If you’re not entirely sure about the dangers of microbeads in body scrubs, face exfoliators and certain polishing toothpastes, check out our detailed primer on what exactly these beads are and why they’re so harmful to marine life (and our health in the long run).
Although there are dermatologists who disapprove of microbeads because they’re abrasive and can tear skin, they tend to end up in a lot of products due to how cheap microbeads are to produce. There are of course a variety of natural DIY exfoliation alternatives like sugar, salt, rice, oatmeal, and coffee, that can be made into scrubs with other ingredients like honey or yoghurt.
When it comes to the skincare industry, there have been an increase in exfoliating alternatives on the market such as products that contain synthetic wax beads (biodegradable), jojoba spheres, salicylic acid, lactic acid, or natural fruit enzymes.
To get you started on your path to a microbead-less life, here are 10 facial exfoliating alternatives we recommend.