Mouillette d'Argent 2023 International Perfumery Competition: the BCB Perfumery Awards

The glitter or sparkles - or, as it is colloquially known, the 'sparkle sparkle'- is a cosmetic product used to enhance the skin, adding shine, radiance and a grainy texture. Whilst it is not generally used on a daily basis, it is certainly very widely used both at fancy-dress parties and in various nightlife settings.

As might be expected, this is one of the cosmetic products affected by the new regulation of microplastics from the European Commission. The fact is that, traditionally, microplastics have been used in the manufacture of glitter for cosmetic purposes to give the make-up its texture.

However, that doesn’t mean glitter is going to disappear. For years now, There are environmentally conscious manufacturers who have been phasing out microplastic particles with other ingredients that produce less waste, such as inorganic glitter (glass, metal...), made from biodegradable materials or which is water-soluble.

The fact is, any of these options allows us to make glitter aesthetically entirely comparable to the traditional version. Which means We’ve got plenty of glitter to last us a while. Furthermore, these alternative glitter formulations undoubtedly make it possible to produce cosmetic products that are much greener and more environmentally friendly, given that We prevent our oceans from being polluted by microplastics.

Would you like to find out more about how the microplastics regulations affect glitter? Read on!

Glitter: How does EU legislation on microplastics affect this sector? Which types of cosmetic products containing glitter will be affected by these new regulations?

There are certain cosmetic products that have inevitably been affected by the numerous regulations on microplastics issued by the European Commission in recent years. The Commission has become increasingly aware of the the importance of protecting the environment and has chosen to introduce legislation aimed at to reduce the waste which, in the form of non-biodegradable microplastics, accumulates in seas and oceans.

The range of products on the market The number of businesses affected by these new regulations is truly enormous. And companies seeking to market their products within the eurozone must bear in mind that, from supermarket plastic carrier bags to plastic cups, plates and cutlery, right through to the plastic packaging of hundreds of food and consumer goods, they now face a stricter legislation, focused primarily on greater environmental protection and a drastic reduction in plastic waste generated within the EU’s borders.

And what about cosmetics?

Obviously, the cosmetics sector this has been no exception, and You will also need to take these new regulations on microplastics into account.

In fact, everything from packaging to the formulation and manufacture of cosmetic products is affected by the new European legislation on microplastics. In practice, this means that all microplastics previously used in the cosmetics industry must be gradually replaced with other ingredients and packaging that generate less plastic waste.

And that, as a result, they are less harmful to the environment.

Are cosmetics that contain microplastics among their ingredients less safe? 

It is important to remember that the Cosmetic Products Regulation 1223/2009 ensures that All cosmetic products currently available on the market in the EU are safe from a human health perspective. And that these legislative changes regarding microplastics in cosmetics are aimed not at improving the safety of cosmetic products, but primarily at to minimise as far as possible the plastic waste generated by the industry and to promote greater environmental awareness.

Whilst it is true that evidence has been found of the presence of microplastics in humans – which mainly enter our bodies through food – it has not been proven that these have a significant impact on our health. However, there is evidence that the accumulation of plastic waste and microplastics – which take decades or centuries to degrade – poses a major problem for the environment, particularly in seas and oceans.

How does the new legislation on microplastics affect cosmetics containing glitter? 

The glitter o glitter These are used in cosmetics, both for party make-up and as an ingredient in certain facial beauty products – such as shimmery eyeshadows – and have traditionally been made from tiny plastic flakes, which help the cosmetic product to give our skin a certain texture and shine. In that sense, the plastic flakes fulfil their function very effectively. But in the long run, they become a problem...

Once we’ve removed our make-up, we usually use water to cleanse our face, and the microplastic particles that were on our skin end up in the water, or to put it another way, into our sewerage system. And from there, if the plastic particles are small enough to get past the filters designed to trap this sort of waste, will end up directly in our seas and oceans, where they have been accumulating for decades and now pose a problem for the marine ecosystem. 

One of the aims of the new legislation on microplastics is to reduce the volume of plastic waste generated by the cosmetics industry. And that has a direct impact on all those cosmetic products containing glitter made from plastic flakes less than 5 millimetres added. 

So… has glitter been effectively banned?

Not exactly. Since last 15 October 2023, the European Commission has banned glitter manufacturers from using plastic flakes as an ingredient. In this respect, these new regulations do indeed spell the end of traditional glitter-making methods, which included plastic flakes amongst their ingredients.

But that doesn’t mean the end of glitter, as there are already many glitter manufacturers who, out of concern for the environment, have stopped using plastic and replaced it with other, more 'eco-friendly' ingredients. And the rest, following the publication of these new regulations, have been adapting their glitter formulas to avoid generating plastic waste. 

The one known as 'inorganic glitter' is the one that replaces plastic shavings with other materials that: 

- or are water-soluble
- or are biodegradable

And therefore does not generate unnecessary plastic waste. Which is, ultimately, what the European Commission is aiming for. 

We’ve got plenty of glitter to last us a while. The only thing that’s come to an end is creating plastic waste every time we want to put on make-up for Halloween. Or maybe not? ....