If you have ever washed your face or lathered your body (maybe even used certain toothpastes) with a ‘scrub’ type product, there is a very strong chance you have used microbeads. These tiny plastic balls that are sometimes found in cosmetic and grooming products are devastating for the environment, and yet millions of people use them worldwide.
Manufacturers add them to products because it feels nice to scrub your skin with these smooth even particles, and they are more effective than natural ingredients (like the crushed nut shells you can find in their place) at smoothing the skin’s surface. They are also a cheap way to add ‘filler’ to products.