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Gemini RC-18

Advanced Color Travel Pigment for Dramatic Red-to-Cyan Effects

INCI Name: Mica, Silica, Iron Oxides

Create mesmerizing color-shifting cosmetics with Gemini RC-18, a high-performance pigment that travels from a fiery red to a cool cyan. Based on natural mica coated with silica and iron oxides, its larger particle size delivers a striking, dramatic effect. As a TiO2-free, vegan, and cruelty-free ingredient, it’s ideal for clean beauty formulations across eye, face, lip, and nail applications.

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Perfect For These Applications

Other cosmetic uses possible—contact us for formulation guidance.

Pressed Powder Eyeshadows
Delivers a high-impact, dramatic color-shift effect with minimal fallout, perfect for standout chromatic eye looks.
Lip Gloss & Toppers
Creates a unique multi-chrome finish in lip formulas, providing a stunning color shift over a base color or on its own.
Solvent-Based Nail Lacquers & Gels
Offers excellent suspension and produces a vibrant, head-turning color travel effect on the nail.
Loose Pigment Powders
Functions as a high-impact loose powder for makeup artists or direct-to-consumer cosmetic kits.
Liquid & Gel Eyeliners
Enables the creation of bold, metallic-like liquid eyeliners with a distinctive and dramatic color-shifting line.
Molded Highlighters & Blushes
Integrates seamlessly into pressed or poured face products to create unique blushes and highlighters with a chromatic glow.

Performance & Formulation Insights for Gemini RC-18

The Science of a Dramatic Color Shift

Gemini RC-18 achieves its signature red-to-cyan color travel through a multi-layer coating process. A natural mica platelet is first coated with iron oxides to create the warm red base, followed by a precisely controlled silica layer. The silica coating generates light interference, producing secondary cyan and green reflections that interact with the iron oxide absorption color to create a dramatic, complex chromatic effect.

This engineered interplay between absorption and interference cannot be replicated by simple pigment blends, enabling richer color depth, a broader viewing angle, and a more dynamic shift in finished formulas.

Leveraging Particle Size for Impact

With a particle size range of 20–80 μm, Gemini RC-18 delivers a brilliant, sparkling finish that reads bolder and more dimensional than finer-milled pigments. The larger platelet size enhances visual impact in statement products such as nail lacquers, lip toppers, and high-chroma eyeshadows.

In formulation, the pigment disperses readily and shows excellent stability in medium-to-high viscosity systems. For liquid and gel formats, consider a suitable suspending agent to maintain uniform distribution over shelf life.

Key Formulation Benefits

  • Intense Color Travel: Delivers a vivid shift from warm red to cool cyan for high-impact, multidimensional looks.
  • Clean Beauty Compliant: TiO2-free, vegan, and cruelty-free to align with strict clean and conscious beauty standards.
  • Natural Mica Substrate: Built on an ISO 16128 natural mica base to support a naturally derived ingredient story.
  • Versatile Performance: Proven across anhydrous, solvent-based, and powder systems for eye, face, lip, and nail applications.
Heading #1
Line/Series
Gemini
INCI Name
Mica, Silica, Iron Oxides
Physical Product Color
Red
Color Effect
Green, Multi-Color, Red
Effect Type
Color Travel
Material Type
Natural Mica, Powder, Silica
Certifications
Natural (ISO16128), TiO2 Free, Vegan & Cruelty Free
Particle Size
20-80 μm
Applications
Eye, Face, Lip, Nail

Frequently Asked Questions About Gemini RC-18

The effect is created by coating natural mica with layers of iron oxide and silica. The iron oxide provides the red base color, while the silica layer creates a light interference effect that reflects cyan and green hues.
Yes, all components of Gemini RC-18 (Mica, Silica, Iron Oxides) are globally approved for use in lip care and color cosmetic products.
The particle size is 20–80 μm, which results in a more brilliant, sparkling color travel effect compared to finer-milled pigments.
Absolutely. It is formulated without titanium dioxide and is certified vegan, cruelty-free, and natural (ISO 16128), making it ideal for clean beauty lines.
Yes, it suspends well in liquid and gel systems. We recommend using an appropriate suspending agent to ensure long-term stability due to the larger particle size.
The Gemini series combines an absorption colorant (e.g., Iron Oxide) with an interference layer (Silica) to produce a more complex and dramatic dual-color effect than standard interference pigments.

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Gemini RC-18

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