The global beauty industry talks about skin-friendly ingredients and skin-loving ingredients but have you ever heard of microplastics in makeup? It would not be a wise perception that microplastics only impact the environment. Microplastics are liquid plastics or synthetic polymers that damage the skin from within, which is why cosmetic products work until you use them and retrograde when you switch or stop. We feel privileged to be participating in the movement of microplastic cleanup by introducing a 100% Microplastic-free range of products. While on a trip to Europe, our founder Mr Nitin identified the gap and decided to revolutionize the beauty industry as well as make the best skincare accessible to the end consumer. The alarming is the use of microplastic in skin care products, products that are meant to take care, should not damage the skin. Yes, you heard it right! Microplastics can potentially cause major harm and affect our skin and body in several ways ranging from short-term harm to severe long-term damage. With the #SayNoToMicroplastic campaign, we at La Pink aim to develop awareness about the adverse effects of microplastic on health and the environment.
So what are microplastics? Tiny synthetic polymers that are widely used in the beauty industry, be it skincare products, makeup products, or even hygiene products. They are added for various reasons; they serve as bulking agents, texture enhancers, shelf life extenders, and to limit the excessive release of active ingredients.
German and South Korean companies have eliminated the use of microbeads, which are just a portion of microplastics. However, microplastics are still widely used in liquid form for various reasons, despite their harmful impact on health and the environment. Some common reasons can be stated as being cheap, readily available, having been used for a long time, and the fact that no one is ready to invest in R&D and make changes.
Rinse-off products, let’s say microplastics in face wash, cause direct harm to the environment. However leave-on products such as moisturizers, face cream, eye cream, and even sunscreen penetrate the skin and cause severe damage to the skin's health.
Microplastics have the potential to mess with hormones and cause major disruption internally which can lead to cancer, signs may not be visible externally at the initial point in time.
Reasons to opt for cosmetics without microplastic include their potential harm to the skin, some of them are:
- Skin Irritation: Some people may experience skin irritation from chemical additives and preservatives used in conjunction with liquid microplastic, which can lead to skin irritation, redness, and even cancer.
- Sensitivity: People with sensitive skin may be more susceptible to the adverse effects of microplastics, which can exacerbate conditions like eczema and dermatitis.
- Skin Barrier Disruption: Microplastics in liquid form can interfere with the skin's natural barrier function. This can make skin more susceptible to environmental pollutants and allergens, potentially leading to increased skin sensitivity.
- Chemical Absorption: Microplastics can carry and release harmful chemicals, such as phthalates and bisphenol A (BPA). These chemicals can get absorbed through our skin and may cause long-term health conditions and hormone disruption.
- Bioaccumulation: There is concern about the bioaccumulation of microplastics and their associated chemicals in human tissues, which could clog the skin and prohibit it from breathing.
- Apart from sacrificing your skin health, you will also be sacrificing your immune system. Microplastic content present in your lipstick enters your body via food intake. The plastic damage should be no suspense to the consumers who fear eating and drinking from plastic boxes or bottles.
- Babies ingest 10 times more microplastics than adults: A research found that 12 microplastic fragments in four out of six placentas donated by women after the birth of their children.
(Only 3 percent of the tissue from each placenta was sampled, suggesting the total number of microplastic pieces could be much higher). Let alone the presence of microplastics in baby products, babies can get contaminated with microplastics before they even enter our world.
So the question is, if microplastics are so harmful, why do brands still use them? Some common reasons can be stated as:
Microplastics are Cheap: Brands want profitability even at the cost of health and the environment. When one ingredient is easily available at 100rs/kg and serves their purpose why would they opt for an alternative that costs 10x more? (Please note the price mentioned is just for reference purposes).
Famous skincare brands are resistant to investing in research and development: It costs a ton for research and then makes changes accordingly. Not just money but a lot of other resources are to be put up in the same and no brand is ready to do that.
Microplastics have been used for a lot of years and in hundreds of products: Even if brands soes invest in research and find their products faulty by any means (which they definitely will) and introduce a new range of products that are microplastic free skincare. It will not only harm their credibility in the market but also cost them a ton to discontinue lakhs of products that have already been manufactured.
Time is Money: Alternatives are not readily available and searching for them, extracting and importing them then manufacturing a whole new range will take years of work, it may get normalized after 5 years down the line if the government intervenes in the matter and bans the use of microplastics, you can surely expect a revolution, but why should a consumer suffer?
How to identify microplastics in your skincare?
One of the easiest ways to identify microplastics is to check the ingredients list, if your skincare contains either of these ingredients then consider it as a big NO or a complete red flag for your skin:
- Phthalates
- Parabens
- Heavy metals
- Cadmium
- Lead
- Triclosan
- Sulfates
- Toluene
- Synthetic colours
- Talc
- PEG
- Formaldehyde
- Diethanolamine
Conclusion:
Finding a replacement for microplastics is important to eliminate the associated risks such as skin diseases, skin cancer, impact on newborns, etc. #SayNoToMicroplastics initiated by La Pink addresses the severe impacts of microplastics in skin care. We are not just making 100% microplastic-free products but formulating them with rare and imported ingredients like sea lettuce, meadowsweet flowers, and white haldi. A total of 1200 ingredients that we use in our skincare and hair care range have all been backed by scientific research.
The quest to produce cosmetics without microplastic began 2 years before establishing the foundation of La Pink, both the founders stepped onto the grounds to understand the gap and formulated products multiple times to come up with the effective range that is live now. Indian market is saturated with natural beauty products containing microplastics and no one is still talking about the microplastic cleanup. Our formulations not only tackle the actual skin problems but maintain the pH level, delivering exceptional results to all skin types with just one type of (let us say) facewash. After thorough research and creating a comprehensive mix of nature with science, we have come up with solutions to address every problem.
Our main ingredient is white Haldi! You will find it in every product, but we always aspire to go 10 steps ahead and find the best possible solution, white haldi is not just a rare ingredient exported from Australia but it is 10X more effective and powerful than usual yellow haldi. Kakadu Plum is a source of Vitamin C instead of the usual oranges and lemons that are widely used. Kakadu plum contains up to 100X more vitamin C content than lemon or orange.
Make an informed choice and choose cosmetics without microplastics offered by La Pink. Some of our best recommendations would be:
microplastic free face products, microplastic free hair products
