At healthy HQ, we were delighted to hear of government plans to ban microbeads – exfoliating plastic particles found in body scrubs to toothpastes – in response to marine pollution. The ban on the particles (often called polyethylene or polypropylene on labels) in cosmetics and cleaning products by 2017 has been dubbed the new ‘5p plastic bag charge’.
‘Banning them is also good from a dermatology point of view,’ says Bianca Estelle, of Bea Skin Clinic. ‘As overuse may tear skin and could cause infection.’
Products with natural exfoliants include Sukín’s Super Greens Facial Scrub* (£9.99 for 125ml) with jojoba beads and ground bamboo. Head to healthy-magazine.co.uk for more microbead-free buys.