Growing up in the Noughties, my skincare routine consisted of three vital elements; cleanser, an exfoliator and a moisturiser. Things were simple back then (especially as they were typically from the brand Simple).
There has been rapid innovation in the space in the last couple of decades and as it has evolved so too has our understanding of the damaging effect that some of these exfoliating formulas may have. It may seem farfetch for the environmentally-conscious Gen Z generation but before 2014, when they were banned, these face scrubs contained microplastic beads, chosen for their ability to unblock pores and buff away dead cells. They were swiftly replaced by the likes of apricot kernels or walnut shells, but this posed an altogether different problem.
