Glitter and Ecoglitter – a big problem and a good solution – Digital Clinic for Skin & Hair Care That Works!

Glitter is a must-have to glam up your makeup and look truly dazzling; used for glowing highlights, shiny lips, and glittery eyes, glitter is the instant cheap & chic touch for that gorgeous glow.

Since the 80s, glitter and shimmer have officially taken the skincare world by storm, migrating from makeup. But is glitter good for your skin and the environment?

In this article, we will be discussing:

what is glitter?
why is plastic glitter bad for the environment?
biodegradable eco glitter – is it truly a good alternative?
is glitter good for your skin?

1| 4 how glitter is made
Glitter is made from:

PET or PVC plastic coated with aluminium and then a plastic film
Mineral mica
Synthetic mica
biodegradable cellulose coated with aluminium and then plastic film
biodegradable cellulose coated with a plant-based film
biodegradable cellulose coated with synthetic mica

Traditional glitter is made by copolymer sheets combined with a layer of reflective material, such as aluminium foil, and then covered with another thin plastic layer. In other words, microplastic made of a plastic core coated with aluminium and a polyester PET film. Very cost-effective, very versatile, and bad for the environment.

This type of glitter is listed on your cosmetic label as (for example) 5 CI19140 Yellow Lake …

The mineral glitter option is made with crushed mica; however, this cosmetic ingredient has major ethical issues, from child labor to human rights abuses.

This type of glitter is listed on your cosmetic label as mica, iron oxide…

There is a synthetic option for mica called fluorphlogopite, composed of magnesium aluminum silicate sheets, weakly bound together by potassium. It is synthetic but ethical.

This type of glitter is listed on your cosmetic label as Fluorphlogopite, Methicone.

Many biodegradable glitters under patent are now available on the market, some 100% biodegradable in fresh water and some others not 100%.

These types of glitter is listed on your cosmetic label as (for example):

92% biodegradable option – not plastic free: Rayon (And) Glycerin (Plant Derived) (And) Aqua (And) Urea (And) Styrene/Acrylates Copolymer (And) CI 77000

100% biodegradable option with mineral mica – plastic free: Rayon (and) Glycerin (and) Aqua (and) Urea (and) Shellac (and) Mica (and) CI 77489

100% biodegradable option with synthetic mica – plastic free: Rayon (And) Glycerin (Plant Derived) (And) Aqua (And) Urea (And) Shellac (And) Synthetic Fluorphlogopite (And) Titanium Dioxide (And) CI 77491 (And) Tin Oxide (And) Silica

More on bio glitters below.

2| 4 why is plastic glitter bad for the environment?

Plastic glitter, no matter the material and the size, does not biodegrade in the natural environment and ends up in our oceans.

Think of glitter as the cousin of microbeads; made of similar materials and size, and it is as dangerous for animals as microbeads, + it pollutes even more.

Glitter finds its way to our oceans quite quickly. Water filtration systems cannot trap tiny particles of glitter washed off from our makeup (the same way they cannot trap microbeads), so glitter ends up being ingested by fishes, infiltrating the food chain. A recent study has shown that glitter is also one of the causes of the dramatic lowering of chlorophyll produced in water, indicating reduced levels of phytoplankton, or microalgae.

Conventional glitter is as bad as microbeads. Glitter is a microplastic.

3| 4 the non-plastic alternatives: mica and biodegradable eco glitter. Are they eco-friendly?

Good news – there are good biodegradable glitters available.

Not so good news – not all biodegradable glitters are genuinely eco-friendly.

92% biodegradable glitter with aluminium and plastic coating
One type of biodegradable glitter comprises a core of plant-derived cellulose from the Eucalyptus tree (MRC = modified regenerated cellulose), then coated with aluminium for reflectivity and then bonded with a thin plastic layer for added colour. This type of glitter is not 100% biodegradable because its plastic content is 8%.

When this type of bio glitter reaches the ocean, like plastic glitter, it does not dissolve in water but under specific environmental conditions is degraded and turned into carbon dioxide, water and biomass by bacteria and other environmental microorganisms. No bacteria = no biodegradation

100% biodegradable plant-based glitter (no aluminium and no plastic coating)
A very similar 100% biodegradable glitter but way less sparkly does not have aluminium and plastic coating but plant-based alternatives. This option is inspiring because it is truly biodegradable in freshwater. This glitter is softer on the skin than polyester glitter but has a very mild iridescent effect.
100% biodegradable glitter made with synthetic mica
Another non-PET glitter alternative is mica, which is increasingly used in cosmetics. This type of Bio glitter offers a truly aluminium and plastic-free glitter option using cellulose and mica instead.

But there is a catch. A study conducted by Danielle Green, PhD, of ARU, found that the effects of biodegradable glitter (made with aluminium and plastic coating) and mica glitter on chlorophyll levels were almost identical. Chlorophyll production shrinks by two thirds.

When comparing plastic and bio glitter made with aluminium, Green added: “Our study is the first to look at the effects of glitter in a freshwater environment, and we found that both conventional [PET/PVC] and alternative [BIO] glitters can have a serious ecological impact on aquatic ecosystems within a short period … [specifically] a negative effect on important primary producers, which are the base of the food web; while glitter with a biodegradable cellulose core has an additional impact of encouraging the growth of invasive species.”

100% biodegradable glitter (plant-based, no aluminium and PVC/PET) may not be 100% eco-friendly.

4| 4 is glitter good for your skin?

Generally speaking, cosmetic glitters are made with tested ingredients that are non-toxic and overall safe to use on healthy skin occasionally; however, Glitter applied to delicate areas such as eyes or lips may cause mild irritation and enter our bloodstream via the eyes nose and mouth.

So How Can I Wear Glitter Safely?

Tip 1 – Use only cosmetic grade glitter; never Craft Glitter. Non-cosmetic grade Glitter can seriously scratch up your corneas if not removed correctly. However, by using cosmetic grade glitter, you significantly reduce this risk, but you can’t eliminate it.

Tip 2 – Glitter should permanently be suspended in something – in a gel, oil, cream, gloss… A good cosmetic should be able to hold in place the Glitter and avoid running the risk of inhaling it or transferring it to your eyes.

Tip 3 – When removing your Glitter makeup, please make sure to avoid touching your eyes. Remove Glitter with an oil-based or liquid eye makeup remover on a cotton pad and wipe away from your eyes. If Glitter gets stuck between the lashes, use a cotton swab dipped in remover to get rid of it.

Tip 4 – Rinsing your face in the shower isn’t good enough to remove Glitter, especially if you use shimmering creamy highlighters.

Tip 5 – Buy good Lipstick and Lip-gloss with lip-safe micas or cosmetic grade glitter because it can still be absorbed and ingested (don’t forget that the skin on the lips is much thinner and more sensitive than the skin on the arms and legs so mica and Glitter can be absorbed).

Is glitter good for your skin? Because glitter has not known benefits, the answer is no. But good glitter is not bad either. And it’s fun!

At Native Essentials we do not formulate our products with any form of glitter or mica.

DQH Can I use salicylic acid first and then vitamin C? It’s easy to create a skincare routine, but knowing how to use it is another thing entirely. In most cases, if you’re not getting the desired skin results, it could be due to the layering of conflicting ingredients. So, is it possible that salicylic acid and vitamin C are such ingredients? Or are these active ingredients the duo that’s been missing from your skincare routine? If you want answers, stick around because today we are going to explain the benefits of salicylic acid and vitamin C and how they can be used in your daily life. What are the benefits of salicylic acid for skin? Salicylic acid is one of the most commonly used beta hydroxy acids and is favored by many people with oily, acne-prone skin. This acid is derived from willow bark, and unlike its water-soluble relatives (called alpha-hydroxy acids), salicylic acid is oil-soluble, which means it can penetrate deeper into the lower layers of the skin. Once it reaches the lower layers, it can help unclog pores of excess sebum, dirt, bacteria, debris, and impurities. This results in clearer skin tones and greater definition. Not only does salicylic acid benefit the underlying layers, but the outer surface of the skin benefits as well. When applied to the skin, salicylic acid removes the buildup of dead skin cells. This is accomplished by breaking the bonds that hold dead cells to the surface. Over time, this can cause the complexion to look dull and prone to acne, blackheads, and other blemishes. If you’d like to learn more about salicylic acid and how it can improve your skin, check out this dedicated blog post from a beauty insider. What are the benefits of vitamin C for skin? Vitamin C is considered one of the most powerful antioxidants, which means it is very effective at fighting free radicals and preventing them from causing further skin damage. Examples of free radicals include pollution, central heating, UV rays and harsh climate. They attack proteins, fats and cell membranes as soon as they come into contact with the skin, causing signs of premature aging such as fine lines and wrinkles as well as hyperpigmentation, flaky patches of skin and loss of elasticity. Many people usually prefer to use vitamin C in their morning routine as this ingredient gives the complexion a radiant glow. You’ll also find that vitamin C can target areas of hyperpigmentation, plumping the skin and reducing the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. The thing about vitamin C is that there are a lot of outdated studies going back to the 1950s that describe vitamin C as an unstable skin component. Thanks to improvements in modern technology, this is no longer the case as all products now contain a stable form of vitamin C. Visit The Beauty Insider to learn more about vitamin C. So please check out our blog post. Can I use salicylic acid first and then vitamin C? Yes, you absolutely can. In fact, it’s thought that using salicylic acid before using vitamin C ensures it penetrates faster and works faster. This is an efficient way to utilize two power sources, and the reason has to do with pH. For example, the skin’s natural pH is about 4.7, making it slightly acidic. Salicylic acid and vitamin C are also both acidic, and you’ll find that vitamin C is absorbed quickly into the skin. Therefore, using salicylic acid beforehand can increase the acidity of the skin and allow vitamin C to penetrate into the skin faster. While this is considered an effective way to combine two powerful ingredients, you need to be aware of your skin type and how it reacts to certain active ingredients. Even people with perfect, normal skin can experience skin sensitivity and irritation. Therefore, always consult a doctor or dermatologist before using any new products on your skin. It’s also important to follow skin application rules. In this case, you need to use the product correctly to ensure you get the best results for your skin. If you’re not sure what I mean, the basic rule for skin is to start with the thinnest consistency and work your way up to the thickest consistency. This prevents a barrier from forming on the surface, preventing other active ingredients from penetrating the skin. Can I use salicylic acid at night and vitamin C in the morning? Yes, absolutely, this is considered the most effective way to get returns without any adverse side effects. This is because there is enough time between applications to ensure that the skin’s pH levels return to balance. You’ll also find that Vitamin C is rich in antioxidants and is perfect for use in the morning to ensure your skin is protected and looking its healthiest. Due to the small size of salicylic acid molecules, it is an acid that is able to reach the deepest parts of the skin. While this is effective at keeping skin clear, it also increases the risk of irritation and photosensitivity. Therefore, many people prefer to use powerful BHAs in their evening routine without exposure to UV rays, pollution, or harsh weather. Warning: If you avoid using sunscreen every day, none of these ingredients will do what your skin needs. The combination of chemical peels and powerful ingredients increases the risk of further damage to the skin’s surface. Use SPF 50 every day to keep your skin protected and your lipid barrier healthy, even on cloudy days, keeping your skin in top condition.

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