We can't find the internet
Attempting to reconnect
Something went wrong!
Hang in there while we get back on track
Microplastics and Cosmetics: A Historical Overview
Summary
This historical review traces how personal care products shifted from natural abrasives to synthetic plastic microbeads from the 1980s onward, and how mounting environmental concerns eventually triggered regulatory bans in multiple countries. The history is directly relevant to understanding a major deliberate source of microplastic pollution and to evaluating whether current substitutes are genuinely safer alternatives.
For more than five decades, personal care and cosmetic products (PCCPs) have incorporated microplastics (MPs) into their formulations. Initially, naturally derived abrasives were employed; however, from the 1980s onward, synthetic plastic microbeads were increasingly adopted as polishing agents due to their lower cost, extended shelf life—particularly with respect to microbial stability—and reduced potential for skin irritation. Microplastics, especially those from rinse-off PCCPs, are subsequently released into the environment, raising significant environmental concerns. In response, regulatory measures have been introduced in several countries to restrict the use of MPs in PCCPs, prompting the development of alternative materials. This contribution examines the historical evolution of microplastic use in PCCPs, with particular emphasis on patent activity in this field.