A pigment extender that can be used in a covering agent such as paint to improve the properties of the paint. The pigment extender can improve the hiding power of many types of paint formulations. The pigment extender is particularly useful in flat paints that require relatively low sheen values. A pigment extender that includes microcrystalline silica, nepheline syenite and/or metal fluoride. The metal fluoride typically includes a silica coated metal fluoride.