Ingredient deep-dive

Polystyrene: Is It a Microplastic?

High concernMicroplastic polymer

Plastic polymer occasionally used as opacifier or microbead.

Where it appears

Opacifier in lotions
Filler in pressed powders
Rare ingredient — most common in packaging

Regulatory status (2026)

European Union

Restricted under EU 2023/2055.

United States

No federal cosmetic restriction.

Cleaner alternatives

Silica
Titanium dioxide as opacifier

Use the app

Scan any product for Polystyrene 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 Store

Polystyrene — common questions

Is Polystyrene a microplastic?

Yes. Plastic polymer occasionally used as opacifier or microbead.

Is Polystyrene banned?

EU: Restricted under EU 2023/2055. US: No federal cosmetic restriction.

What can I use instead of Polystyrene?

Cleaner alternatives include: Silica; Titanium dioxide as opacifier.

What products contain Polystyrene?

Commonly found in: Opacifier in lotions; Filler in pressed powders; Rare ingredient — most common in packaging.

Related ingredients

Polyethylene

Microplastic polymer · High concern

Solid plastic polymer. The EU restricted intentionally added microplastics in rinse-off cosmetics from October 2023, including polyethylene microbeads.

Polypropylene

Microplastic polymer · High concern

Solid plastic polymer, often used in scrubs, mascara fibers, and exfoliants.

Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET)

Microplastic polymer · High concern

The same plastic used in bottles, here as glitter or shimmer in cosmetics.

Polymethyl Methacrylate (PMMA)

Microplastic polymer · High concern

Solid acrylic plastic used as a microbead filler. Banned in EU rinse-off products since 2023.