I just read this article about how the Unilever company has just announced that it will quit using plastic micro beads in some of their exfoliating soap products.

Wow! I immediately thought of NABBW member Goffinet McLaren, and her book "Sullie Saves the Seas," which I reviewed in September. Goffinet's book is a kids fiction book but really brings home the problem of plastics floating in our oceans.

I had no idea any manufacturer was using PLASTIC micro beads in skin exfoliation products. I always thought the "grit" used for exfoliation in our skin care products was something more natural, like ground up walnut hulls.

This is truly scary, when you start to think about how this plastic can get into marine animals, and thus, into us! EEEK!

By the way, if you haven't read Goffinet's book, here's a link to the NABBW review of "Sullie Saves the Seas."

Some of that 'grit' used in exfoliation isn't good, Anne, because it can scratch your skin leaving open wounds for bacteria to get in. They are microscopic wounds, but open all the same.

Hi Yonuh,

You're right. Though I believe I did at one time own an exfoliant that used crushed walnut hulls, apparently they are now recognized to be too abrasive. But the good news is, I did some research and was able to find an article featuring natural skin exfoliants which won't harm our skin or the oceans.

Here's a list of natural and safe exfoliants. Safe for both our skin AND the environment, I believe.

Yikes! Plastic?

We use ground up pecan nuts...not the shells...like some do (like walnut shells, almond shell, strawberry seeds. No way will we use shells of any kind!)

Also ground oatmeal is used in ours.