Dangers of Microbeads + a Better Way To Exfoliate!

Microbeads are a hot topic right now particularly because President Obama recently signed the Microbead-Free Waters Act of 2015 which is a huge step forward! You are not alone if you are asking yourself, what are microbeads and why should I be worried about them?

Microbeads are tiny plastic particles that are most commonly found in personal care products such as cosmetics, exfoliators and even toothpaste. These environmental hazards easily go down our drains resulting in plastic particle water pollution, which means our marine life is ingesting them too. The scary reality is that we could also be ingesting them if we eat fish because we eat what the fish ate.

The reason companies use microbeads is because plastic is a lot cheaper than the ingredients that go into making natural exfoliants. You have to use a lot more of a product with microbeads in it to get the same effect as using a natural exfoliator once a week.

Cosmetic companies have until July 1, 2017, to get rid of microbeads, and beauty companies have until July 1, 2018. For now, what can you do? Make sure not to buy products with polyethylene, polypropylene, or polystyrene. And if you are looking for a natural way to exfoliate those rough patches of dry winter skin (like your knees and elbows), try this recipe instead!