The use of microbeads in cosmetics is recent but there is already a backlash against the harm they are doing. Microbeads are tiny pieces of plastic used as an exfoliant in beauty products like facial and body scrubs. They're advertised as a healthy beauty option, but in reality they are an ecological nightmare contributing to the global pollution of our oceans from plastic.

What's the problem with Microbeads?
Microbeads enter our environment washed down bathroom drains. As they are too small to be filtered by sewerage systems, microbeads flow into our oceans, rivers and lakes where they float and absorb toxins. They are then are ingested by marine life because they resemble fish eggs. It is highly likely that humans then consume the toxins when they eat the fish or animals who have ingested the plastics. More information on microbeads can be found at Beat the Bead.

In late 2015, the US Senate passed legislation to phase out the use of microbeads in cosmetics after finding they were detrimental to fish and other aquatic wildlife. In Australia, Coles and Woolworths have promised to stop using microbeads in their own products from 2017, while global pharmaceutical companies like Unilever and Beiersdorf have commenced phasing them out.

Our Radiant Face Exfoliant uses rice and sandalwood powder as the exfoliant rather than plastic microbeads. It is an ultra-fine exfoliating powder which stimulates skin cell turnover and unveils a smoother, more radiant complexion. It leaves skin feeling smoother and looking brighter.