By: Tori Randall from Bass Couture
Glitter. The staple for any poppin’ festival look. Most of us cover ourselves in it before getting ready to go to an event, but have you ever taken a step back to think about what glitter is? You might be surprised to find out that this beloved beauty product might not be as great as you think. In this article we discuss the harms of glitter and why you should stop using it. (Don’t worry, we offer the perfect alternative so you can keep sparklin’.)
1. Glitter is Plastic
Did you know that traditional glitter is made out of plastic? Surprisingly most people don’t. In fact, you might be shook when we tell you glitter is the worst form of plastic out there. It is classified as a microplastic which takes anywhere from 400-1,000 years to decompose.
2. It’s Wrecking Our Environment
Research has shown that microplastics account for 85% of plastics pollution found on our shorelines around the world. When it comes to our water systems, glitter is an absolute nightmare.
Think about it. You come home from a show covered in glitter, you hop in the shower, and rinse all of those microplastics right down the drain.
Since glitter particles are so tiny, they easily pass through our water filtration systems and end up in the ocean or our freshwater sources like lakes. From there it causes a whole slew of issues. Not only does it harm marine life, but it harms us as people too. It ends up working its way into our food supply (especially if you enjoy eating fish), our drinking water, and even our air.
3. It’s Not Exactly Your Skin’s Best Friend
Putting tiny pieces of sharp plastic on your face isn’t exactly ideal. If it’s not cosmetic grade, who knows what type of chemicals you might be putting on your face since craft glitter is not regulated by the FDA. Not to mention, traditional plastic glitter has really sharp edges. This can cause it to leave little scratches on your face, irritate your skin, or even cause you to break out (especially if you have your skin is sensitive!). I don’t know about you, but one of my all time favorite festival makeup looks is putting some glitter directly under the eyes to make them pop but imagine that sharp plastic ending up in your eyeball at a festival? BIG YIKES
Biodegradable Glitter: The Saving Grace
Just when you thought you might have to ditch glitter for good. Biodegradable glitter is the PERFECT alternative. It’s the glitter we all know and love without all the terrible side effects. It’s made up from plant cellulose from eucalyptus trees, which are one of the most widely available and fastest growing trees on the planet.
Glitter made from this renewable plant-based material biodegrades in just 90 days – 1 year depending on the conditions. Most companies that sell eco-friendly glitter, like us at Bass Couture, ensure their glitter is cosmetic grade quality, vegan, and never tested on animals. It’s also 30-40% softer than traditional glitter. So what are you waiting for? Join the movement and make the switch to biodegradable glitter this festival season. Our planet will thank you.
Xoxo,
Tori Randall
One half of Bass Couture
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