#makeup kit

Popeye the Sailor

I've used a lot of makeup over my last 9 years of cosplaying, but this is whats in current rotation. My criteria for products is affordability, what performs well irl and in photos, and products that for the most part have a lower rating on the ewg scale (with few exceptions). I also don't really buy makeup outside of sale events like Black Friday, after Christmas, or during some promotion just so ya'll have context about the price ranges listed per item.

That said, this is more to share products and tools I use to create a base for other looks! So things that are more personal like eyeshadow, lipstick, blush etc were left out as that's really more of preference for each person.

I've included product links under the cut, if anyone has a cosmetic gem they've found over the years I'd love to hear recs!

HALLOWEEN FLASHBACK

Profusion UFO Beam It Up Kit

MAKEUP TUTORIAL BLOG POST

Profusion UFO Beam It Up Kit Makeup Tutorial | HALLOWEEN MAKEUP 2022

How Mica Mining Endangers Children and the Environment

By Jemimah Chungu

The allure of makeup and cosmetics has long been central to fashion, adding a shimmering touch that completes every trend. Yet behind the glitz lies a darker reality: the mining of mica, a key ingredient in many beauty products, electronics, and paints, has devastating consequences for children, communities, and the environment.

Mica, the mineral responsible for the dazzling effect in products like lipstick, nail polish, eyeshadow, and car paints, is a billion-dollar industry. It also plays a crucial role as an insulator in electronics and as a component in lasers and radars. However, its extraction has been plagued by illegal mining, child exploitation, and severe environmental degradation, particularly in countries like India and Madagascar.

Child Labor and Exploitation in Mica Mining

India and Madagascar, the world’s largest mica producers, are infamous for horrific labor practices tied to the mineral's extraction. High poverty rates force an estimated 22,000 children in India and 10,000 in Madagascar to work in mica mines. These children face grueling conditions, earning less than 10 cents a day. Mining mica requires crawling into narrow, unstable shafts that often collapse, trapping or killing workers.

Health risks are pervasive: prolonged exposure to mica dust leads to respiratory illnesses such as pneumonia, while using bare hands to extract mica causes frequent cuts and infections. Beyond physical harm, children working in illegal mines are vulnerable to physical abuse, modern slavery, and, for young girls, sexual exploitation.

“Children are often forced to mine mica instead of attending school,” the U.S. Department of Labor noted in its Report on the Worst Forms of Child Labor. This perpetuates a cycle of poverty, robbing these children of education and future opportunities. Despite India’s government declaring in 2007 that it would legalize mica mining to regulate the industry and eradicate child labor, reports and satellite imagery from 2022 reveal a rise in illegal mines, highlighting the persistence of exploitation.

Environmental Impact

The environmental consequences of mica mining are equally dire. Illegal mining operations often clear large tracts of forest, contributing to deforestation and biodiversity loss. Processing mica into usable materials generates further environmental damage, with significant water, land, and air pollution.

The broader industrial use of mica, particularly in cosmetics, electronics, and paints, exacerbates environmental harm through chemical pollution and waste. From production to disposal, these products leave behind a trail of pollutants, contributing to climate change and global warming.

Efforts to Combat Child Labor and Environmental Harm

Efforts like the Child Labor Free Mica initiative aim to eradicate child labor in mica production by 2025. This initiative focuses on creating "child-friendly villages," empowering communities to protect children’s rights and provide alternative sources of income. These grassroots efforts align with the Indian government’s national goal to eliminate child labor by 2025.

However, the fight against illegal mica mining and its associated harms requires more than grassroots efforts. Strict environmental laws, enforcement of mining regulations, and harsh penalties for violators are critical. Legalizing mica mining under stringent oversight could help dismantle cartels like the "mica mafia," which thrive on exploitation.

A Call to Action

Mica is deeply ingrained in modern fashion, technology, and infrastructure, making its extraction unavoidable. However, the industry must prioritize ethical sourcing and environmental sustainability. Governments, corporations, and consumers must demand transparency in supply chains, enforce child labor laws, and support initiatives like Child Labor Free Mica.

By 2025, global action could transform mica mining, ensuring that what glitters truly shines without casting a shadow of exploitation and environmental destruction.