Papers

61,005 results
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Article Tier 2

Polymers and the eco-design transformation. A cosmetic perspective

This review examines the role of polymers in cosmetic products and strategies for eco-design transformation, analyzing the development of environmentally friendly polymer alternatives that maintain cosmetic performance and safety while reducing microplastic pollution, with attention to biodegradability, renewable sourcing, and regulatory requirements across the product lifecycle.

2025 Green Materials
Article Tier 2

Strategy for the development of a new stick formula without microplastics

This study developed a microplastic-free cosmetic stick formula to replace polyethylene, which is commonly used in cosmetics as a structuring agent but passes through wastewater treatment plants and accumulates in aquatic environments. The researchers identified functional alternatives that maintained product performance, demonstrating that microplastic ingredients in personal care products can be eliminated through reformulation without sacrificing quality.

2024 Sustainable Chemistry and Pharmacy 3 citations
Article Tier 2

An integrated approach to address the biodegradability of cosmetic formulations as part of a corporate sustainability strategy

Not relevant to microplastics — this paper describes a corporate sustainability framework for evaluating and improving the biodegradability of cosmetic product portfolios, helping companies prioritize reformulation of high-impact products and ingredients.

2024 International Journal of Cosmetic Science 2 citations
Article Tier 2

Innovative Approaches to an Eco-Friendly Cosmetic Industry: A Review of Sustainable Ingredients

This review examines sustainable alternatives to conventional cosmetic ingredients, including plant-based, microbial, and recycled materials that could replace synthetic and potentially harmful components. While not directly about microplastics, cosmetic microbeads have been a significant source of microplastic pollution, and the push for eco-friendly ingredients helps reduce plastic particles entering waterways. The shift toward sustainable cosmetics is part of broader efforts to decrease human exposure to synthetic microparticles.

2024 Clean Technologies 72 citations
Article Tier 2

Sustentabilidade no processo produtivo da indústria cosmética: uma revisão da literatura

This systematic literature review examined sustainability practices in the cosmetics industry, including the growing concern over microplastic ingredients in cosmetic products. The review identified trends toward greener formulations, sustainable packaging, and consumer-driven pressure for environmental responsibility. The cosmetics sector is increasingly recognizing its environmental impact and exploring alternatives to synthetic microplastics.

2022 Research Society and Development 5 citations
Article Tier 2

Sustainable encapsulation of lipophilic fragrances using biodegradable sodium alginate for cosmetic applications

Researchers developed a sustainable encapsulation method for lipophilic fragrances using biodegradable sodium alginate, replacing conventional non-biodegradable microplastic-classified shell materials used in cosmetics, food, and detergent industries. The approach offers a viable eco-friendly alternative that reduces microplastic pollution from fragrance encapsulation applications.

2025 Colloids and Surfaces B Biointerfaces
Article Tier 2

Application Possibilities of Sustainable Nanostructured Silica-Based Materials in Cosmetics

This review explores the application of sustainable nanostructured silica-based materials in the cosmetics industry, emphasizing green synthesis methods that use plant-derived raw materials. The study highlights how these biocompatible materials could serve as alternatives to synthetic microplastic ingredients currently used in cosmetic products, potentially reducing microplastic pollution from personal care products.

2025 Cosmetics 1 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastics in Cosmetics: Open Questions and Sustainable Opportunities

This review examines the role of microplastics in cosmetic products and the industry's transition toward sustainable alternatives as regulations tighten worldwide. Researchers surveyed the properties that make plastic particles useful in cosmetics, such as texture and appearance enhancement, alongside their environmental drawbacks. The study provides an overview of emerging bio-based and biodegradable replacement materials that could help the personal care industry eliminate microplastics from formulations.

2024 ChemSusChem 23 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastics (MPs) in Cosmetics: A Review on Their Presence in Personal-Care, Cosmetic, and Cleaning Products (PCCPs) and Sustainable Alternatives from Biobased and Biodegradable Polymers

This review documents how microplastics are widely used in personal care products, cosmetics, and cleaning supplies as exfoliants, film formers, and texture enhancers. These products wash down the drain and contribute to environmental microplastic pollution, which can ultimately cycle back to humans through contaminated water and food.

2024 Cosmetics 42 citations
Article Tier 2

Trends in the Manufacture and Design of Sustainable Cosmetics

This review examines emerging trends in sustainable cosmetics manufacturing, covering the adoption of natural ingredients, eco-friendly packaging, reduced environmental footprints, and pro-environmental consumer behavior driving the shift toward sustainable beauty product design.

2023 Clinical Dermatology Open Access Journal 3 citations
Article Tier 2

An Eco-friendly Alternative to Polyethylene Microbeads in Personal Healthcare Products

This paper proposes eco-friendly, biodegradable alternatives to polyethylene microbeads used as exfoliants in personal care products like shower gels. Replacing synthetic plastic microbeads with natural materials would reduce a direct source of microplastic pollution entering waterways through drain runoff.

2020 International Journal of Innovative Science and Research Technology (IJISRT)
Article Tier 2

Effect of Addition of Spheroidal Cellulose Powders on Physicochemical and Functional Properties of Cosmetic Emulsions

The cosmetics industry has historically used tiny plastic microbeads as scrubbing and texturizing agents in face creams, but these are now widely banned due to environmental harm. This study evaluated spheroidal cellulose powders — derived from plant material — as a biodegradable replacement, finding that creams containing cellulose particles of two different sizes (2 and 7 µm) performed best, delivering good skin hydration, favorable texture, and high consumer sensory ratings. The results support cellulose-based particles as a viable and genuinely biodegradable substitute for synthetic microplastics in personal care products.

2025 Polymers 1 citations
Article Tier 2

Rational Design of Sustainable Liquid Microcapsules for Spontaneous Fragrance Encapsulation

Researchers designed sustainable liquid microcapsules for fragrance encapsulation using bio-based rather than petroleum-derived materials, reducing environmental impact. This approach could replace conventional capsules that shed microplastic particles into wastewater when rinsed off personal care products.

2021 Angewandte Chemie 7 citations
Article Tier 2

Applications of Natural, Semi-Synthetic, and Synthetic Polymers in Cosmetic Formulations

This review covers the use of natural, semi-synthetic, and synthetic polymers in cosmetic formulations, including nanoparticles used for fragrance and active ingredient delivery. It highlights the role of polymer type in cosmetic product performance while also noting environmental concerns about microplastic-releasing synthetic polymer cosmetic additives.

2020 Cosmetics 175 citations
Article Tier 2

Research on the Performance of Cosmetics Packaging Materials under the Background of Green Transformation

Researchers systematically analyzed cosmetics packaging materials from three dimensions — material properties, production processes, and recycling pathways — in the context of the global green transformation push. The study identified performance optimization strategies for sustainable cosmetic packaging, highlighting trade-offs between sensory appeal and environmental responsibility.

2025 Frontiers in Computing and Intelligent Systems
Article Tier 2

Compositions of Abrasive Cosmetics from Polish Manufacturers

Researchers analyzed the compositions of abrasive cosmetics sold by Polish manufacturers to determine how many still contain plastic microbeads despite growing regulatory pressure to ban them, finding that manufacturers are increasingly switching to natural alternatives. This work documents the transition away from intentionally added microplastics in personal care products, which are a direct and preventable route of microplastic release into wastewater.

2023 Cosmetics 14 citations
Article Tier 2

Current research trends on cosmetic microplastic pollution and its impacts on the ecosystem: A review

This review examines the presence of microplastics in personal care, cosmetics, and cleaning products and their environmental impact. Researchers assessed the fate, degradation mechanisms, and routes through which cosmetic microplastics enter the environment. The study also discusses emerging technologies for removing cosmetic microplastics and highlights the need for sustainable alternatives to reduce this domestic source of pollution.

2023 Environmental Pollution 108 citations
Article Tier 2

Sustainable Innovation Practices in the Green Cosmetic Sector: A Brand Perspective

This study examined sustainability innovation practices in the green cosmetics sector from a brand perspective, focusing on how companies integrate sustainable packaging, ingredient sourcing, and microplastic-free formulations. The analysis found that leading green cosmetic brands are adopting holistic sustainability strategies beyond just product formulation changes.

2025 Journal of Sustainable Solutions.
Article Tier 2

Facile anchoring mussel adhesive mimic tentacles on biodegradable polymer cargo carriers via self-assembly for microplastic-free cosmetics

This study designed biodegradable, mussel-inspired adhesive molecules that help fragrance-carrying nanoparticles stick to hair, skin, and fabric, replacing the synthetic microplastic beads commonly used in personal care products. The approach demonstrates that functional performance in cosmetics can be achieved with biodegradable materials that don't contribute to microplastic pollution in wastewater.

2021 Journal of Colloid and Interface Science 11 citations
Article Tier 2

Surface Morphology-Enhanced Delivery of Bioinspired Eco-Friendly Microcapsules

Researchers developed biodegradable microcapsules made from proteins and biominerals as a sustainable replacement for the synthetic polymer microplastic particles used in many consumer products including cosmetics and paints. The capsules degraded naturally and performed comparably to conventional capsules in controlled release tests. Replacing non-biodegradable microcapsules with protein-mineral alternatives could significantly reduce microplastic pollution from consumer goods.

2022 ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces 7 citations
Article Tier 2

Plastics and Microplastic in the Cosmetic Industry: Aggregating Sustainable Actions Aimed at Alignment and Interaction with UN Sustainable Development Goals

This review examined how the cosmetics industry uses microplastics and petroleum-derived polymers in product formulations and packaging, and assessed industry efforts to align with UN Sustainable Development Goals. Regulatory pressure and bioeconomy policies are accelerating substitution of synthetic microplastics with bio-based alternatives.

2022 Polymers 56 citations
Article Tier 2

Cellulose Acetate Microsphere in Cosmetics Application and Sustainability Benefits

Researchers developed biodegradable cellulose acetate microspheres as a sustainable replacement for synthetic microplastic particles in cosmetics, producing smooth spherical particles via thermal phase separation that deliver comparable sensory performance while avoiding persistent plastic pollution in the environment.

2024 Journal of the Society of Powder Technology Japan
Article Tier 2

Development of New Spherical Silica as a Substitute for Microplastic Beads

This Japanese-language study describes the development of spherical silica particles as a skin-feel additive to replace microplastic beads in sunscreen and cosmetic products. Replacing synthetic microplastic beads in cosmetics with mineral-based alternatives directly prevents these particles from washing down drains and entering waterways.

2023 Journal of the Japan Society of Colour Material
Article Tier 2

Towards Sustainable Cosmetics Packaging

Not directly relevant to microplastics — this review examines the broader sustainability challenges of cosmetics packaging, including environmental, social, and economic trade-offs, without a specific focus on microplastic pollution.

2023 Preprints.org 10 citations