Microplastics in Toothpaste and Personal Care: Hidden in Plain Sight

You probably scrutinize the food you eat, the water you drink, and maybe even the air you breathe when it comes to microplastic exposure. But how much attention do you pay to the products you rub directly onto your skin, massage into your gums, and lather through your hair? The personal care industry has been quietly embedding plastic polymers into everyday products for decades, and while headline-grabbing microbead bans created the impression that the problem was solved, the reality is far more complicated. Microplastics remain widespread in toothpaste, shampoo, body wash, sunscreen, and dozens of other products that millions of people use every single day.

This guide explains how microplastics ended up in your bathroom cabinet, why existing regulations fall short, exactly which ingredients to watch for on product labels, and what genuinely microplastic-free alternatives exist in 2026.

How Microbeads Invaded Personal Care Products

The story begins in the 1990s, when cosmetics and personal care companies discovered that tiny spheres of polyethylene plastic could replace natural abrasive ingredients like ground walnut shells, pumice, and baking soda. These plastic microbeads were cheap to manufacture, perfectly uniform in size, and could be color-tinted for visual appeal. By the early 2000s, microbeads had been added to an astonishing range of products: exfoliating face scrubs, body washes, hand soaps, toothpaste, and even eye shadow and lip gloss.

Toothpaste was a particularly concerning application. Brands including certain Crest and Oral-B product lines added polyethylene microbeads as a visual and textural feature — small colored specks marketed as providing “deep cleaning” action. In reality, the beads served primarily a cosmetic function. They were too smooth and too small to provide meaningful abrasion for cleaning teeth. Dentists began reporting that the beads were becoming lodged in patients' gum lines, trapping bacteria and potentially contributing to gum inflammation and periodontal disease.

The environmental consequences were equally troubling. Because microbeads are too small to be captured by most wastewater treatment systems, a 2015 study published in Environmental Science & Technology estimated that the United States alone was flushing 8 trillion microbeads per day into aquatic habitats. The beads accumulated in rivers, lakes, and oceans, were ingested by fish and other marine organisms, and entered the food chain.

The Microbead-Free Waters Act: A Partial Fix

In December 2015, the United States Congress passed the Microbead-Free Waters Act, which prohibited the manufacture and sale of rinse-off cosmetic products containing intentionally-added plastic microbeads. The law took full effect for manufacturing by July 2017 and for sales by July 2018. Similar legislation followed in Canada, the United Kingdom, several EU member states, South Korea, Taiwan, and New Zealand.

While this was an important step, the legislation had significant limitations that left major loopholes:

• Only rinse-off products were covered. Leave-on products like sunscreen, moisturizer, makeup, and deodorant were exempt, even though many contained (and still contain) plastic polymer ingredients.
• Only “plastic microbeads” as defined in the law were banned. The legislation defined microbeads narrowly as solid plastic particles less than 5 millimeters used for exfoliation or cleansing. This excluded liquid polymers, dissolved plastics, wax-encapsulated polymers, and plastic particles that serve functions other than exfoliation (such as film-forming, viscosity control, or emulsification).
• No regulation of plastic polymers used as functional ingredients. Polyethylene, polypropylene, nylon, polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), and dozens of other synthetic polymers continued to be used in personal care products in non-bead forms — as gels, films, coatings, and dissolved agents.

The result is that while the visible, spherical microbeads largely disappeared from toothpaste and face scrubs by 2018, plastic polymers remain present in an estimated 87 percent of personal care products on store shelves, according to a 2023 analysis by the Plastic Soup Foundation using their Beat the Microbead database.

Plastic Polymers Still Hiding in Your Toothpaste

Even after the microbead ban, several plastic-derived ingredients persist in toothpaste formulations. They are listed on ingredient labels under chemical names that most consumers would not recognize as plastic. Here are the most common ones:

PEG (Polyethylene Glycol) Compounds

PEG-6, PEG-8, PEG-32, PEG-40, and other numbered PEG variants are derived from polyethylene — the same plastic used to make grocery bags and packaging film. In toothpaste, PEGs function as humectants (moisture-retaining agents) and solvents. While PEGs are liquid polymers rather than solid beads, they are petroleum-derived plastics that contribute to microplastic pollution when rinsed down the drain. PEG compounds are among the most ubiquitous plastic-derived ingredients in personal care, found in over 40 percent of toothpaste brands surveyed by the Environmental Working Group.

Polyethylene (PE)

While solid polyethylene microbeads have been largely removed from toothpaste, polyethylene in other forms — waxes, film agents, and binders — can still be present. Some whitening toothpastes use polyethylene-based polishing agents that are technically not classified as “microbeads” under the narrow legal definition but are still plastic.

Carbomer

Carbomer is a synthetic polymer made from acrylic acid, used as a thickener and gel-forming agent in toothpaste. It helps give toothpaste its smooth, consistent texture. While carbomer is generally considered a lower-risk plastic ingredient because it is a cross-linked polymer that may not readily form discrete particles, it is nonetheless a fully synthetic, petroleum-derived plastic.

Poloxamer 407 and Poloxamer 338

These are synthetic block copolymers made from ethylene oxide and propylene oxide. They function as surfactants and emulsifiers in toothpaste. Like PEGs, they are liquid-phase plastics that wash down the drain with every brushing and are not captured by standard wastewater treatment.

How to Read Labels for Hidden Microplastics

Identifying microplastics on ingredient labels requires knowing the chemical names that correspond to common plastic polymers. Here is a comprehensive list of ingredients to avoid when shopping for toothpaste and other personal care products:

• Polyethylene (PE) — plastic film, wax, or microbead material
• Polypropylene (PP) — used as an abrasive or bulking agent
• Polyethylene terephthalate (PET) — glitter and film agent
• Polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) — bulking and smoothing agent
• Nylon-12, Nylon-6 — bulking agent and skin-conditioning polymer
• Polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) — also known as Teflon, used for texture
• Polyurethane — film-forming agent
• Acrylates copolymer — film-forming and binding agent
• Acrylates/C10-30 alkyl acrylate crosspolymer — thickener
• Carbomer — thickener derived from acrylic acid
• Poloxamer 407, Poloxamer 338 — synthetic surfactants
• PEG (any number) — polyethylene glycol derivatives
• PPG (any number) — polypropylene glycol derivatives

A helpful resource is the Beat the Microbead app developed by the Plastic Soup Foundation, which allows you to scan product barcodes and check for known microplastic ingredients. The MicroPlastics app also flags these ingredients when you scan personal care products.

Microplastic-Free Toothpaste Alternatives

The good news is that genuinely microplastic-free toothpaste options exist and are increasingly available. Here are categories and characteristics to look for:

Toothpaste Tablets

Brands like Bite, Huppy, and By Humankind produce toothpaste in tablet form. You chew the tablet and brush with a wet toothbrush. These products typically use simple ingredient lists — calcium carbonate or silica as the abrasive, natural flavoring, and minimal additives. Because they are solid tablets without the need for gel-forming agents or humectants, they avoid the plastic polymers (carbomer, PEGs, poloxamers) that conventional toothpaste tubes require.

Natural and Organic Tube Toothpastes

Brands such as Dr. Bronner's, Davids Natural Toothpaste, Tom's of Maine (select formulations), and Redmond Earthpaste use plant-derived thickeners (such as xanthan gum and cellulose gum) instead of synthetic polymers. Always check the full ingredient list, as even “natural” branded products occasionally include PEGs or other synthetic polymers. Look for certifications like COSMOS Organic, NATRUE, or EWG Verified, which restrict synthetic polymer ingredients.

DIY Toothpaste

For those who want complete control over ingredients, simple toothpaste can be made at home using baking soda, coconut oil, and peppermint essential oil. While homemade toothpaste typically lacks fluoride (an important consideration for cavity prevention), it eliminates all synthetic polymer exposure. Some dentists recommend using a fluoride rinse alongside natural toothpaste to get the cavity-prevention benefits of fluoride without the plastic-laden commercial formulations.

The Broader Personal Care Problem

Toothpaste is just one piece of a much larger puzzle. Microplastics and synthetic polymers are pervasive across the entire personal care industry.

Shampoo and Conditioner

Many mainstream shampoos contain dimethicone (a silicone polymer), polyquaternium compounds, acrylates copolymers, and PEGs. These ingredients create the smooth, silky feel that consumers associate with effective hair care, but they wash down the drain as microplastic pollution with every shower. A 2021 study estimated that personal washing products contribute approximately 3,200 tons of liquid microplastics to European waterways annually.

Sunscreen

Sunscreens frequently contain acrylates copolymers, PEG derivatives, and other synthetic polymers that function as film-forming agents, emulsifiers, and texture enhancers. Because sunscreen is a leave-on product that was exempt from microbead bans, it has received less regulatory scrutiny despite being applied in large quantities to skin that then contacts water during swimming, showering, and sweating. An estimated 14,000 tons of sunscreen enter ocean environments each year, carrying their polymer ingredients with them.

Body Wash and Soap

While the most visible microbeads have been removed from body washes, many formulations still contain PEGs, carbomer, polyquaternium, and acrylates as functional ingredients. Bar soaps with simple ingredient lists (saponified plant oils, essential oils) are generally the safest option, as they rarely contain synthetic polymers.

Makeup and Cosmetics

Foundations, powders, lipsticks, mascaras, and eye shadows routinely contain nylon-12, PMMA, PTFE, polyethylene, and various acrylate polymers. A 2021 investigation by the Plastic Soup Foundation found that 9 out of 10 makeup products contained at least one microplastic ingredient. Glitter, commonly found in eye shadows and body products, is typically made from PET film coated with aluminum — each flake is a microplastic particle.

What Regulators Are Doing (and Not Doing)

The European Union has taken the most ambitious regulatory action to date. In October 2023, the EU adopted a restriction on intentionally added microplastics under the REACH regulation. This restriction goes far beyond the narrow microbead bans of 2015-2018 and covers synthetic polymer microparticles across a wide range of products, including cosmetics, detergents, paints, and agricultural products. The regulation includes transition periods ranging from 4 to 12 years depending on the product category, with full implementation expected by 2035.

In the United States, no federal legislation has been proposed to expand beyond the original Microbead-Free Waters Act. California has introduced state-level labeling requirements for microplastic content in certain products, but comprehensive regulation of synthetic polymers in personal care remains absent at the federal level. Until regulation catches up, consumers must rely on their own label-reading skills and product research to avoid microplastic ingredients.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does toothpaste still contain microplastics?

While solid polyethylene microbeads have been largely removed from toothpaste due to the 2015 Microbead-Free Waters Act, many toothpaste brands still contain synthetic polymer ingredients such as PEGs, carbomer, poloxamers, and other plastic-derived compounds. These ingredients were not covered by the microbead ban and remain common in commercial toothpaste formulations.

How can I tell if my toothpaste has plastic in it?

Check the ingredient list for polyethylene (PE), polypropylene (PP), PEG followed by any number, carbomer, poloxamer, acrylates copolymer, and any ingredient with “poly” as a prefix. You can also use the MicroPlastics app or the Beat the Microbead database to scan products and identify plastic ingredients automatically.

Are natural toothpastes effective without fluoride?

Fluoride remains the most scientifically supported ingredient for preventing tooth decay. Natural toothpastes without fluoride can effectively clean teeth and freshen breath, but they may offer less cavity protection. Many dentists recommend using a fluoride rinse alongside natural toothpaste, or choosing a natural toothpaste that includes fluoride (several brands now offer this combination). The key is to discuss your specific needs with your dentist.

What percentage of personal care products contain microplastics?

According to the Plastic Soup Foundation's Beat the Microbead project, approximately 87 percent of personal care products on the market contain at least one synthetic polymer ingredient. This includes liquid polymers and dissolved plastics that were not covered by microbead bans. The categories with the highest rates of plastic ingredients are makeup/cosmetics, sunscreen, and hair care products.

Is the EU microplastics ban enough to solve the problem?

The EU's 2023 REACH restriction on intentionally added microplastics is the most comprehensive regulation to date, but it has significant limitations. Transition periods extend up to 12 years for some product categories, and the restriction only covers intentionally added microplastics — not microplastics generated through product degradation or use. Additionally, enforcement across 27 member states with varying regulatory capacity will be challenging. The regulation is an important step forward, but consumer awareness and informed purchasing decisions remain essential.