The U.S Bans Mircobeads

Yesterday I casually mentioned in a blog review that I actively avoiding purchasing any beauty product that features microbeads, a wonderful reader Cheryl kindly commented on such article saying that are set U.S to outlaw mircobeads. Yes!

After reading a few articles it seems that the House of Representatives have approved a bill that will phase out microbeads throughout the whole of the U.S - The Microbead Free Waters Act. Admittedly the act will not spring into action immediately nor will it be an instant ban, rather beginning on 1 July 2017, cosmetic brands will begin to phase out the tiny, plastic beads often found in toothpaste, body wash and of course body scrubs.

 This isn't the first time that the U.S has tackled the problem head on, Illinois banned the sale of products containing the tiny beads in 2014 and before the widespread bill, California pledged to phase out the beads by 2020. Here in the U.K 25 manufacturers have stated that will ensure that all of their products are 100% microbead free, a small start but a start none the less. I just hope that the U.K and of course Europe follow the lead of the U.S and offer something similar to the The Microbead Free Waters Act.

So what is the problem with those often bright, teeny tiny particles found in beauty products? Well for starters, more often than not microbeads are not biodegradable - meaning they will never dissolve nor disappear. Rather when they are washed away down the drain, they go straight into the sewer system and as water plants don't have the technology to filter them out of the water, the beads wash up into sea causing pollution. Current research, which I do hasten to add is still ongoing has suggested that the beads may be absorbing toxins along the way. It has also been found that marine life confuse the small beads as food and of course consume them, as many eat fish there is a good chance that unwittingly along the way you too have consumed plastic.

Truthfully there is no real need for microbeads: they are dated, ineffective and often the cause of skin irritation - in the past I have used them, clueless about the environmental consequences and can vouch those, bizarre little beads do next to nothing beneficial to your skin. There are several, environmentally friendly options everywhere - be it on the aisles of the Supermarket, your bathroom shelf or even a quick D.I.Y alternative.

Well done America, hopefully we all adopt a similar stance soon.