What is sericite mica?

Sericite is a fine-particle form of muscovite mica. Milled small and flat, its platelets lie down against skin, which is what makes a pressed powder glide rather than drag and what lets pigment spread evenly instead of gathering in one place.

It also scatters light softly. That is why a formula built on sericite reads as a blurred finish rather than a flat one, without any shimmer being added.

They are the same mineral family. The difference is particle size and finish. Coarser cosmetic mica reflects light in visible flecks and is used where sparkle is the point. Sericite is milled fine enough that the reflection reads as softness instead of shine.

On an ingredient list both can appear simply as Mica, which is why our list names sericite separately: the two do different jobs and you should be able to tell which one you are buying.

The sericite we use is non-nano and uncoated, and the label says so rather than leaving particle size to be assumed. Particle size is not a required disclosure on a US ingredient list, so an unqualified Mica line tells you nothing on this point.

Second, directly after ethically sourced mica, in the four pressed formulas that share our base. Descending order means it is one of the two largest fractions of what is in the pan. The full list, in order, is printed on each product page.