How to Check Cosmetic Ingredients for Microplastics: 27 Names to Avoid (2026 Guide)

Last updated: June 25, 2026

Why the ingredient list is the only label that matters

Cosmetic marketing in 2026 has converged on a small list of claims that mean little: “clean,” “natural,” “non-toxic,” “dermatologist-tested,” “reef-safe,” “cruelty-free.” None of these claims are regulated or imply anything about microplastic content. A product can be cruelty-free, clean, and non-toxic while containing 6 different microplastic ingredients.

The only label that tells you the truth is the ingredient list (INCI list) — required by FDA and EU regulation to list every ingredient in descending order of concentration. Learning to read this list catches the microplastic ingredients no marketing claim will mention.

The 27 microplastic ingredients to flag (grouped by family)

Family 1: Polyethylene and polypropylene polymers (6 names)

Direct microplastic polymers used as exfoliating beads, thickeners, and film-formers. The EU REACH 2023 restriction specifically targeted these in rinse-off products. US banned polyethylene microbeads in rinse-off cosmetics in 2017 (Microbead-Free Waters Act) but they're still allowed in leave-on products.

• Polyethylene — most common. Used in scrubs, toothpaste, mascara.
• Polypropylene — less common but used in scrubs and some cosmetic powders.
• Polyethylene terephthalate (PET) — glitter, shimmer pigments in eyeshadow.
• Polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) — “velvet feel” powder cosmetics, blurring primers.
• Polylactic acid (PLA) — newer “biodegradable” alternative; still a microplastic at typical use timescales.
• Polystyrene — occasional thickener; rare in modern formulations.

Family 2: PEG and PEG-derivatives (6 names)

Polyethylene glycol compounds — synthetic petrochemical polymers used as emulsifiers, humectants, and surfactant enhancers. Number after PEG indicates approximate molecular weight (higher = more polymer-like). EU REACH 2023 restricted some specific PEG-* compounds in rinse-off products.

• PEG-* (any number from PEG-4 to PEG-200) — base PEG compounds. PEG-8, PEG-40, PEG-100 most common.
• PEG-* stearate / palmitate / cocoate — fatty acid esters of PEG. Used as emulsifiers.
• PEG-12 dimethicone, PEG-8 dimethicone — silicone-PEG hybrid surfactants. Worst-of-both-worlds polymer.
• Polyethylene glycol — base compound, written out.
• PPG-* (polypropylene glycol) — close cousin of PEG, similar concerns.
• Polyglyceryl-* esters — newer “cleaner-sounding” PEG alternatives; still polymer-derived.

Family 3: Carbomer and acrylate polymers (5 names)

Polymer thickeners and film-formers used in gels, creams, sunscreens, and styling products. The “copolymer” suffix is the giveaway — anything ending in copolymer or crosspolymer is a polymer.

• Carbomer — most common polymer thickener; in face creams, hand sanitiser, sunscreen.
• Acrylates copolymer / acrylates crosspolymer — film-former; in sunscreen, makeup, antiperspirant, styling products.
• Acrylates/C10-30 alkyl acrylate crosspolymer — long-chain acrylate; in lotions and face moisturisers.
• Acrylates/octylacrylamide copolymer — film-former in long-wear cosmetics and antiperspirant.
• VP/eicosene copolymer, VP/VA copolymer — vinyl polymer film-formers for water-resistant cosmetics.

Family 4: Silicones (6 names)

Silicone polymers are chemically liquid plastics — long chains of silicon-oxygen bonds with organic side groups. Common in conditioners, lotions, sunscreens, and primers for the smooth- skin / smooth-hair film. The -methicone or -siloxane suffix identifies them.

• Dimethicone — most common silicone polymer; in conditioner, lotion, sunscreen, deodorant, foundation.
• Cyclopentasiloxane, cyclomethicone — volatile silicone carriers; evaporate but leave behind non-volatile silicone film.
• Amodimethicone — amine-modified silicone; in conditioners specifically for cuticle smoothing.
• Polysilicone-11, polysilicone-15 — film-forming silicones in sunscreen.
• Trimethylsiloxysilicate — long-wear silicone in liquid lipsticks and primers.
• Dimethicone crosspolymer — silicone elastomer; in blurring primers and matte foundations.

Family 5: Nylon, polyurethane, and other miscellaneous polymers (4 names)

• Nylon-12, Nylon-6 — synthetic fibre polymers; in long-wear mascara, lipstick, blurring primers.
• Polyurethane-* (any number) — film-former in long-wear cosmetics and water-resistant mascara.
• Polyquaternium-7, Polyquaternium-10 — polymer conditioners; in shampoo, body wash, hand soap.
• Sodium polyacrylate, sodium polyacrylate starch — superabsorbent polymer; in some body washes and gel cleansers.

The complete 27-ingredient reference table

The 30-second label-reading workflow

1. Find the ingredient list (called the “INCI list”) on the back of the package, usually in small print.
2. Scan for the 5 dominant patterns: “polyethylene”, “PEG-” (any number after), “carbomer”, “acrylates” (anything with this word), “dimethicone” (or any ingredient ending in -methicone or -siloxane).
3. Count the flags. 0 flags = clean. 1-2 flags = moderate. 3+ flags = replace at next repurchase.
4. If unsure, paste the ingredient list into the free MicroPlastics ingredient checker — it parses the full 27-ingredient list automatically.
5. For a barcode-based audit of products you already own, the MicroPlastics iOS app does the same parsing from a barcode scan with one tap.

What the EU REACH 2023 restriction covers (and doesn't)

The European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) restricted intentionally added microplastics in consumer products under REACH Annex XVII starting October 17, 2023. Phased timeline:

• October 2023: Rinse-off cosmetics with microbeads banned (polyethylene, polypropylene exfoliating beads). Already-stocked product can be sold until inventory clears.
• October 2027: Rinse-off cosmetics with liquid polymers (PEG-based, acrylate, silicone) restricted in EU markets.
• October 2029: Leave-on cosmetics (sunscreen, lotion, foundation, mascara, deodorant) restrictions phase in.
• Beyond 2029: Glitter, agricultural products, paints, detergents under separate timelines.

The US has no equivalent broad restriction. The 2017 Microbead-Free Waters Act banned solid polyethylene microbeads in rinse-off cosmetics but allows liquid polymers (PEG, carbomer, acrylates, dimethicone) in all product categories. California Prop 65 has separate consumer disclosure requirements that some manufacturers comply with proactively.

What “clean,” “natural,” “non-toxic” actually mean

None of these terms are regulated. A product can carry any or all of them while containing 5+ of the 27 microplastic ingredients above. Practical examples:

• “Clean”: typically means free of parabens, sulfates, phthalates, formaldehyde. Says nothing about polymers.
• “Natural”: often means “contains some plant ingredients.” The remaining 80% of the formulation can be polymer-heavy.
• “Non-toxic”: regulatory term used loosely; means below acute toxicity thresholds. Does not address chronic exposure or polymer content.
• “Dermatologist-tested”: means a dermatologist was involved in safety testing; does not imply polymer-free.
• “Reef-safe”: specifically means free of oxybenzone and octinoxate (chemicals harmful to coral). Says nothing about other polymers.

The ingredient list is the only label that tells you the truth. Reading it takes 30 seconds once you know the patterns.

Common cosmetic categories and typical ingredient counts

• Shampoo: usually 1-3 flags (dimethicone, PEG, polyquaternium-7 most common).
• Conditioner: typically 3-5 flags (dimethicone + amodimethicone + polyquaternium + cyclopentasiloxane).
• Body wash: usually 2-4 flags (PEG, sodium polyacrylate, polyquaternium).
• Sunscreen (chemical): 3-5 flags (acrylates copolymer, dimethicone, carbomer, polyethylene).
• Sunscreen (mineral, clean brands): 0-2 flags (Thinkbaby, Blue Lizard, Badger often have 0).
• Body lotion: 2-4 flags (carbomer, dimethicone, PEG variants).
• Face moisturiser: 2-5 flags. Premium luxury brands often worst because “silky feel” = silicone-heavy.
• Deodorant (mainstream antiperspirant): 3-4 flags (cyclopentasiloxane, dimethicone, PEG, acrylates).
• Deodorant (clean natural brands): 0-2 flags (Each & Every, Schmidt's often have 0).
• Toothpaste: 1-3 flags (polyethylene historical, PEG, carbomer).
• Mascara: 2-4 flags (polyurethane, nylon, dimethicone, acrylates).
• Liquid lipstick: 3-5 flags (trimethylsiloxysilicate, polyurethane, dimethicone crosspolymer).
• Primer/blurring product: 4-6 flags (dimethicone crosspolymer, PMMA, silicones).

Practical workflow — what to do with the audit

1. Don't throw out current products. Use what you have until it runs out. Replace with cleaner alternative at repurchase.
2. Replace highest-frequency products first. Your shampoo + deodorant + body lotion + sunscreen are used daily and matter more than your once-a-month face mask.
3. Set up a one-line cleaner alternative for each category. Once you've identified a clean shampoo / conditioner / sunscreen / deodorant, reorder the same brand each time. Don't re-research.
4. Re-audit annually. Brands reformulate. Native deodorant has been reformulated multiple times. An annual rescan with the app catches drift.
5. Save your favourite cleaner brands as “quick reorder” in your Amazon / Target / Sephora favourites for easy repurchase.

See also 60-second bathroom audit, best sunscreens without microplastics, deodorant brands ranked, best microplastic-free toothpaste, worst microplastic ingredients to avoid (full guide), and microplastics in cosmetics (full guide).