If you have ever admired those beautiful, shimmery soaps that catch the light just right, chances are they were coloured with mica. Mica powder is one of the most popular and beginner-friendly ways to bring vibrant colour and a touch of luxury to your Melt and Pour soap creations. In this guide, we will walk through how to use mica correctly, how to prevent clumping, and how to create eye-catching designs that look like they came straight from a boutique.
What Is Mica?
Mica is a naturally occurring mineral ground into a fine, shimmering powder. It is loved by soap makers because it adds both colour and a subtle pearlescent glow. At Wickii, our mica powders are cosmetic-grade, non-toxic, and completely safe for skin-contact products, making them perfect for soap-making, body care, and bath creations. Each shade is ultra-fine and designed to disperse smoothly in Melt and Pour soap bases, giving you consistent, high-quality results every time.
Choosing Your Soap Base
Before you add colour, start with a high-quality Melt and Pour soap base. Clear bases will give you vibrant, jewel-like colours that really let the shimmer shine through, while white or opaque bases create soft, pastel tones with a pearly finish.
Tip: Always melt your soap base gently using short bursts in the microwave or a double boiler, stirring between each to avoid overheating.
How to Mix Mica for Melt and Pour Soap
Here is the trick to getting perfectly even colour with no clumps and no streaks.
-
Pre-mix your mica
In a small cup, combine your chosen mica colour with 91% or 99% isopropyl alcohol or glycerin. Use about 1 part mica to 3 parts liquid, or just enough to form a smooth, lump-free paste. This step helps the mica disperse evenly through your soap instead of sinking to the bottom. -
Add to melted soap
Pour the pre-mixed mica slurry into your melted soap base and stir gently until the colour is fully blended. You can start with about ¼ teaspoon of mica per 500g of soap base and adjust depending on how bold you want your colour. -
Pour and set
Once mixed, pour your soap into your mould and let them cool at room temperature. Avoid moving them too soon to prevent bubbles and surface lines.
Colour Tips and Combinations
-
Swirls: To create marble effects, pour two contrasting colours of melted soap and use a skewer to swirl gently before it sets.
-
Layered soaps: Pour one colour layer, allow it to set slightly, then add another for a striped or ombre look.
-
Shimmer toppers: Dust dry mica on top of finished soaps for a dramatic, metallic shimmer that is perfect for display. Keep in mind that this surface shimmer usually washes off after the first use, but it still makes your soap look beautiful on shelves and in photos.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
-
Adding mica directly to the soap base: It tends to clump and sink. Always pre-mix.
-
Using too much mica: Mica is an insoluble solid, and very high amounts can reduce lather slightly by interfering with the soap’s ability to form bubbles. However, low to medium levels, as recommended, generally have little to no effect in Melt and Pour soap, so there is no need to worry.
-
Overheating your soap: This can cause colour fading and texture changes.
Finishing Touches
Once your soaps are fully set, pop them out of the moulds and admire the shimmer. Wrap them in airtight packaging or shrink wrap to protect them from humidity.
Ready to Create Your Own Shimmering Soaps?
Using mica in Melt and Pour soap is one of the easiest ways to experiment with colour, design, and creativity. With just a few simple tools and a beautiful palette of mica powders, you can transform plain soap into something special, perfect for gifting, selling, or keeping all to yourself.
Explore more:
