Creating a reliable Eye Shadow begins long before the first swipe of colour. In our facility, the process is split into five tightly controlled stages that balance safety regulations, colour fidelity, and production agility.
Stage 1 – Raw-Material Qualification
All pigments arrive with batch-specific heavy-metal certificates compliant with EU Annex II and FDA 21 CFR. Mica, iron oxides, and synthetic fluorphlogopite are sieved to a D90 below 15 µm to ensure smooth payoff and even dispersion. Any lot outside the tolerance is quarantined before entering the mix room.
Stage 2 – Binder Texture Engineering
A universal base of magnesium stearate, zinc stearate, and boron nitride is blended with jojoba esters to provide creaminess on skin contact. For matte shades, silica microspheres are added; for metallic finishes, synthetic squalane coats each platelet to prevent fallout. Moisture content is held below 0.5 % to avoid hard panning.
Stage 3 – Micro-Batch Compounding
High-shear mixers process 25 kg lots in 12 minutes, allowing colour corrections within hours instead of days. A spectrophotometer logs Lab* values every 30 seconds; ΔE must stay below 0.3 against the master target. This step is critical when shifting from a deep plum to a soft lavender for seasonal drops.
Stage 4 – Pressing Compression
Each pan is filled on a servo-driven press that delivers 3.5 MPa ± 0.1 MPa. A nitrogen blanket prevents oxidation, and silicone molds allow intricate embossing without tearing the surface. Cycle time is 2.3 seconds per pan, enabling 10 000 units per shift.
Stage 5 – Quality Traceability
Random pans undergo drop tests from 1 m onto steel; breakage must be zero. A QR code on the base links to the exact pigment batch, press operator, and cure temperature, ensuring full traceability for every Eye Shadow shipped.
By combining strict raw-material control, rapid micro-batching, and transparent data logging, the plant delivers Eye Shadow that meets both indie and mass-market demands without ever exceeding regulatory limits.