Flushing plastic down the drain!
Say what? The little grains in exfoliating scrubs more often than not are made of plastic these days! Plastic that is meant to be rinsed down the drain, where it enters our waterways and the bodies of aquatic creatures. I almost didn't believe it when I read it in this article: Polymers Are Forever. So I did a Google search, and this is what I found...MD Formulations Face & Body Scrub contains polyethylene granules.
Peter Thomas Roth AHA/BHA Face & Body Polish contains micro-fine polyethylene beads.
SkinCeuticals Body Polish contains polyethylene beads.
Helen Pensanti Exfoliating Cleanser contains polyethylene beads from Switzerland. (Do the Swiss make better plastic?)
Isomers Manual Microderm Cleanser contains polyethylene beads.
Thinking that it was just the high-end cleansers that contain plastic, I went to drugstore.com and did a search on "polyethylene." There over a thousand items that contain "polyethylene" in the ingredients list! Among the facial scrubs containing plastic are pretty much anything described as having "microbeads," such as:
Dove Gentle Exfoliating Foaming Facial Cleanser
Nivea face scrub
Aveeno daily scrub
Neutrogena Body Clear body scrub
L'Oreal Pure Zone Pore Unclogging Scrub Cleanser
Ambi Even & Clear Skincare, Exfoliating Wash
Clean & Clear Oil-Free Daily Pore Cleanser
Phisoderm Nurturing Facial Polish
Garnier Nutritioniste Nuti-Pure Microbead Cream Scrub
There are many more, and I could go on and on, but I'm tired of looking. Here's a search list of just the facial scrubs containing polyethylene. See for yourself.
So how about some good news? Here are some facial scrubs on the drugtore.com web site which do not contain polyethylene. Several of these are labeled as 100% biodegradable.
Alba Botanica Clarifying Scrub
Alba Hawaiian Facial Scrub, Pineapple Enzyme
Aubrey Organics North Woods Face Scrub
Avalon Organics Exfoliating Enzyme Scrub
Burt's Bees Citrus Facial Scrub
Burt's Bees Peach & Willowbark, Deep Pore Scrub
derma e Microdermabrasion Scrub
Earth Science Gentle Facial Scrub, Apricot
Grandpa's Old Fashioned Oatmeal Soap, For Face & Bath
Jason Natural Cosmetics Scrubble (various types)
Jason Red Elements Exfoliating Scrub
Juice Organics New! Apple Exfoliating Peel
Kiss My Face Organics Jump Start, Exfoliating Face Wash
Kiss My Face Organics So Refined, Jojoba & Mint Facial
Nature's Gate Revitalizing Facial Scrub
Zia Natural Skincare Natural Microdermabrasion Scrub
So the moral to the story is: Read labels! You might be buying more plastic than just the container!
Labels: soap
posted by Fake Plastic Fish @ 11:14 PM
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18 Comments:
Crap. That sucks. I'm glad I've never used any of those brands. Right now I'm using Desert Sun or something like that with Jojoba and Almond meal or something. I also usually use Saint Ives Apricot which has walnuts. Only problem there some say that's too harsh for your skin. Can't imagine plastic is much better! Thanks for the info.
Ugh. Why would anyone want to wash his or her face with plastic beads? That's like ... I don't know, using a plastic toilet brush to scrub your back!
I think using a washcloth every day will remove as much dead skin as a scrub. You can spread moisurizer, cleansing lotion or soap lather on wet skin and go over it with a damp washcloth or use a damp washcloth with nothing else.
Baking soda is a great exfoliator. I combine it with any lotion I can put on my face and very, very gently work it over my skin and then rinse. If you apply too much pressure, you'll "scratch" the skin, since baking soda is an abrasive. But I scrub it along the sides of and on the soles of my feet, where the skin is tough.
Aw crud, the one I have has polyethelene in it. So do I throw it out or what???
Anyway, you can make your own body scrub. Just mix equal amounts of sugar or salt (your preference although most use sugar) and olive oil or any other veggie oil. You can add herbs like rosemary or lavender for the aromatherapy benefits.
Thanks so much for providing a list of the cleansers that don't have plastic beads. I just found out yesterday about the problem, and of course the Oil of Olay I'm using had the plastic. I'll switch to one of the others right away.
I just read about how polyethylene beads in body scrubs are consumed by animals that live in the water. Of course I have 2 products with them that I won't be using any more! Thanks for providing the info. Check out the book The World Without Us for more about plastic in the oceans.
I used to work in the cosmetics industry. The reason plastic is used for scrubs is that the size and shape of the bead can be controlled which is better for your skin abrasive-wise and product packaging. If the size and shape of the beads are controlled the pumps/bottles are a stable size in addition to the benefits to your skin.
Those that use apricot, peach, avocado, etc... use the seed/pit and when those are ground there is no control and many of the pieces are sharp which scratch/cut the skin. Abrading your skin several times a week is not good - especially your face.
It's interesting, the product I used to represent uses polyethylene. I still use it because it is the best product I have ever used. However, I never even thought about the plastic until reading this. Of course I know it contained plastic but I never thought of it - wishful non-connection?!
I'm sure I can find something better for me and the environment - I like some of the suggestions other posters left.
What are the suggestions to do with the product I have left?
Wow. Who knew?!?!?!? I'm glad my rosacea-riddled face forced me to quit using scrubs some years ago! It's just frigtening how pervasive it is! Thanks for the research!
That's crazy! Thanks for sharing that!
Back when I used a scrub, I used something from the Body Shop that was basically ground up azuki beans. I'd never even think to suspect there was PLASTIC in facial scrub.
Hi Anonymous. What to do with the unused product? I think in this case it would probably do less harm in a landfill than being allowed to flush down the drain. You don't want to add more plastic to our waterways. Anyone else have a different opinion?
As a professional esthetician polyethelyne beads are safe. They do not enter the peidermis at all, they are rounded with soft edges so no micro-tears on the epidermis like the apricot scrubs (which are never to be used on the face - ever!)- yes I know they saw that on the package - NEVER ON THE FACE!!! Micro tears intot he epidermis (if you were to look at the skin under a microscope). These micro tears allow bacteria (good and bad to enter the skin). Polyethelyne beads don't sound so bad after all do they? Have a nice day ladies!
Dear anonymous professional esthetician, please reread the article. It is not about whether or not polyethylene beads are safe for the face. It's whether or not flushing them down the drain is safe for our oceans and eco-system. Plastic accumulates toxins in the environment and enters the food chain. Please do some more reading about this issue. The article, Plastic Ocean, on my left sidebar is a great place to start.
I accidentally posted anonymously but I asked the question about what to do with product that I have...
Throwing it away would mean throwing away a 32oz. recyclable plastic bottle as well as the plastic pump and stem. I could empty the bottle into something - I fear that just putting it in the trash it will end up in the soil and still pollute.
I hate these kind of conundrums! This reminds me of most elections - which is the lesser of the two evils choice?!
MyChelles "incredible pumpkin peel" is a glorious way to exfoliate, especially if like me one has sensitive skin; it exfoliates helps cellular turnover and truly leaves my face smooth and soft, doesn't dry out at all! I wish more of the world were as conscious as this gem of an article merci
This is revolting! It's so unnecessary!
I bought some Softsoap bodywash with moisture beads.
http://www.drugstore.com/products/prod.asp?pid=165899&catid=64337
The label doesn't list polyethylene, but I'm wondering if those moisture beads are of the same stuff, or if they dissolve. Can you help me?
Thanks for an awesome blog! I live on Guam so the firsthand effects of what we toss in the water (with intent and otherwise) are especially clear to me.
Hi GuamGal. It doesn't look like it's got plastic in it. I think the moisture beads are made from gelatin. The things that have plastic are exfolliating scrubs that feel rough on your skin.
That said, there are some worrisome ingredients in the bodywash. For one thing, the label lists "fragrance," which probably means phthalates. Check out my post about Pure & Natural soap for more info about fragrance and phthalates:
http://www.fakeplasticfish.com/2008/06/pure-natural-is-just-name-not.html
Beth
I'm so glad to find this post. I've been using one of the plastic-containing brands, and I had no idea. The concept that I'm washing my face with plastic that will go down the drain and stay in our environment -- argh! I'm going to try one of the alternatives mentioned in your blog or the comments. Thanks for sharing this information.
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