Ingredient deep-dive
Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET): Is It a Microplastic?
The same plastic used in bottles, here as glitter or shimmer in cosmetics.
Where it appears
- Cosmetic glitter
- Shimmer eyeshadow and highlighter
- Nail polish
Regulatory status (2026)
European Union
Glitter and shimmer applications restricted under EU 2023/2055 with phased compliance through 2027.
United States
No federal restriction; some state-level glitter bans (California 2024).
Cleaner alternatives
- Bio-glitter from cellulose
- Mica + iron-oxide pigments for shimmer
Use the app
Scan any product for Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET) in 5 seconds
The MicroPlastics iOS app flags this ingredient and 24 others instantly. Paste a label into the free web ingredient checker first if you want a no-install scan.
Download on the App StorePolyethylene Terephthalate (PET) — common questions
Is Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET) a microplastic?
Is Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET) banned?
What can I use instead of Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET)?
What products contain Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET)?
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