Cloudy Resin: Causes and How to Get a Glass-Clear Finish

A cloudy or milky finish takes away the glass-clear look that makes resin art special. The good news is that cloudiness has a handful of clear causes, and once you know them, it's easy to avoid.

What causes cloudy resin?

1. Moisture

Water is the biggest cause. It can come from monsoon humidity, a wet mould, damp mixing cups, or flowers and inclusions that aren't fully dry.

2. Cold resin

Cold resin turns thick and can look hazy. It also traps tiny micro-bubbles that make the piece look foggy.

3. Mixing too fast

Whipping the resin adds thousands of tiny bubbles. Together they look like cloudiness rather than separate bubbles.

4. Not mixed enough

Streaks of unmixed resin can cure with a hazy or swirly look.

5. Wrong additives

Water-based paints and some craft colours aren't made for resin and can turn it milky. Use resin-safe pigments, mica powder or alcohol inks.

How to get a glass-clear finish

1. Dry everything: moulds, cups, sticks and inclusions. Dry flowers fully before use; see our varmala preservation guide for drying tips.
2. Warm the resin in winter. Place the sealed bottles in warm water for 10–15 minutes before mixing.
3. Mix slowly for 3–5 minutes, scraping the sides and bottom of the cup.
4. Work in a dry room on humid days. An AC room or a dehumidifier helps.
5. Pass a heat gun or torch over the surface after pouring to release micro-bubbles.
6. Cover the piece while it cures so moisture and dust stay out.

📌 Good to know: If only the surface is cloudy but the inside is clear, the cause is usually humidity in the air while it cured.

How to fix a cloudy piece

• Cloudy surface only: lightly sand it smooth, wipe it clean, and pour a thin fresh coat in a dry room.
• Cloudy all the way through: this can't be polished out. Use it as a practice piece and fix the cause before your next pour.

👉 Shop crystal-clear resin

FAQs

Why is my resin milky white?

Usually moisture, cold resin or a water-based additive.

Will cloudy resin clear up as it cures?

Cloudiness from tiny bubbles sometimes clears if you warm the surface early. Cloudiness from moisture usually stays.

Can I use acrylic paint in resin?

Many water-based paints can cause clouding or curing problems. Resin pigments, mica powders and alcohol inks are safer choices.