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PART 1 OF THE MICROPLASTY SERIES – MICROPLASTY IN COSMETICS
Where do they actually come from?
Cosmetics are supposed to take care of the skin. But in recent years, scientists have begun to draw attention to a problem hidden in many common products – microplastics .
These are tiny particles of synthetic polymers that are so small that we cannot see them with the naked eye. Yet they are present almost everywhere today . In water, soil, air and, according to new studies, even in the human body.
The cosmetics industry is one of their sources.
Microplastics directly in the composition of cosmetics
Some cosmetic products contain microplastics directly in their formulation.
For example, they are used:
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as exfoliating particles
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to create product texture
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for optical effect in decorative cosmetics.
A study analyzing common cosmetic products found synthetic polymer particles in four out of eight products tested .
Microplastics have been found, for example, in:
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glitter gels
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cleaning pastes
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exfoliants
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some decorative products.
The researchers also point out that conventional analytical methods sometimes fail to correctly identify microplastics, so it is possible that their actual prevalence is even higher.
Why are microplastics used in cosmetics?
The reason is simple: They are cheap, stable, and technologically easy to use.
In cosmetics, they can serve, for example, as:
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thickeners
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texture stabilizers
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abrasive particles
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pigment carriers.
From a technological perspective, they are a quick but not entirely healthy shortcut. And they pose a long-term problem for the environment.
Microplastics take hundreds of years to decompose
Unlike natural substances , synthetic polymers decompose extremely slowly .
They can persist in the environment for hundreds of years and gradually break down into smaller and smaller particles – microplastics and nanoplastics.
These particles then get:
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into aquatic ecosystems
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into the soil
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into the food chain.
Microplastic regulation begins
It is precisely because of these impacts that governments are gradually beginning to regulate their use.
Regulation has been adopted in the European Union
REACH 2023/2055 , which gradually limits microplastics in cosmetics.
For example:
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rinse-off cosmetics - ban from 2027
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leave-on cosmetics - ban from 2029
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decorative products – ban until 2035.
It can also be done differently.
Bohemian Cosmetics is a conscious choice for both the skin and the planet. We work exclusively with natural, organic ingredients sourced from small Czech farmers and herbalists . Each product is created according to our own recipe and produced in small batches. This gives us full control over the entire process – from the raw material to the final packaging.
You won't find synthetics or microplastics in our products. We only use natural stabilizers and pure, functional ingredients.
In addition, we package cosmetics in a compostable biopolymer, which reliably protects them and does not burden nature or release harmful substances.
But microplastics are not just in their composition
Perhaps even more surprising is that microplastics may not end up in cosmetics just from the product's composition itself.
They can also be made from plastic packaging . And that's exactly what we'll be focusing on in the next part.
Written with love and respect
Margaret V.
