for ethical mica in those industries, cosmetics is one where we can actually support companies who are sourcing more responsibly!
@@MyGreenCloset Absolutely! at the end of the day we are responsible for what we do so we can demand transparency and accountability asking companies directly about their supply chain or support programs that try to promote responsible mica mining or make synthetic mica more efficient, also demand from our governments risk-based due diligence regulations regarding child labour. And buy less make up and from brands that are transparent enough and not so focused in maximising the benefits.
What I find sad is that we have learned about industrialization and unethnical pratices like child labour used in coal mines. We think how cruel it was However nobody cares that these things are still everyday life for some people
I just send them an email simply saying that I'm interested in/already a fan of their products, and that I couldn't find any info about their mica sourcing on their website, so asking if they could please let me know more about where their mica comes from and any ethical standards they have. I think the way a brand responds is very telling if this a part of their supply chain they actually know and care about!
Yes electronics are the top consumer of mica (about 26%) while beauty consumes about 18% of mica. They are both large consumers of mica, but at least with tech I advocate for buying secondhand which you can't really do with makeup. Do you have resources that say it's less expensive? Based on my research I haven't found that it's cheaper, it seems you can get natural mica quite cheaply (which is also part of the child labour/unfair wages issue)
A lot of the products in the store(not only makeup) are made from children. Make sure you look for made in the USA because you have to be 16/17 to be able to work here.
Made in the USA unfortunately doesn't guarantee ethical labor though, there are issues with sweatshops and unethical factories in the US too. The best thing you can do is support ethical brands who pay fair wages and have clear standards and policies about things like child labor, safety requirements, hours/overtime, etc.
I know child labor is horrible but keep in mind it may be what is keeping them and their families alive. If you cancel them will they survive? Or are you cutting off their only way of making money? Don’t you think those kids would be working in awful conditions if there was ANY other choice?
The solution? Make sure parents/guardians are paid a living wage so children don't have to work - support companies that ethically source their mica and pay fair wages. Pressure companies that don't to improve their standards and wages and pressure for systemic and policy change. You definitely don't help improve things and are not helping children by buying products made with child labor. All you are doing by supporting child labor is giving your money to the brands that exploit children.
Hi everyone, this is a topic that deserves more awareness and attention, so I really don't want this video to get suppressed by youtube!
One of the best ways to update the ethically-sourced mica brands I find is through a blog post, however the youtube algorithm doesn't like when people watch a video and then leave youtube. So either please open the list of brands (which you can find here mygreencloset.com/ethical-mica-makeup ) in a new tab and check out after watching another video or two - a great video to watch after this is the documentary I mentioned! ua-cam.com/video/IeR-h9C2fgc/v-deo.html Or if you check it out right away, please keep youtube open and come back to watch at least one more video. 🙏
Also sharing this video really helps!
I really appreciate your consideration with this! It's unfortunately very difficult to share info and resources when the youtube algorithm punishes you for sending viewers off-site. :(
contact me I am down to collaborate with you explain my brand beside being just mineral makeup , my cosmetics is halal cosmetics which I export to middle east since they love 100% halal makeup.
What does halal have to do with mica or cruelty-free? Is halal about how to kill animals??
I knew there were concerns around mica, but hadn't properly looked into why, so this was super helpful!
I was made aware of it through the Refinery 29 video you referred to, but felt a little lost in figuring out what brands were doing about it. So thank you for this video and blog post about brands that are doing something!
This is such an important topic to me. Too few people know this, or cares sadly.
I had no idea this issue existed. Once I use up my current makeup I have been planning on buying more ethical sustainable replacements. I'm glad I learned about this so I can keep it in mind when looking for brands.
I actually watched that refinary21 video and I think they did a great job to show what the child labour and mixing in supply chain looks like and I think we need to bring more awareness to this issue however, mica is really not limited to the beauty industry!
No it's unfortunately not. There are at least more options and alternatives in beauty for consumers though, unlike electronics, paint, or construction products where it's almost impossible to avoid mica or get any transparency from brands.
You are so right about feeling overwhelmed when you start searching ethical and environmental issues... Thank you for your help
I have been waiting for a beautyguru to raise awarness for this! Thankyou soo much!
Dear Erin: Thank you so much for bringing awareness to Mica mining and child labor issues. Your eloquent presentation is what we need if we are going to succeed. More consumers taking their dollars to ethically mined Mica brands and refusing to be a part of the atrocities condoned by big cosmetics is one answer. Erin: Good Work!
Every time I go to field days or expos and sites are selling makeup especially Thin Lizzy I ask about mica and nearly no one selling know anything about it. This is shocking and well hiding by the cosmetic industry. That said there are some brand that can prove where they get mica from and that it is child labour free
This was a new one for me so thank you so much for continuing to shine a lite on new and different sustainability issues.
However, I would be interested in a wider discussion about makeup and why so many women use it almost every day. I stopped regular makeup use years go. Now I will put some on for a special occasion maybe twice per year, if that. Perversely, even though I am pretty average for my age, people often think I am younger because they are used to women my age being covered in a layer of fake color. Ladies, we look fine without it. No one at work will cry in horror at your clean face and no one will ask you to leave the restaurant. No matter how "ethical" the brand the makeup industry on a whole feeds off telling women we are not good enough as we are. 98% of time I reject that. I don't in anyway judge anyone's personal choice to use makeup, but I do think we should start considering why we do this. If you like it and it makes you happy, fine. But, if you do this because you think you have to, or because its a habit, or you think people will look at you funny, please don't. Be free, spend your cash on something else. You are great as you are and nobody will even notice!
Aaahhhhh, mica! Yes, thank you Erin! It's been on my mind especially every time I read ingredients lists on cosmetic packaging, there it is.. So I buy much less stuff now which is also easier. Will check out these brands and realize I need to let my favorite brands know this is not okay.
I'm so glad you're talking about this!!! This issue is much more important to me in both skincare and makeup than even being all-natural or not tested on animals, although both of those are also important. I can't seem to find info anywhere!!
Hi Erin! I am so glad you made a video about mica. Since you mentioned it a few months ago, I wanted to do some researchs about it but had difficulties finding infos about mica. I am so grateful that you invested your time and effort in it to share all of those precious informatins with us. As always, your work is so appreciated and I will check out your blog post to see the brands you mentioned. For about 2 years now, I stoped wearing makeup (except for very rare occasions) and it was a great experience but lately I found myself missing the artistic part of it and I want to create my own minimalist capsule makeup with the cleanest products I can find. So your video comes in perfect timing! Thank you!
So glad it's helpful!
Thanks for this video! I originally watched Refinery 29's video and found it interesting yet disturbing. This situation with the extended use of child labour needs to stop! I found this video (and blog) really informative about the specific brands which are better to use. I would also check out the Responsible Mica Initiative (RMI), which many makeup giants have joined, including Chanel, Shisheido and LVMH.
I'm not a makeup person,but I'd always assumed products with natural materials like mica must be ethical as well--not so! I appreciate your point about supporting child-labor-free mica operations rather than closing the door on mica altogether. Clear, well-rsearched, and entertaining video as always!
Another great video! Thank you for bringing awareness to those of us who didn’t know about this.
Thank you for opening my eyes into this catastrophic event that's happening to the children of India. I don't think I can take part in this, and I will definitely not be silent about this either. Thank you again! :)
Thank you for letting us know about this issue. I rarely buy makeup, but will look out for this next time I do.
Thank you so much for sharing this important information. After watching this, I watched the one you linked from refinery 29 and I’ve come back here to comment. I’ve avoided fast fashion for years but haven’t known about the issue with mica. I already try to follow a simple, leaning towards minimal, lifestyle. This has certainly made me even more determined to resist consumerism and has given me an extra dimension to my shopping decisions. Thank you again.
You are so welcome! Thanks for watching the doc and caring about this issue!
Keep making the content you do!
I have never heard anything about this!!! Thank you for sharing your awareness! So sad that the US doesn’t know this! Lets keep spreading the word ❤️
I remember finding mica when hiking in southern Switzerland in my childhood, it is something so pretty! I definitly wasn´t aware of this issue, but on the other hand I haven't used make up in years and I don't own any beauty products. Thank you for this well made and informative video though, now I know and maybe I can contribute to a conversation about green beauty products one day :)
Thank you so much for taking the time to make this video and the list! I switched to cruelty free makeup about a year and a half ago and have never heard of an issue with mica until now.
Glad it was helpful!
Learned about this issue from aether beauty, whose products are pretty much all I use for colored makeup at this point.
Thank you very much for sharing your research. I wasn't aware of it at all, thankfully I hadn't purchased much cosmetic products due the last years. But know I am searching for natural sunscreen and I was suprised to find mica in some of them. And until now I didn't see any explanation/clarification for the mica in their products - frustrating.
Amazing topic, I had no idea! Will be looking out for your compiled list of safe brands. Thanks!
You're so welcome :)
Great topic! I’ve heard a bit about it, but now I will be more discriminating in my makeup purchases going forward.
So I wanted to make make-up zero waste and with a friend we found mica so we thought of buying a lot in internet and make make-up in glass and wood packages, but looking in internet I found all the horros of mica since I just wanted in internet is impossible to buy ethical. Good video I learn more.
Thanks for noticing the elephant in the room, I did a couple of years ago and that is why I stopped using make up until further notice. It would be so cool if we join forces and solve this. I got a brilliant idea when I got to be awared of this. 💋
I would like to contribute to your idea as well
Thankyou! I was wondering about this for awhile!
I had no idea about this! Thanks for putting the info out there. The next time I need to buy makeup I’ll definitely be shopping from one of the brands you mentioned!
Thank you for this video, I had no idea what mica was and the issues around it. This was really helpful!
Thank you so so much for this! I haven't purchased makeup in years ever since I found out about the mica industry. Do you have any info about brands like Kjaer Weis, Kosas, and ColourPop, who claim to purchase their ingredients ethically from suppliers in Europe, Japan, or the U.S.?
I unfortunately don't have any info on those brands, but definitely reach out to them about it!
@@MyGreenCloset thank youu so so much!! You are AMAZING!!
Thanks for talking about issues that are Always relevant and that help us make ethical choices.
I’m goth so I like I use lots of interesting colours and weird things like NYX’s white eye-liner, and I really want to make the switch but it’s gonna be a struggle to find my weird products
It is a very interesting video but the issue I see with this is that the cosmetic industry only represents 17% of the global mica market and construction, electronics and painting for cars, trains and planes about 72% together … so what shall we avoid first?
It's true, electronics is the highest at about 26%, then paint, construction materials, and then makeup. However unlike makeup a lot of the other things can be purchased secondhand.
There also is unfortunately even less transparency and options in the other industries. So while we can push companies for ethical mica in those industries, cosmetics is one where we can actually support companies who are sourcing more responsibly!
Anything we can do I think helps 🙏❤️
@@MyGreenCloset Absolutely! at the end of the day we are responsible for what we do so we can demand transparency and accountability asking companies directly about their supply chain or support programs that try to promote responsible mica mining or make synthetic mica more efficient, also demand from our governments risk-based due diligence regulations regarding child labour. And buy less make up and from brands that are transparent enough and not so focused in maximising the benefits.
Thank you so much! I was unaware of this issue!
Hopefully this video reaches more people if us viewers comment.
Awesome video! I like Makeup Geek for ethical makeup. I don't know a lot about vetting brands for ethics but as far as I can see, it's a great option.
Thank you for sharing! Your videos have learned me so much 🤍
What I find sad is that we have learned about industrialization and unethnical pratices like child labour used in coal mines. We think how cruel it was However nobody cares that these things are still everyday life for some people
Thank you
Thank you!
thanks so much for this! i didn’t know
This video was so helpful, thank you!
I'm so glad!
Are there any natural alternatives to mica powder? Looking for something that adds some sparkle to make a homemade bronzer.
Hi thanks for the video! So much to think about! How would you recommend we ask brands about the source of their mica? Thanks! X
I just send them an email simply saying that I'm interested in/already a fan of their products, and that I couldn't find any info about their mica sourcing on their website, so asking if they could please let me know more about where their mica comes from and any ethical standards they have.
I think the way a brand responds is very telling if this a part of their supply chain they actually know and care about!
Thank you so much! Xxxx
Isn't most mined Mica found in tech vs beauty? Most beauty brands use synthetic Mica since it's cheaper.
Yes electronics are the top consumer of mica (about 26%) while beauty consumes about 18% of mica. They are both large consumers of mica, but at least with tech I advocate for buying secondhand which you can't really do with makeup.
Do you have resources that say it's less expensive? Based on my research I haven't found that it's cheaper, it seems you can get natural mica quite cheaply (which is also part of the child labour/unfair wages issue)
Where can I buy ethically sourced natural mica? I want to make my own makeup.
Could you double check if mineral fusion brand sources child free labor??
A lot of the products in the store(not only makeup) are made from children. Make sure you look for made in the USA because you have to be 16/17 to be able to work here.
Made in the USA unfortunately doesn't guarantee ethical labor though, there are issues with sweatshops and unethical factories in the US too. The best thing you can do is support ethical brands who pay fair wages and have clear standards and policies about things like child labor, safety requirements, hours/overtime, etc.
Is mica bad in makeup?
just ordered a beauty box advertised as vegan & cruelty free. the only makeup product they include is a primer... with mica in... helloooo???
Mics are not just in cosmetics but also plastics paint electrics to name a few
Esmi cosmetics use mica mined in the good old USA
Love this! You should check out Aether Beauty, it’s one of my favourite ✨
They're on the list :)
💃👑💅
I know child labor is horrible but keep in mind it may be what is keeping them and their families alive. If you cancel them will they survive? Or are you cutting off their only way of making money? Don’t you think those kids would be working in awful conditions if there was ANY other choice?
The solution? Make sure parents/guardians are paid a living wage so children don't have to work - support companies that ethically source their mica and pay fair wages. Pressure companies that don't to improve their standards and wages and pressure for systemic and policy change. You definitely don't help improve things and are not helping children by buying products made with child labor. All you are doing by supporting child labor is giving your money to the brands that exploit children.
Hi türkiyeden