The plastic is part of our daily lives: we find it around food, household appliances, clothing, games, and even in cosmetics is permeated with them. Not all plastics are the same, of course; some are easily identifiable, while others are more difficult to recognize. The latter category includes microscopic plastics released into the environmentwhich are extremely harmful to the Planet because of their impossibility of recovery. The microplastics contained in cosmetics are many and remain a serious problem for the environment and for our health.How is it possible to recognize the presence of these particles in our beauty products? And how can they be eliminated? Find out with us! Microplastics in cosmetics: what are they?L'pollution by plastic is one of the most harmful pollutants for marine fauna and flora, because it leads to a disruption of the food chain and the deterioration of coral reefs. This also includes the harmful action caused by tiny plastics contained in cosmeticscalled microplastics.Microplastics in cosmetics are synthetic particles that until 2020 were abundantly present in many beauty products of daily use, such as: Toothpastes Scrubs Scrubs Peeling In particular, microplastics in cosmetics are present in all those beauty products whose purpose is to exfoliate the skin and make it softer. If on the one hand scrubs are an excellent ally for beauty, as they are useful in eliminating dead cells, on the other hand they are really harmful to the environment: a standard exfoliant for face or body can contain over 360 thousand plastic microspheres, which with a single rinse are released first into the sewage system and then into the seas and oceans. It is enough to understand how much damage this invisible enemy causes to marine flora and fauna, and consequently also to our health. Due to their frequent and large-scale use, microplastics from cosmetics are a worrying source of marine pollution. How can the situation be solved?Fortunately, to date, many countries, including ours, have taken concrete steps to abolish microplastics from cosmetics: in Italy it is no longer possible to include cosmetic microplastics from January 1, 2020, but this does not mean that you can not play your part and counteract the effect of microplastics in everyday life and above all there are brands that use microplastics that are not yet contained in the published list. How to recognize microplastics in cosmetics?The first step to follow is really simple check the cosmetics we have at home and read the information on the labelwhere, by law, the ingredients are listed in descending order of weight up to the threshold of 1%. What to look for specifically? Microplastics in cosmetics are identified with: Polyethylene Polypropylene If you find one or both of these materials, make sure these products are sourced! To be an informed consumer, it is essential to pay attention to the label of what we buy. Eliminating microplastics: the green alternativesFollowing the restrictions in recent years that ban the inclusion of microplastics in cosmetics, many companies, to reduce these pollutants, have begun to offer alternatives. The most valid proposals are made from ingredients of natural origin. These products are cheaper than many others that, despite being luxury, contain high amounts of harmful substances. How to eliminate once and for all microplastics from our daily beauty routine? daily beauty routine? Simple, by opting for green alternatives at the expense of industrial products. Scrubs, exfoliants, and the whole range of beauty products for smoothing the skin, have found new ingredients to carry out their smoothing action: Grapes; the berries of this tasty fruit contain precious substances for the daily care of our skin. This is the case of resveratrol, a non-flavonoid phenol that helps to counteract the onset of age-related skin blemishes. Honey Maple syrup To make scrubs you can resort to the do it yourselfusing in the realization of the products: Table saltExcellent for purifying the epidermis Sugarwhich exfoliates without drying Oatmealto be preferred in case of delicate and sensitive skin Coffee, often used to give brightness and softness Avoid microplastics: choose the right products Another strategy to avoid microplastics? Buy eco-friendly personal products that respect your skin and the environment. Just like the Solid Illuminating Face Wash by R5 Living: Contains 97% ingredients of natural origin It is totally free of silicones and microplastics Cleanses and purifies in depth Has a sulfate-free formula suitable for even the most sensitive skins Join the Smart Plastic movement: let's get rid of useless and harmful plastic and use it for what it is really needed!
