Polyethylene microbeads are said to be an increasing threat to the environment due to the fact that they do not biodegrade, ultimately accumulating in seas and waterways and posing a threat to marine life.
As an increasing number of cosmetics companies join the list of businesses pledging not to use this type of microbeads because of the threat to the environment, the search is now on for an alternative that can act as an effective exfoliant in skin care formulations, while also having an eco-friendly profile.
Jojoba Scrubeads, an alternative to polyethylene beads
The company says that Jojoba Scrubeads are a natural-based ingredient replacement for the polyethylene microbeads that have been created from a combination of castor oil and jojoba wax.
While also claimed to be a cost effective alternative, the formulation is said to provide skin softening and smoothing properties, while also serving to help accelerate the skin’s natural renewal process.
The formulation is also said to be gentle enough for daily use and can also be customized to a variety of color and granule sizes, to fit a wide range of skin care formulation requirements.
Awareness of the environmental hazard
"Exfoliation is a routine part of the skin cleansing regimen; exfoliants increase the effectiveness of a cleanser, helping to remove dead skin cells and dirt particles while enhancing skin's glow," said Soraya Rohde, Founder of Desert Whale Jojoba Company.
"Unfortunately, many products that well-meaning consumers use contain PE Beads. As awareness about this issue continues to grow, so does the demand for naturally-sourced ingredients that provide similar exfoliating effects. That's why we've introduced Jojoba Scrubeads."
Currently a list of formulations that contain Polyethylene beads that are available in the US can be found by clicking here.
State legislation and big players join the move against microbeads
Since February of this year, legislators in New York pledged to become the first to ban the use of microbeads on a state level, a move that was quickly followed by legislators in the state of California.
Following on from this, L’Oreal also announced in February of this year that it was planning to eradicate the use of microbeads from all its skin scrub formulation by the end of 2017.
This adds to both Colgate-Palmolive and Unilever, who have also made similar pledges to stop using microbeads during the course of the next few years.