Lady_Sudz Posted March 27, 2007 Share Posted March 27, 2007 1. I am really confused about Micas..Are They Natural? Or Not?LOL!! I have read the topics I guess I am Not understanding..How Much Mica would U Use per Pound with Cp?Do they Really Sparkle? They seem Expensive...Any Place to get good buys? I looked in the cooop threads no supplier is listed..will there be another co-op?2. Does anyone know where I can find a Lolly pop silicone mold? I am Not googling the right thing. .I guess..I would Love to make the Big Old fashioned M&P Lolly pops..Any Help On these two would be wonderful!!! TIA!LAdy_Sudz Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Crafty1_AJ Posted March 27, 2007 Share Posted March 27, 2007 The word "natural" is pretty subjective, IMO, so I won't go there. LOL But micas can be tricky in cold process soap. The red/pink ones, for example, often morph in a highly alkaline environment, so they will turn orangey. I use micas mostly for topping otherwise dull soaps (such as fo's that d to brown) or I use them for swirls rather than overall color. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gene Posted March 27, 2007 Share Posted March 27, 2007 1. I am really confused about Micas..Are They Natural? Or Not?LOL!! I have read the topics I guess I am Not understanding..How Much Mica would U Use per Pound with Cp?Do they Really Sparkle? They seem Expensive...Any Place to get good buys? I looked in the cooop threads no supplier is listed..will there be another co-op?2. Does anyone know where I can find a Lolly pop silicone mold? I am Not googling the right thing. .I guess..I would Love to make the Big Old fashioned M&P Lolly pops..Any Help On these two would be wonderful!!! TIA!LAdy_Sudz:undecided I thought co-op's were not allowed unless supplier info was given?? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Carriegsxr6 Posted March 27, 2007 Share Posted March 27, 2007 heres a supplier i found listed in one of the co-ops for Micashttp://www.wholesalecolors.com/index.php?category=27 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eugenia Posted March 27, 2007 Share Posted March 27, 2007 (1) Soap Pigments - oxides and ultramarines fall into this category. Pigments, like most colorants out there, do not fall into the natural category. They are manufactured in labs and have been since the 70s. Apparently, pigments (oxides and ultramarines) used to be mined but the FDA stepped in and demanded some purity so since then, those colorants have been manufactured in a lab - same molecular structure just a different way of processing. Some Iron Oxides are still extracted naturally; however, Iron oxides in nature (dirt) are often stuck with toxic metals like lead, arsenic, mercury, antimony and selenium (when they are in nature). This is why the FDA stepped in to regulate cosmetic colorants so the level of toxic metal present are present in such low concentrations that they are considered "safe." In fact, only synthetically prepared iron oxides are approved for use in cosmetics in this country. (Johnson, S.T. & Wordell, C.J. "Homeopathic and herbal medicine: Considerations for formulary evaluation," Formulary, 32, 1167, Nov. 1997. ) The good things about using pigments in soap is that they are stable. I've personally not had more than two "morph" into another color and I know that all of the ones that we carry are stable in CP soap. I believe that all of Oregon Trail's and The Pigment Lady's are also stable in CP/MP soap. They are also cost effective; at $3-$6 per ounce, you're looking at a very cheap, per pound price, for color. The bummer part about pigments is that they tend to clump and so they require much extra TLC to get them not clump. (2) FD&C Colorants - There are many types of FD&C colorants but basically, they are manufactured in a lab, are not natural but are generally incredibly easy to use and give a wide (anything you imagine) range of color. There is wide spread distrust, and even fear, about FD&C colorants. This is most likely because the FDA has recalled colors in the past because of safety concerns. The most well known example is probably Red No. 2, banned in 1976 over possible links to cancer. In truth, FD&C colorants are in most, if not all, processed foods we eat (from cheese to french fries to candy) and fears about the use of these colorants in soap, while well meaning, are probably unfounded. In addition, the miniscule amount of this type of colorant in soap (which doesn't stay on your skin), is the least of concerns compared to the rampant amount of FD&C colorant in food (and vitamins etc...)The nice part of using FD&C colorants is that they are, on a per use basis, fairly inexpensive to use. They are incredibly concentrated. They also mix in smoothly. They normally stay clear in MP. The bummer part is that they are not stable, at all, in alkaline environments (aka - cold process soap). It's the rare FD&C that actually stays stable. (3) Micas - These should fall into the FD&C colorants category because mica is a natural product, that is mined but then, the individual mica (which looks like a platelet) is coated with FD&C colorants, or pigments, or a combination of both to achieve the colorant. The dual sided color is what causes the shimmer and sheen of micas. Mica is exactly the same stuff you see in your lipstick, eye shadow and blush. Micas work best in clear products, like clear melt and pour, because the shimmer needs light in order to reflect and refract nicely. The great part about using micas in CP is that they don't clump at all. The colors are so smooth and wonderful to work with. The bummer part about using micas in CP is that they have a higher usage rate than both pigments and straight FD&C colorants. They also do provide just a tinge of sheen in CP, and that looks sophisticated. Another bad thing about micas in CP, is that, since they are coated in FD&C, some of them are not stable in CP soap and do require testing. (4) Natural soap colorants - There is no legal definition for a natural color. FDA classifies colorants as those requiring certification and those not requiring certification. "Exempt colorants are inherently neither more nor less safe than certified colorants," concludes an article in the Encyclopedia of Chemical Technology. We may consider them as less hazardous because we perceive them as "natural." But "like all color additives, they are fabricated products." Historically, bugs were ground up for colorant. Today, potential customers get squeamish about that so we skip that. Cochineal (the legs of a some bug, if I remember correctly) was a favorite for a nice red color. Some popular ones to use are: Yellow - Annatto, saffron, Turmeric, Carthamin Green - chlorophyll Brown - the cocoa bean (pods, shells, stems), cocoa powder, fermented tea Red - Paprika (may be irritating) Purple - Alkanet Root (for CP) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lady_Sudz Posted March 27, 2007 Author Share Posted March 27, 2007 Thank You Ladies!!I am Better Understanding now..about colors..Thank you Eugenia..That was awesome! Where the heck did you find all that info? It helps allot!Are People really Scared of FD&C? Colors???I wish There were suppliers On the East Coast!! Both Those suppliers are on The west Coast!! heheheRaises My cost up a bit! I am Going to Look into more the natural colors for now..and see what I can make!Thank you all!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eugenia Posted March 28, 2007 Share Posted March 28, 2007 LOL, Googled it for you. That was from here:www.teachsoap.com/colorants.html Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cindym Posted March 28, 2007 Share Posted March 28, 2007 This is a local supplier on the east coast they do http://www.emporiumnaturals.com/ a lot with natural colors and soap. Very nice people. Hope this helps. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bugtussle Posted March 28, 2007 Share Posted March 28, 2007 Eugenia, that was a wonderful explanation. I will print it and refer back to it forever. Thks, Carole Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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