Plastic not-so fantastic. Tiny microbead, huge problem!
Microbeads are tiny spheres of plastic that can be found in shower gels or creams, toothpaste and exfoliating products. They range from 0.1 to 0.5 millimeters in size and are often invisible to the naked eye. They have been incorporated into these products to act as an abrasive or exfoliant.
For context, one 150ml tube of facial scrub could contain as many as 2.8 million microbeads!!!
What is the environmental impact?
After use, the microbeads are washed down our bathroom drains. They are so small that they are undetected by grey water/sewerage filtration systems and pass right through to our waterways.
These beads have ended up in our food chain with fish mistakenly consuming them instead of micro plankton.
Large quantities of microbeads have been discovered in Australian waters (and worldwide) by scientists and environmentalists. These microbeads don’t always float on top of the ocean but often sink to the floor and into the sediment.
There are studies currently being undertaken in Australia (Tasmania) to investigate the impact on marine life from microbeads.
What to look for?
The easiest way to tell if your product contains microbeads is to look at the ingredient list. If any of the plastics listed below are included in the list then its best to avoid those products completely;
- Polyethylene PE
- Polypropylene PP
- Polyethylene terephthalate PET
- Polyemethyl methacrylate PMMA
- Nylon PA
Ban the Bead
Some countries and companies have banned microbeads in their products.
The US banned the use of the microbeads from July 2017 but Australia is relying on voluntary phase out by industry. SEEH Skincare has a strict 100% natural policy and you will find no plastic microbeads in any of our range.
A Natural Alternative
Our SMOOTH Exfoliating Facial Polish is made of a natural and fully biodegradable dual action exfoliation system. Natural apricot seed powder works to remove the dead skin cells and stimulate blood flow, while the rice powder gently buffs and polishes the skin surface. When used in conjunction with the CLEANSE Makeup Melting Cleansing Balm the exfoliating polish transforms the balm into a mild and gentle exfoliator, for a smoother and brighter looking complexion.
Choose the natural way, shop here.
