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How to Use and Mix Mica Powder in Soap Making – A Guide
The benefits of using mica powder in soap making projects.
One of the most popular uses for mica powder is in soap making.
Mica powder is available in may different colours and shades which help the artisan soap maker create amazing soapy master pieces with ease.
As mica powder is available in powder form this makes it very easy to store. It will last for a long time if kept in the right conditions.
Because mica powder is in powder form (obviously) it can be added to your soap in different ways and at different stages of your soap making.
This gives soap makers so much versatility and the options to add it to their oil phase, water phase or blend it into their finished soap batter.
How oils can affect your final soap colours
Always remember that the colour of your oils can affect the final colours of your soap.
For instance if you use lots of dark oils such as hemp oil and extra virgin olive oil these oils often have a natural dark green colour.
When you add your mica powder colours they will be affected by this. So instead of getting a nice bright yellow colour in your finished bar of soap you might end up with a muted green instead.
To avoid this make sure that you use oils that will produce a white bar. Instead of using extra virgin olive oil use olive oil instead or reduce the amount of dark coloured oils in your recipe.
How much mica powder should I use?
Mica powder is often added to soap at the following rates. This can vary depending on the shade and strength of the colour of the mica powder.
Cold Process soap – Mixing and adding mica powder directly into your soap batter and avoiding mica lumps.
If you want to add your mica directly to your mixed soap batter then in our experience with cold process (CP) soap start with the following-
These measurements assume that you are weighing your soap batter, not measuring volume.
- Metric – 0.5g – 1g of mica powder to 100g of soap batter.
- Metric – Approximately 2.5g – 5g of mica powder per 500g of soap batter
- Imperial – 1/10th – 2/10th tsp of mica powder to 3.5 oz of soap batter.
- Imperial -Approximately 1/2 – 1 tsp of mica powder per pound of soap batter
The best way to mix your mica powder in your soap batter is to –
- Separate some soap batter (a few table spoons) and add the mica to this.
- You can then fully incorporate your mica to this small amount of soap with a paint mixer or stick blender
- Then add the small portion of coloured soap to your main batch of soap.
Usage rates of 0.5g of mica powder per 100g of soap batter will generally avoid coloured lather.
Coloured lather may not be an issue for many people but if you make a bright red soap bar your customers may be a little alarmed when their bath water or wash cloths turn red or pink.
Remember you can always add more mica powder if you need to for a deeper shade but it is virtually impossible to take it away once added. It is best to start with a small amount first.
You can add mica powder straight into your soap batter but be careful because you can end up with clumps of mica that are not properly mixed in.
This often leads to a spotty appearance but it can be fixed by stick blending you soap until it is fully incorporated. Please remember the more you stick blend the faster you will speed up trace.
This might be a problem if you are making a soap with fine swirls and patterns and need to slow down and or control the tracing process.
In that case use a small paint mixer like a Badger mixer. These are small and battery operated. They blend the mica powder well but are not as powerful as a normal stock blender so will not speed up trace as much.
Cold Process soap – Mixing and adding mica pigment with oil & usage rates.
Mica powder disperses easily in oil so a little mixing should be adequate if you add your mica powder to all of your oils in your soap recipe.
So you can also add mica powder directly to your oils.
- It is recommended to do this at a rate of 1-2 tsp approximately per pound/450g of oil.
- For some this might be a little on the high side. Therefore you can start with ½ to 1 tsp or 2.5g-5g mica per pound/450g of oil.
For thorough mixing of your mica powder you can make a small slurry by taking a few tablespoons of oil and mixing the mica into it first.
Make sure you do this thoroughly to avoid lumps of un-dispersed mica powder in your final soap.
You can then add this small slurry to your main batch of oil and then make your soap as normal.
Melt & Pour Soap – Mixing and adding mica powder directly into Melt & Pour soap & usage rates
You can use ¼ to ½ teaspoon or 1.25g to 2.5g of mica powder per pound/450g of soap. This should produce a good saturated colour and pearlescent/glittery effect.
Melt & Pour Soap – Mixing and adding mica pigment with Glycerine and Isopropyl Alcohol(99%)
Add the desired amount of mica powder to a teaspoon or a tablespoon (depending on the amount of mica you are using) of glycerin or isopropyl alcohol and mix thoroughly.
You can then add the mixture or dispersion to your melted soap. Remember to start with a small amount of mica powder first and work up to the desired strength of colour.
Most of all have fun and experiment and let us know about your soapy projects with mica powder colours.
