With the latest IPCC report out, Earth Day could not come soon enough. When talking about our precious earth and the impending climate crisis, it’s clear that we all need to do everything we can to protect our home. We believe in celebrating Earth Day all year round by making conscious and sustainable choices that keep the health of our planet in mind. All our high-performance products are vegan, cruelty-free, and made without harmful preservatives like parabens and plasticizers like phthalates. 

And this is why we make sustainable glitter makeup that doesn't contribute to microplastic pollution.

How does non-biodegradable glitter impact our environment? What is biodegradable glitter, and how is it eco-friendly? We’ll answer your questions and tell you the best biodegradable glitter to try. 

How Does Glitter Harm The Environment?

 The glitter you see in stores is rarely environmentally friendly. Most glitters used for makeup, art, and decorations are made with a plastic-based compound called PET, also known as polyester. While PET is recyclable in large forms, glitter is considered a microplastic due to its nearly microscopic size. 

Microplastics are too small for water filters to catch, making them nearly impossible to recycle. Because of this, it filters out into our bodies of water like lakes or oceans. 

What Is Microplastic Doing To Our Earth?

Since microplastics cannot be recycled, they end up on the surface of our earth or in our oceans. This presents varying hazardous impacts on our wildlife and our health. 

Microplastics that filter into our oceans and rivers pollute marine habitats and become dangerous to the animals that live in them. Since glitter is shiny and reflective, it’s often mistaken for other living organisms and becomes food for wildlife. Ingested microplastic will remain in their system for the rest of their lives, causing health problems or early death.

Additionally, since this microplastic will stay in the animal’s system, there’s always the chance of humans accidentally ingesting it. When we eat seafood that contains microplastic, we invite that microplastic into our system. While it’s unclear what the long-term effects of this are on humans, it’s certainly not good. 

Even more bone-chilling, microplastics can become airborne. Wind can lift these particles into the air and enter our lungs. Again, the long-term effects are unclear, but it’s unlikely that microplastic embedded in our lungs is harmless. 

What Is Biodegradable Glitter Made From?

Environmentally friendly glitter is made from plastic-alternative compounds that can break down naturally. Two common bases for biodegradable glitter are mica glitter and cellulose glitter. 

Cellulose glitter is plant-based, typically derived from eucalyptus or bamboo. Mica glitter is made from mined minerals, which already have a natural glittery shine. 

The Best Biodegradable Glitter

We make our Biodegradable Glitter with microcrystalline cellulose. Microcrystalline cellulose comes from refined wood pulp that breaks down with the environment. It can even break down naturally in water, making it ocean-friendly!

We make it in three colors, Silver, Gold, and Pink, and it’s skin-safe to put anywhere on your face or body. Another bonus? You don't need glitter glue for application, which can be another environmental hazard. If you want a firm hold for your glitter, simply use a makeup primer or even vaseline!

Get the best Biodegradable Glitter in individual pots, or save money and get the full Biodegradable Glitter Trio.

Curious about other sustainability practices we’ve been putting into place? Well, we are pleased to let you know our Universal Balm is cruelty-free and petroleum-free! Petroleum jelly, frequently used in many beauty products, is a byproduct of petroleum. Petroleum is a type of crude oil, also known as a fossil fuel. You know, the thing that’s been a major player in disrupting our environment.

Instead, we use shea butter and sunflower seed oil as eco-friendly alternatives. We also don’t include lanolin (a commonly used wax derived from sheep) or beeswax in our formula! When we say cruelty-free, we mean it!

What’s your favorite sustainable makeup product? Tell us in the comments below!

Written by Julia Pincus, The Beauty Mark Writer