Plastic is one of the enemies of environmental health, especially if we do not dispose of it properly. Fortunately, technological advancements have allowed skincare enthusiasts to realise and switch to eco-friendly brands with safe ingredients and environmentally friendly packaging. But do Sereni-Trees recognise the dangers of microplastics? It’s not just about the container, the ingredients in skincare can also contain microplastics!

Wow, so what is the impact on us if it is not handled as soon as possible? Let’s see until the end!

Microplastics & Microbeads

As the name implies, microplastics are small plastic particles, perhaps 0.2 inches to 5 mm in size. The origin of these particles can be from plastic waste disposal or can come from the degradation process of larger plastics such as plastic bottles or shopping plastics. Now, apart from that, we also need to be careful because there is also such a thing as microbeads.

Microbeads are small granules that can be found in various products such as skincare, toothpaste, facial scrubs, and many more. Basically, microbeads and microplastics are both made from plastic! It’s just that the difference is that microbeads are made of these materials:

Polyethylene (PE)
Polyethylene Glycol (PEG)
Polypropylene (PPp
Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET)
Polymethyl Methacrylate (PMMA)
Polyamides or Nylon

To prevent its use, we can be careful in reading the content label on skincare products. Make sure to avoid the ingredient names above, Sereni-Trees!

Are Microplastics Harmful to Health?

We can’t deny that microplastics are now widespread even beyond skincare products themselves. Perhaps it’s because of their almost invisible size that the impact of microplastics goes unnoticed for most people. The effects themselves can vary from individual to individual. Those with sensitive skin, pregnant women, nursing mothers, or those with certain medical conditions may feel the impact the most, such as skin irritation. This is because microplastics are abrasive (can cause microtears). For example, in scrub products, if you are not careful in sorting out the product content, the textured exfoliator particles could be made of microplastics! Constant and intense exposure can certainly create irritation and inflammation, even if our skin is not sensitive.

In addition, these tiny particles can be absorbed and enter the body through many things ranging from ingestion (food/drink), air, microbeads (skincare use, toothpaste, and many more!). The side effects? It depends, it could be inflammation, hormone disruption, and organ damage. How scary is that?

In conclusion, yes, microplastics have the potential to harm our health especially if we are exposed to them frequently. Therefore, we ourselves need to be extra careful and start committing to reducing the use of this material in our daily lives!

Impacts on Ecosystems and the Environment

Here’s one impact that is so large-scale, yet often overlooked! Have you ever thought about the impact on the environment around you? Most people would probably focus on the side effects to themselves.

Serenitree will spill the full information on why microplastics have a negative impact on the environment:

When we use skincare products or bathe in products that contain plastic microbeads, these particles can be carried away by water and end up polluting the environment, including river and ocean water.

Studies have shown that the fish we eat are contaminated with microplastics and the toxic substances they carry. This means that these particles could be ingested by marine animals and eventually end up on our dinner tables.

In addition, 90% of the world’s table salt or sea salt is contaminated with microplastics. On average, humans consume about 2,000 microplastics each year just from salt consumption, assuming a daily consumption of 10 grams of salt. Scientists found about 20 microplastics in every 10 grams of human faeces.

Microplastics released into the wild will absorb pollutants and chemical toxins such as pesticides, oil, and other harmful chemicals released into the environment.

What a domino effect! Without even realising it, we are already affected by these invisible particles. It’s certainly not just a skincare-specific issue, but we can’t deny that skincare is a factor! If we don’t start caring from now on, won’t the negative effects affect us eventually?

How We Identify & Avoid Microplastics

Of course, it’s quite difficult for us to stop using products with microplastics altogether! The harsh reality is that these particles are in almost every product we use every day. However, it is possible to avoid them! The ideal way is to make a commitment to yourself first. The small step of checking skincare ingredient labels is a great start. Do an audit of the products you’ve used, are there any microplastic components in them? If there are, make sure not to use them anymore and choose alternatives.

We can also choose to avoid the daily use of plastic. For example: Bringing your own shopping bags, using paper straws, and recycling. Recycling in Indonesia is not that difficult! Simply visit the nearest waste bank in your area.

The final solution is to switch to eco-friendly products and skincare. There are now many local eco-friendly brands, such as Serenitree. Serenitree’s natural skincare is made from natural ingredients so it certainly does not contain harmful particles such as microbeads. Instead, we use natural ingredients such as shea butter and essential oils that are effective without negative side effects so it’s safe for everyone (sensitive skin, pregnant women, mothers, children above 3 & 6 years old)! In addition, Serenitree also supports the recycling movement, you can drop off your empty Serenitree bottles and get additional vouchers (more information on social media/website)!

It turns out that difficult does not mean impossible! Slowly but surely, we can start the change within ourselves. Moreover, there are more and more alternatives and tips that we can do to reduce. So there are no more excuses, right? Let’s start being aware and prioritise health together!