You’ve likely seen trends toward ditching plastic products like bags, water bottles, and straws and replacing them with eco-friendly options. But have you ever checked for plastic in your skincare products? Surprisingly, many skincare products still contain plastic microbeads, which have been shown to pollute waterways and harm wildlife.
Fortunately, there are now more eco-friendly alternatives than ever before, so you can still reap the benefits of an exfoliating face and body scrub without worrying about harming the environment.
The Problem with Plastic Microbeads
In recent years, researchers have found that plastic microbeads and other very small plastic products pose a serious threat to wildlife, the environment, and even human health. Like other types of plastic, plastic microbeads can take thousands of years to break down. Due to their microscopic size, however, these microbeads present a unique threat: they are difficult if not impossible to see, yet they still pollute waterways, wildlife, and our bodies. Thus, removing them from waterways is difficult, if not impossible, once they are already there. The solution is to stop using these products altogether so that these plastic microbeads do not continue to accumulate.
While the Microbead-Free Waters Act of 2015 banned the use of plastic microbeads in rinse-off cosmetic products and toothpastes by 2017, this act does not apply to products that stay on your skin or laundry detergents and some other common products known to contain plastic beads. Therefore, it is still legal to manufacture certain skincare products that contain plastic microbeads in the United States.
Cellulose Microbeads: An Eco-Friendly Alternative
So what can you do to ensure no more harmful plastic from your skincare products makes it into the world’s oceans? Luckily, there are now a wider range of eco-friendly exfoliators that contain cellulose microbeads. Cellulose is a plant-based, biodegradable material that can be an effective skin exfoliant when made into small beads and added to skincare products. Researchers are also looking into using cellulose instead of harsh detergents in shampoos to thicken the product without using harsh ingredients known to harm the environment and irritate the skin.
Pidanti Smoothing Polish Face & Body Scrub uses a new formula that contains both chemical exfoliants and physical cellulose microbeads for gentle physical exfoliation as well. In addition to glycolic acid, salicylic acid, and microcrystalline cellulose beads, Pidanti Smoothing Polish also contains powerful antioxidants like vitamin C, green tea extract, and coenzyme Q10; skin brighteners like arbutin and ascorbyl palmitate; and soothing ingredients like bisabolol, comfrey extract, and chamomile extract.
You can use the physician code “DRB” to purchase Pidanti through the Skin Type Solutions website.
DIY Face & Body Scrubs
DIY face and body scrubs that you can make and use yourself at home have become popular Google searches – but should you do this? Yes, there are some simple DIY recipes that you can safely use on your skin. However, you need to factor in your skin type and be careful not to use ingredients that will aggravate existing conditions. For example, rosacea skin types should avoid most physical exfoliation altogether, as well as acidic topical ingredients like lemon juice or orange juice.
If you want to make your own face and body scrub, mix 1 tablespoon of safflower oil with 1 cup of sugar to make an effective, yet gentle body scrub. You can also mix olive oil or honey with sugar to make a great lip scrub at home. Ground oatmeal can also make a nice gentle exfoliator.
Avoid using very abrasive ingredients on your skin, such as crushed walnut shells or coarse-ground coffee. There are many recipes for DIY exfoliators online involving coffee grounds, but these may be too abrasive for some sensitive skin types. Use fine-ground coffee or substitute oatmeal or sugar instead.
Bottom line
Save your skin and the planet’s oceans by staying away from traditional plastic microbeads and opting for eco-friendly cellulose alternatives instead. There are now many eco-friendly options such as Pidanti Smoothing Polish that can effectively exfoliate your skin without posing a threat to wildlife or the environment.
For more skincare tips and advice from Dr. Leslie Baumann, follow Baumann Cosmetic on Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube.
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