As we come to the end of plastic free July, we wanted to highlight a hot topic that most consumers are overlooking when choosing and using personal care – it’s not just the packaging, it’s the microplastics that are hiding in them.  Everyone is talking about reducing the plastic packaging on the outside - which is a huge problem particularly in mainstream beauty -  but what about the microplastics that are lurking inside of your beauty products?

What are microplastics?

The term refers to all types of tiny plastic particles (synthetic polymers), including nanoplastics, that are added in manufacture to hundreds and hundreds of everyday personal care and cosmetic products, such as creams, hair care, lipstick, body washes, scrubs, toothpaste. Their purpose?  Mostly used as cheap fillers, emulsifiers to add stability or to enhance glide and skin feel. 

Why are they a problem?
Microplastics are having both a huge environmental impact as well being harmful to human health. Tonnes of microplastics are being released into our marine environments.  They have low water solubility and are not biodegradable, so once they enter our waterways, they contribute to the ‘plastic soup’ swirling around our oceans. Consequently they pass along the marine food chain, so it likely that ultimately we will also be ingesting microplastics.

Current research shows that microplastics are also being found accumulating in our blood, lungs, placenta, infiltrating our bodies and are linked to many chronic diseases.

Just one example of an anti ageing  cream formula tested as containing 1.4 million microplastics!  One tiny application of this put as much as 90,000 particles on your face! Some of these particles were smaller than the average diameter of human hair (nano-plastics), which have the ability to be very deeply absorbed by the body – an extremely thought provoking matter of concern for our health and well-being, don't you think?

Almost 9 out of 10 cosmetic products contain microplastics, and this isn’t going to change any time soon, unless large manufacturers find alternatives and change their cycle and content of manufacture.

So what can we do to avoid them?
Get a free app! Go to ‘Beat the Microbead’, and download their free app which allows you to scan ingredient labels for microplastics.  This app is a brilliant and easy way to scan your personal care and cosmetics for microplastics.

Choose local, smaller brands for your personal care and cosmetic needs that are using genuinely natural and sustainable ingredients, that are free of microplastics and synthetic chemicals.

Make a difference!
Now is the time to break the plastic cycle in your cosmetics today! 

Let’s be mindful of our impact on this planet, our health and future generations. We must learn how to move forward and create change – and it all starts with us to effect these bigger changes in our world.

NSA products are proudly microplastic free, so if you are reading this, why not try us out for your personal care needs to do your bit in helping the planet and taking steps towards a healthier you!

Until the end of July, you can save 15% off your order and forever ditch the microplastics in your beauty products!