Microplastics in Skincare: Their Impact on Skin and Human Health

Microplastics are present in some cosmetics and personal care products, where they may serve different functions within a formulation. Growing research is examining how microplastics and nanoplastics may affect the skin, human health and the environment. While their long-term effects on human health are still being studied, concerns include environmental accumulation, potential skin exposure, oxidative stress and inflammation.

What Are Microplastics in Cosmetics?

Microplastics are small plastic particles, generally defined as being less than 5 mm in size. In cosmetics and personal care products, intentionally added microplastic particles have historically been used for functions such as exfoliation, texture modification and improving the sensory properties of a formula.

One of the best-known examples is microbeads, small plastic particles once commonly used in rinse-off exfoliating products such as facial scrubs and cleansers. Because they do not readily biodegrade, these particles can enter wastewater and accumulate in the environment.

However, not every synthetic polymer used in cosmetics is a microplastic. Whether an ingredient falls within this definition depends on properties such as its physical form, particle size, solubility and biodegradability.

How Can Microplastics Affect the Skin?

Our skin acts as a protective barrier between the body and the external environment. This means that simply applying a substance to the skin does not necessarily mean it will penetrate into the body.

Research suggests that particle size and skin barrier condition are important. Larger microplastic particles are unlikely to penetrate healthy, intact skin easily, while very small particles, particularly nanoplastics, are being investigated for their potential to interact more closely with the skin.

Experimental studies have also raised concerns about oxidative stress and inflammatory responses following exposure to certain microplastics and nanoplastics. A compromised skin barrier may potentially increase exposure, although the extent to which these particles penetrate human skin under everyday conditions is still being studied.

Much of the current evidence comes from laboratory and animal studies. More research is therefore needed to understand what these findings mean for real-world cosmetic exposure and long-term skin health.

What Do Microplastics Mean for Human Health?

Microplastics have been detected in the environment, food, drinking water, air and human biological samples. As a result, researchers are increasingly investigating their potential effects on human health.

Current research is examining possible links with oxidative stress, inflammation and immune responses. However, detecting microplastics in the human body does not automatically mean that they cause disease.

Ingestion and inhalation are considered important exposure routes, while dermal exposure is also being investigated. The long-term effects of repeated, low-level exposure remain unclear, and more human studies are needed before firm conclusions can be drawn.

This distinction is particularly important when discussing cosmetics. Current evidence does not demonstrate that normal use of skincare containing microplastics directly causes systemic diseases.

Microplastics and the Environment

The environmental impact of microplastics is one of the clearest reasons for concern.

Once released into the environment, many plastic particles persist for long periods and can gradually fragment into even smaller particles. Microplastics have been found in oceans, freshwater, soil and air, making plastic pollution a global environmental issue.

Cosmetics are not the largest source of microplastic pollution, but intentionally added microplastics represent a source that can be reduced through thoughtful formulation.

The European Union has already introduced restrictions on intentionally added microplastics under REACH. These restrictions are being implemented progressively across different product categories, including cosmetics, with the aim of reducing the release of persistent microplastics into the environment.

Why LABRAINS Chooses Microplastic-Free Skincare

For LABRAINS, sustainability begins with formulation.

We formulate our skincare without intentionally added microplastics, choosing ingredients based not only on their performance and compatibility with the skin but also on their broader environmental impact.

At the same time, it is important to distinguish microplastics from synthetic ingredients in general. Not every synthetic polymer is a microplastic, just as an ingredient of natural origin is not automatically more sustainable or safer.

Our approach is therefore not about labelling ingredients as simply “good” or “bad”. It is about developing effective skincare while continuously evaluating ingredient safety, skin compatibility, biodegradability and environmental responsibility.

Takeaway

Microplastics are an established environmental concern and an evolving area of research in relation to skin and human health. Current studies are investigating how microplastics and nanoplastics may interact with the skin and contribute to processes such as oxidative stress and inflammation, but their long-term effects under real-world conditions are not yet fully understood.

Reducing unnecessary persistent materials in cosmetics is therefore not only a question of skin health. It is part of a broader approach to creating effective skincare with greater consideration for its long-term environmental impact.

AUTHOR: Dr. oec. LĪGA BRŪNIŅA, creator of LABRAINS brand, environmental specialist and chemist.

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