Microbeads? Microkillers!

You know those little colourful beads in our exfoliating scrubs?

I read a rather scary article the other day and it turns out the majority of them are made from polyethylene and polypropylene plastic. Because microbeads are so small they don't get picked up at treatment plants and therefore end up in aquatic ecosystems, scientists are now finding large concentrations of plastics in the water systems and in animals! A scientist from 5 Gyres which works in the area of plastic pollution, Dr. Marcus Eriksen said "the scary thing is that the beads sponge up toxins, then get consumed by organisms from shellfish to crabs to fish" - and who eats fish? We do.

Witch Gentle
Exfoliating Facewash

If this happens to be something that bothers you there are a couple of alternatives...

1. I have found a couple of facewashes, like Witch, that contain natural microbeads. As far as I am aware, please correct me if I am not, these shouldn't affect the ecosystems.                                                                         
2. Sugar. I know, weird, but ever since I made my own bodyscrub where sugar was the 'scrub' I have been adding it to my normal soap and facewash as an exfoliant. It seems to work pretty well, just don't scrub your teeth with it!

If you are interested to read more about the affect the microbeads are having on wildlife this is a good article to read: http://www.truthdig.com/eartotheground/item/those_beads_in_your_body_wash_theyre_harming_ecosystems_20140126

And if you want to take it further there is a petition going round to ban exfoliating microbeads, check it out:
http://forcechange.com/73040/ban-exfoliating-microbeads-for-their-harm-to-aquatic-life/