The Secret Ingredient That’s Showing Up Everywhere (Including In Your Body)

You may want to pay a little bit more attention to your toothpaste and other beauty products. After you’ve showered or brushed your teeth, you might have had contact with a fair amount of microplastic, which are smaller forms of real, man-made plastic. Specifically, they are very small plastic beads and fragments are used as abrading mediums or simply as fillers in many cosmetics products (toothpaste, body wash, etc). Most of these particles are so small, that you can only see them with a microscope.

Although there is no peer-reviewed research that measures the effects microplastics in toothpaste have on human health, microbeads are approved by the FDA and are in many products you wouldn’t expect including toothpaste, chewing gum, and face wash.

Many people are unclear what microbeads are, and the role of microbeads in various products is not supported by beauty and healthcare experts. Additionally, ecological and environmental controversy surrounding microbeads is emerging rapidly.

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Microbeads, also known as microspheres, are tiny plastic beads smaller than 5mm and typically made of polyethylene plastic. The ones usually found in toothpaste and face wash are even smaller (less than 1mm).

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Plastic microbeads are used for aesthetic purposes in toothpastes and chewing gum, making them look more appealing and appetizing to consumers.

In face wash, microbeads are used as exfoliators, replacing natural alternatives such as oatmeal or rice. Plastic microbeads began to replace these natural ingredients in cosmetic products in the 1990’s when microbeads were realized as a more cost-effective alternative.

A Beverly Hills skincare expert says, “Poorly made skincare products containing plastic beads for exfoliation are not only harmful and dangerous to our bodies, but to the environment as well. We recommend using products made with natural ingredients such as jojoba or oatmeal instead. Organic ingredients like those are not only beneficial to your skin, but also pose no risk if ingested or end up in large bodies of water with sea life.”