Microbeads are those tiny, smooth plastic balls found in some of your favorite beauty products that supposedly help exfoliate your skin. They’re frequently found in face and body wash, but not for long! The U.S. Senate has just passed a bill, the Microbead-Free Waters Act of 2015, that plans to phase out microbeads by 2017 after this shocking discovery.
It was reported by CBS News that microbeads are devastating to both wildlife and human health. Once the beads are washed down the drain, they soak up chemicals. Upon reaching the ocean, those seemingly harmless microbeads are toxic nightmares. Fish eat them and ingest the toxins. In turn, if you eat fish, those same toxins end up on your plate and ultimately in your body.
While 2017 is still far away, you don’t need to worry about ingesting chemical toxins from seafood that much because many cosmetic companies have already begun to phase out the plastic beads. Lezlee Westine, the president and chief executive officer of the Personal Care Products Council told WWD that they “applaud today’s U.S. Senate passage of the Microbead-Free Waters Act of 2015, which creates a planned and pragmatic national phase-out process in the interest of both consumers and the personal-care products and cosmetics industry.”
How can you help in the meantime? Use products with natural scrubs such as oatmeal or jojoba bead granules. Their non-plastic exfoliators won’t harm you or the environment. It’s a win-win situation.
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The Terrifying Reason Why Microbeads Have Been Banned From Beauty Products
