After media reports of alleged links between cosmetic makeup and illnesses including cancer, discerning consumers have switched to mineral cosmetics in an attempt to find a more natural beauty alternative. Many of these mineral products contain mica, a glittery substance used in blusher, eyeliner, eye shadow, mascara, lipstick and foundation. Today the main source of this material is India, which accounts for 60% of global production...Nonetheless, concerns about the safety of the country's mica supply chains are increasing...[since] child labour is endemic in India's mica mining business and 86% of the country's mica exports in 2010-2011 were unregulated...[C]osmetic brand Lush, which uses mica from India in its handmade products [says] "will discontinue the use of mica in products." The obstacles Lush encountered in establishing an ethical source of mica are affecting the entire cosmetics industry...[refers to Esteé-Lauder, L'Oreal, Merck]