What You Should Know About Microbeads

Remember that in-your-face facial cleanser advert promising us all clear and glowy skin with a refreshing tingle in the morning? Just slather it on, let those tiny beads do their magic and then rinse it off (with that very elegant slow motion water splash, might I just add). And voila, instant skin rejuvenation. Let's be honest - most of us don't buy into that. In reality, most of us don't know what we're buying exactly.

What Are Microbeads?

Aside from being those tiny specks found in our exfoliator and facial scrubs, what else do we truly know about microbeads?

Scientifically speaking, microbeads are non-biodegradable synthetic uniform polymer particles. In other words, your beauty product contains tiny pieces of plastic that will last forever.

Before we get into the recent backlash, microbeads do have some benefits. I mean, they were designed for a reason, right? That reason being that they're the cheaper alternative that allows gentle exfoliation and abrasion by smoothing away skin's roughness.

Scrubbing Away the Grime: From Our Faces to the Ocean

Now that we've been through the good (yes - that was quick), let's move onto the bad and the downright ugly, shall we?

Despite (or rather, due to) their dainty appearance, microbeads came to be the main players amidst an environmental controversy, causing significant damage to the Great Lakes and our oceans. They are tiny enough to be washed down the drains and to slip through water filters in treatment plants and sewage systems, ending up in lakes, rivers and oceans. Being coated with chemicals, pesticides and other toxins like PCBs along the way, these minuscule units are ingested by fish and can endanger other marine species. For all us seafood aficionados, this can be problematic. Going up the food chain, those toxins can very well end up in our plates.

Latest Newsflash on Microbeads

Recent activist movements have brought massive attention to this issue. In collaboration with other organizations, the 5 Gyres Group have developed a free app, Beat the Microbead, that allows iPhone users to verify if a product contains these dangerous polymers simply by scanning its bar code. From that has spawned a viral campaign vouching for the phasing out of exfoliating plastic beads in personal care and beauty products by 2017.

Earlier in June, Illinois became the first state to successfully ban microbeads. Other states, like New York and California, are considering adopting similar legislations. Personal care giants, including Procter & Gamble, Johnson & Johnson, L'Oreal, Unilever and Colgate-Palmolive, will be following suit too as the cosmetic industry comes together as an united front against the dumping of microplastic debris into our waters.

More Conscientious Options

As alternatives to microbead exfoliation, opt for natural products with labels that don't feature polyethylene or polypropylene. Powdered pecan shells, ground walnut shells, apricot seeds or biodegradable natural wax based exfoliators such as jojoba beads can provide similar results and will be less harmful to the environment. Of course, to avoid any potential hazard, make sure you're not allergic to any of the latter before using!

Without any synthetic fragrances or parabens, Vain Pursuits advocates the use of all-natural ingredients and stands behind the idea of an ideology shift towards a more environmentally conscious beauty industry.