avoid
Microbeads / Microplastics
Also known as: plastic microbeads, polyethylene beads
Plastic scrub beads are a hard avoid and largely banned in US wash-off cosmetics.
01. What it is
What it is
Tiny plastic particles formerly used for mild abrasion/exfoliation aesthetics.
02. Why it’s used
Why it’s used
Texture novelty and whitening marketing in older products.
03. The concern
The concern
Environmental persistence and unnecessary plastic exposure.
04. Our take
Our take
Should not appear in modern toothpaste. If a label lists polyethylene beads, skip.
05. Found in
Brands we reviewed
None of the currently ranked pastes are tagged with this glossary entry.
No ranked brands listed.
06. Sources
Further reading
Third-party citations, not studies we ran.