Microplastics in Personal Care Products and Cosmetics

The environmental predominance of microplastics has grown to be a significant worldwide concern. Personal care and cosmetic products (PCCPs) with microbeads are single of the important causes of environmental microplastics. Solid primary microplastics with a diameter of less than five millimeters, known as microbeads, are utilized in cosmetic products to either exfoliate or cleanse the skin. Several products like soap, shampoo, deodorant, toothpaste, moisturizer, wrinkle treatment, sunscreen lotion, face mask, lipstick, eye shadow, kids’ bubble bath, and more are known to contain microplastics, which can be spherical or irregular in shape. Since the quantities of plastic materials used in the formulations of personal care products and cosmetics globally are not publicly disclosed, it is impossible to estimate the true extent of the damage caused by microplastics. Once disposed of, full biodegradation of these plastics is not possible due to their stable chemical nature coupled with environmental constraints and the lack of an effective recovery mechanism. Scientists have proposed a prohibition on goods containing microbeads, mostly due to their potential effects on human health and the environment, and the fact that there were always choices available at comparable costs. Due to growing public concerns, some European and other countries around the world have taken governmental action against these microbeads and, to a lesser extent, other microplastics used in cosmetics. This book chapter offers an in-depth overview of the literature on microbeads in cosmetics up to this point, emphasizing the efforts taken to discourage their use and raising concerns about whether upcoming contamination from microbeads and/or microplastics in cosmetics has been effectively addressed.