Is Plastic A Problem In Your Beauty Routine?

Microplastics and plastic-related chemicals in everyday products are a conversation the beauty industry can no longer ignore. They're not just found in oceans and food chains — they're in beauty and personal care products too, sometimes hidden behind complex ingredient names. Why? Because they're known to stabilise formulations, improve texture, create a silky or smooth skin feel and extend shelf life. But while they can improve product performance, plastic ingredients simply do not belong in skincare formulations. And if there is any uncertainty around whether an ingredient contains plastic, it shouldn't be used.

Emerging research suggests that humans are ingesting and inhaling more microplastics than at any point in recorded history, with studies linking microplastic exposure to cancer, heart attacks, reproductive problems and a host of other issues. Earlier this year, Netflix released a documentary, The Plastic Detox, focusing on the impact of microplastics on our hormones and their contribution to health problems including infertility — proof that the conversation has never been louder.

When it comes to cosmetics, research from the Plastic Soup Foundation highlights the scale of plastic use still embedded in the beauty industry. An analysis of more than 7,700 cosmetic and personal care products from leading global brands found that 87% contained microplastics or synthetic polymers. As Co-Chair of the B Corp Beauty Coalition, I've long pushed for brands to move away from plastic-based ingredients. My own label, Beauty Kitchen, has never used plastic ingredients in its formulations since we launched in 2014.

But until the wider industry makes a real change to its approach, it's us, the consumers, who are increasingly looking for ways to better understand the ingredients in our everyday products and reduce plastic in our routines. So, here are five simple ways to do exactly that.

1. Pause On 'Poly'. Start with the labels on your bathroom shelf. Plastic ingredients often appear under technical chemical names, so they're not always easy to spot. I tell people to pause if they see 'poly' — it's an easy way to remember. Ingredients like Polyethylene, Polypropylene and Polyacrylamide are plastic-based polymers; you'll also find others like Acrylates Copolymer, PVP and Nylon. They're commonly used in moisturisers, cleansers, sunscreens, shampoos and makeup to thicken formulas or create that smooth, silky finish.

2. Not All That Glitters Is Gold. Microbeads have been banned in many countries, including the UK, but plastic particles can still appear in cosmetic products. They've historically been used to create exfoliating effects in scrubs or shimmering finishes in makeup and body products.

3. Scan Before You Slather. If you're unsure about an ingredient, double-check it. Apps such as PlasticFreeFuture, developed by the Plastic Soup Foundation, allow you to scan or search ingredients to find out whether plastic polymers may be present in a product.

4. Check Your Shelf. Plastic ingredients aren't limited to one type of product — they can appear in skincare, shampoo and conditioner, sunscreen, cleansers and makeup. Looking at your whole routine can help identify where microplastics might be hiding.

5. It's Not Just What's Inside. Reducing plastic in beauty isn't only about ingredients — packaging matters too. Look for brands that are both microplastic-free and packaged in refillable or returnable containers. At Beauty Kitchen, we use glass, aluminium or stainless steel, and our returnable packaging programme Reposit allows customers to send containers back (for free) to be professionally cleaned and reused, creating a truly circular system.