Here's why we never use microbeads in our products
March 10, 2021
2 min read
When the ban on microbeads in rinse-off and personal care products came into effect in 2018, it was much applauded by the team at Liz Earle Beauty. As an eco-conscious beauty brand, we’d always been aware of the threat these tiny pieces of plastic posed to our planet; and as a result, we have never used them in our products. Instead, when we wanted to create our iconic exfoliator, we sought a gentle, naturally derived alternative.
That was when we were introduced to the jojoba plant. A desert shrub endemic to North America, we harnessed the wax found inside the seeds to create the tiny spheres infused into the rich cream of our Gentle Face Exfoliator. More gentle than other natural exfoliants (such as ground olive stones or pumice) while also being biodegradable, it was the obvious choice for us; and we still use them to this day.
“The oil extracted from the jojoba seeds (actually a wax ester) is different from most other vegetable oils in that the structure is chemically very close to the skin’s natural oils. To create the small spherical beads, the pale yellow jojoba wax is hydrogenated, which whitens and hardens it. The resulting hardened wax is then warmed and dropped from a height to create smooth spheres. These tiny beads do an amazing job of gently buffing away dead skin cells.”
Katarina, Lead Chemist
Have you added it to your routine?
Best used 2-3 times per week after cleansing, our Gentle Face Exfoliator sloughs away dead skin and impurities for a softer, smoother-looking complexion that’s perfectly prepped for moisturiser or mask application.