How to Use Mica Powder With Epoxy Resin

There are lots of ways to add sparkle to epoxy river tables, ocean wave effect tables, jewelry, coasters, paintings, turning blanks, and wall art. Glitter comes to mind of course, and it was great for getting that blinding sparkle on Dorothy’s red shoes as she clicked her heels, repeating, “There’s no place like home!” But if you want a sparkle that’s more subtle – and more alluring – mica powder is the way to go. When you see the shimmering, swirling results, don’t be surprised if you find yourself clicking your stir sticks together, proclaiming, “There’s no tint like mica powder!”

In this post, we’ll explain what mica powder is, what it isn’t, and show you some of the great things you can do with it to add sparkle and shine to your DIY epoxy woodworking, woodturning, castings, and other creative projects.

Chances are, no matter what your artistic medium is, you’ll want to use this versatile colorant. Mica powder is the magic fairy dust of colorants, and it’s perfect for adding dazzle and dimension to all your epoxy projects!

What Is Mica Powder?

Mica powder looks like super-fine, shimmery, pearly glitter. It’s made from crushed mica, a natural stone mineral containing shiny flakes. There’s also synthetic mica powder that’s made in a lab. Both natural and synthetic colored mica powders have had the color added to them. They come in all colors, and some are used to achieve special effects. For example, translucent ‘ghost’ pigments mixed with epoxy impart a slight sheen of color when applied to a white base, and a more vibrant color when applied to a black base. Other mica powders change colors, and some even glow in the dark! Just make sure the mica powder you use is suitable for your project, because some mica powders should not be used for cosmetic applications, such as lip balm and eye shadow.

Synthetic mica tends to offer more consistent color and a finer, more uniform particle size than natural mica, which is part of why it's often the go-to for cosmetic-grade applications.

For epoxy resin projects like river tables and coasters, either type works well — it mostly comes down to the shade and effect you're after.

A Quick Safety Note

Mica powder is a very fine dust, so it's worth taking a few basic precautions when you're measuring and mixing it. Wear a dust mask and gloves any time you're working with the dry powder, especially with larger batches or in a space with a lot of airflow. Keep it away from your eyes, out of reach of pets and kids, and work on a surface that's easy to wipe down, since a stray gust can send fine powder further than you'd expect.

Is Mica Powder The Same As Pigment Powder?

Pigment powder and mica powder are both types of powdered colorants, and both can be natural or synthetic, but they’re not the same thing. Mica powder is a very sparkly, very fine powder. It may have pigment added for color, but it’s used mainly to add a shimmering effect. Pigment powder resembles ground-up chalk, and is matte and opaque. It’s used to add pure color, not sparkle. You can combine both of these powders in order to get a shimmering, color-saturated effect.

What Can I Use Mica Powder For?

Sparkly mica powder adds a pop of color and a shimmery glow to epoxy resin, polyester resin, soap, wax, and a myriad of DIY arts, crafts and cosmetic applications, including:

• Epoxy river tables
• Epoxy live edge wood slab tables
• Epoxy jewelry and resin geodes
• Epoxy coasters, clocks, trays and tumblers
• Epoxy resin turning blanks & hybrid wood and resin blanks
• Homemade soap and candles
• Lip balm, bath bombs, eye shadow, nail polish
• Craft paint and fabric paint for art projects
• Paper crafts, handmade scrapbooks, and greeting cards
• Stained glass
• Furniture refinishing using tinted varnish
• Toy slime!

There are lots of videos online that explain how to use mica powder for all these different applications. Here we’ll focus mainly on tinting epoxy resin with mica powder.

How Much Mica Powder Do I Use?

Here are some basic guidelines for how much mica powder to use in epoxy and other materials. It’s important to note that a little goes a long way, so start with less – you can always add more.

• Epoxy: Add 3 to 4.5 ounces of mica powder per gallon of mixed epoxy.
• Paint: Add 25 to 50 grams of mica powder per gallon of paint.
• Soap: Add approximately 1-2 teaspoons of mica powder per 1 lb. of soap. For Hot Process, add ¼ to ½ teaspoon of mica powder per 1 lb. of soap.

How Do I Mix Mica Powder with Epoxy Resin?

Mica powder is easy to blend into low-viscosity epoxy and polyester resins.

Before mixing mica powder into any two-part resins, be sure to read the manufacturer’s directions first because not all resins are alike when it comes to mixing in tints, pigments, dispersions, and dyes. Go easy on the amount of mica powder you add to any type of resin – again, a little goes a long way!

How to Add Mica Powder to Epoxy Resin:

Mix the resin (Part A) and hardener (Part B) components together thoroughly first, then you mix in the mica powder.

How to Mix and Separate Tinted Epoxy Colors Before Pouring:

The easiest way to work with multiple colors of tinted epoxy is to start by mixing the epoxy components thoroughly in a larger mixing cup, then pour the mixed epoxy into smaller containers.

Then, add your desired mica powder color to each small cup. This way, you keep the colors separate until you’re ready to add them to your project.

Pour Tinted Resin Into Silicone Molds and Play With The Colors

This is the fun part! Pour your tinted epoxy into the molds and unleash your creativity by moving the colors around to achieve the desired effect.

• Start by pouring the tinted mixed epoxy into your mold.
• Pour slowly so you don’t create excess air bubbles.
  
• Use a small stir stick or toothpick to gently manipulate the colors.
  

Your design may not come out exactly as planned – it might turn out better than you imagined!

Dusting Silicone Molds With Mica Powder to Separate the Colors

This shimmering flower by @themermaidshed was created by brushing mica powder onto the surface of the silicone mold, then filling the mold with mixed epoxy, which is resin and hardener that’s been mixed thoroughly.

For some epoxy casting projects, you might want to have more control over the placement of multiple colors within a mold. To do this, instead of mixing the mica powder into the epoxy, you can apply the mica powder directly to your silicone mold first, dry-brushing the individual colors where you want them, then pouring mixed epoxy into the mold. The mica powder will stick to the epoxy, coating the finished surface when you demold your piece

How to Dust a Silicone Mold With Mica Powder

• Use a clean, dry paintbrush with a small bristle width (about ¼” or so, for small molds) to apply the mica powder directly to the silicone mold.
• Use a separate paintbrush to apply each color.
• To remove any misplaced mica powder from an area, wipe it away gently with the tip of a cotton swab dampened with alcohol, and allow to dry completely.
• Gently shake any excess mica powder out of the mold before filling with your mixed epoxy.

Can I Combine Mica Powder With Other Pigments and Coloring Agents?

You can use mica powder with other colorants to create a number of stunning effects in your epoxy jewelry, coasters, slab pours, resin castings and other arts & crafts projects. Epoxy-safe colorants include pigment powder, liquid alcohol ink, universal tints, pigment paste dispersions, glass chips, geode chips, sparkly glitter, holographic glitter, fine glass glitter and more. Before using any type of colorant in your project, be sure it’s compatible with the resin or other medium you’re using, such as soap or nail polish

Frequently Asked Questions

If you have any questions about mica powder and epoxy, please call our Tech Support Team at 888-986-6623.