Micas are powdered pigments used to colour soap, bath and body products, and resin projects.
Whatever your passion, a large colour palette can inspire and awaken creativity. So today we are going to learn how to mix up some gorgeous mica colours and store them for future use.
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Table of Contents
My Mica Collection
What You Need to Mix Your Own Micas
How to Mix Your Own Micas
Mica Mixing Video
Mica Colour Formulary and Recipes
My Mica Collection
Over the years I have collected A LOT of soap making supplies (don’t even get me started on my silicone mould collection 🤦♀️), but it might surprise you to learn that my mica collection sits at exactly nine micas.
Yep, nine. That’s it.
Why?
Because I can make nearly every colour under the sun with just nine micas. This has saved me a ton of cash over the years and today I’m going to show you how you can do the same.
What You Need to Mix Your Own Micas
Good Quality, Soap Making Mica Powders
Invest in some quality micas from a reputable soap making or mica supply company. Such micas will be ethically sourced and will not fade or bleed over time.
Set of Small Storage Containers
There are many storage container sets suitable for mixing and storing micas. I used a 24 piece round container storage organiser case.
Containers with screw-on lids work well to reduce spillage when shaking up the mica to blend it together.
Mica Powder Spatulas
Mica powder spatulas (1/32 tsp) are ideal for measuring out tiny amounts of mica.
Popsicle Stick or Tongue Depressor (optional)
Accurate measuring is essential for replicating the desired colours. A wooden popsicle stick or tongue depressor can be helpful to level off measuring spoons and tap mica into the containers.
Paper Towel
Mixing micas can be messy. Lay down some sheets of paper towel to protect your work surface.
Gloves
Wearing gloves is recommended for this project.
How to Mix Your Own Micas
All of the micas in this recipe formulary are mixed from nine base colours:
Yellow
Orange
Raspberry Pink (in lieu of red)
Purple
Blue (dark blue, eg ultramarine)
Green (emerald green)
White (pearlescent)
Gold
Black
All colour recipes are measured in ‘parts’. Numbers correspond to the number of parts of each colour required (for example, “2 black + 1 gold” means mix two parts of black mica with one part gold mica).
To mix large amounts of mica, either use a larger measuring spoon (eg 1/8 or 1/4 teaspoon) as your ‘part’, or use a mica powder spatula (1/32 teaspoon) and double/triple/quadruple the recipe.
Measure each part of coloured mica powder directly into a storage container.
Then screw the cap back on the storage container (make sure it is on tightly!) and vigorously shake the container to mix the mica to form a new colour.
Store the new mica colours in the plastic containers for future use.
Mica Mixing Video
Watch our mica mixing video demonstration:
Mica Colour Formulary and Recipes
The recipe numbers listed below correspond to the colours in this image.
1. Yellow Gold – 2 gold + 1 yellow
2. Pastel Yellow – 3 white + 1 yellow
3. Chartreuse – 2 yellow + 1 green
4. Apple Green – 1 green + 1 yellow
5. Pastel Green – 3 white + 1 green
6. Aquamarine – 2 green + 1 blue
7. Plum – 1 purple + 1 orange
8. Violet – 1 raspberry pink + 1 purple
9. Pastel Purple – 3 white + 1 purple
10. Indigo – 1 blue + 1 purple
11. Pastel Blue – 3 white + 1 blue
12. Teal – 1 green + 1 blue
13. Dusty Rose – 3 white + 2 orange + 1 purple
14. Pastel Pink – 3 white + 1 raspberry pink
15. Pastel Orange – 3 white + 1 orange
16. Amber – 1 orange + 1 yellow
17. Vermillion – 1 raspberry pink + 1 orange
18. Cinnamon – 1 gold + 1 raspberry pink + 2 yellow + 1 purple
19. Silver – 2 white + 1 black
20. Navy Blue – 1 black + 1 blue
21. Slate – 1 green + 1 purple
22. Olive Green – 1 black + 1 green + 1 yellow
23. Olive / Citron – 1 orange + 1 green
24. Mocha – 1 orange + 1 yellow + 1 blue
Additional Colours:
Rose Gold – 3 gold + 1 raspberry pink
Marigold – 3 yellow + 1 orange
Enjoy!
