Why use natural products?
Can you imagine yourself consuming plastic? The harsh truth is we may already have been doing this for a while. The reasons plastic can eventually end up in our bodies is because of microbeads. Microbeads are tiny plastic particles. They can shrink to a size smaller than a pinhead. These microplastics can be found in our everyday personal care products. Yes, especially in our physical facial and body scrubs we regularly use.
They can also be found in:
- Toothpaste
- Sunscreens
- Body wash
- Cosmetic products
How Microbeads end up on your plate
Since microbeads are so tiny, wastewater facilities are unable to filter them. This means microbeads can escape into our water systems and the ocean. Once they’re released into the water, they become difficult to detect. If you compare a sprinkle of microbeads with fish food, wouldn't they look similar? A fish's instinct kicks in and they swallow up this 'food'. Microbeads can soak up toxins around them, becoming more toxic than they already were when they entered the water. These fish that have ingested microplastics are caught by fishermen before making their way up the supply chain until they reach our dinner tables.
Ingredients to avoid in your products
Better to be safe than sorry! Here are some of the common ingredients for microbeads you can avoid:
- Polyethylene
- Polypropylene
- Polyethylene
- Terephthalate
- Polymethyl methacrylate
- Polylactic Acid
- Nylon
Thankfully, the movement of banning microbeads is being carried out in certain countries. But there are still companies who use them in their products because they’re cheaper than natural exfoliators like oats and sugar.Â
Why choose natural?
Natural skincare products forego the use of such harmful ingredients that also doesn’t necessitate excessive mining thus causing no harm to the surrounding plants and animals. If you choose natural, you are at least at ease of not damaging your skin barrier and help rejuvenate your skin. Although, natural skin care products do not give you immediate results, its slow process does give the individual long time satisfaction and improved skin barrier.