Why We Should Choose Skincare Products That Don’t Contain Microbeads

Very few of us ever stand in front of the bathroom mirror, massaging our exfoliant into our skin, wondering where those gritty little bits that make our skin feel oh-so-soft go after we rinse them down the plughole. We assume that because the products we use are available to purchase, they must be safe to use, right? Well, sadly no. Many of us are unwittingly engaging in an act of pollution simply by using skincare products in the shower each morning!

Way back in 2017, the USA, the UK prohibited the use of non-biodegradable microbeads in personal care products due to the damage effect they have on marine life, the environment and human health. Other countries such as The Netherlands, Canada, France, New Zealand, Ireland, Italy, India and Thailand soon followed suit by legislating bans on the use of microbeads in the production of rinse off personal care products. As Shane Cucous, from the Australian Marine Conservation explains “Any amount of these plastic can be dangerous to ocean wildlife. Microbeads are mistaken as food and ingested by all kind of organisms, including corals, phytoplanktons, zooplanktons, sea urchins, lobsters and even fish…Recent studies have shown that the likelihood of disease increases from 4% to 89% when corals are in contact with plastic.” So, you may be surprised to hear that the removal of microbeads has been on a ‘voluntary’ basis here in Australia, meaning it’s very possible you still have them lurking in the personal care products in your bathroom.

But, when you know better, you can do better.

Personally, I love exfoliating at least once or twice a week to slough away any dead skin cells and get rid of any debris and bacteria build up which can cause spots or the dreaded blackheads. I’ve recently discovered Microdermabrasion Exfoliating Scrub by Enbacci and I love it. Not only does it leave my skin feeling smooth and radiant, it’s made using alumina – or aluminium oxide – a natural and environmentally-safe compound extracted from sedimentary rock called bauxite.

Measuring as small as 8 microns, the crushed rock is refined into small, sphere-like beads and densely packed into a nourishing cream to gently dislodge dead skin cells, unclog pores, and improve blood circulation and lymphatic drainage.

Unlike plastic microbeads which form oceanic waste and is consumed by animals, alumina is non-toxic to wildlife.

In addition, its refined, rounded texture minimises micro-tears on the skin and makes it a superior alternative to larger, damaging particles such as fruit pits and nut shells which can exacerbate inflammatory skin conditions, such as acne, and cause further damage to the epidermis.

Other Reasons to Try the Microdermabrasion Exfoliating Scrub by Enbacci

If you are looking for a new exfoliant that doesn’t contain toxic microbeads, here are a few other reasons why I love this product.

It is formulated at a PH of 4 – 4.5 to ensure skin integrity and minimal irritation.
Gently polishes away dead skin cells and improves surface circulation and facial tone.
Helps reduce accumulation of solidified sebum and acne-causing bacteria.
Contains moisturising and skin nourishing ingredients such as shea butter, glycerin and Vit E.
Partnering with i=Change, Enbacci donates $1 from each sale to selected projects, including Seabin Foundation for cleaner oceans and waterways.
Australian made and owned.
RRP $45 75ml

For more information or to purchase from the Enbacci range visit www.enbacci.com

Disclosure: I was gifted this product for the purpose of providing a review. All thoughts and opinions expressed here are my own.