Wednesday 8 June is World Oceans Day, the United Nations- recognized day of ocean celebration and action. This year, the theme is ‘healthy oceans, healthy planet’, and the focus is the prevention of plastic pollution. In the world of beauty, there’s no worse polluter than plastic microbeads. Aside from irritating the surface of the skin, plastic microbeads are non-biodegradable and so small that they bypass wastewater filters, washing down bathroom sinks and straight out into the ocean.
Once in the ocean, they inevitably find their way into our fish population – one study found that around 35% of fish examined had microplastics in their stomachs.1 “These tiny beads are having a massive impact on marine life and disrupt the natural balance of our oceans”, comments Corinne Morley, Trilogy UK Sales and Marketing Manager and in-house beauty expert. “The seriousness of this problem has led several state s and countries, including California and Canada, to ban microbeads in cosmetic products. Awareness of the problem has been raised by focused action from international campaigns like ‘Beat the Microbead,’ which Trilogy is proud to have been associated with since 2013.
Trilogy Gentle Facial Exfoliant
At Trilogy, we have never and will never use plastic microbeads in our products. Trilogy Gentle Facial Exfoliant is formulated with natural, biodegradable, non-abrasive jojoba wax microspheres, which gently polish the complexion, refining texture and improving clarity without irritating or compromising the skin’s natural barrier function. But more importantly, they do not contribute to microplastic pollution in our oceans. In November 2015 in recognition of the brand’s leadership position against the use of plastic microbeads, Trilogy was invited to present at a global workshop hosted by The Global Marine and Polar Programme at the International Union for Conservation of Nature.
Also attended by heavyweight global companies such as L’Oreal, Philips and Nestle, Trilogy was selected to demonstrate to private sector representatives that environmental responsibility and a healthy market position can go hand-in-hand.
Trilogy Gentle Facial Exfoliant
All Trilogy products hold NATRUE Natural Cosmetics Certification, an internationally recognized accreditation that guarantees cruelty-free and environmentally friendly practices. Products bearing the NATRUE mark are non-GMO, made from entirely natural ingredients and do not contain synthetic fragrances, colors or preservatives, petroleum-derived ingredients, silicone oils or derivatives.
Listed in Fauna & Flora International’s Good Scrub Guide, which identifies products that provide safe, natural alternatives, Trilogy Gentle Facial Exfoliant features a nutrient-rich base of sweet almond, evening primrose and certified organic rosehip oils, in which active honey enzymes and camellia oil lift dead skin cells while conditioning botanical extracts of macadamia nut and calendula soften and soothe for a radiant post-exfoliation glow.
“You don’t want an exfoliating product containing rough, sharp bits as these can irritate and scratch the surface of the skin. The jojoba wax microspheres in Gentle Facial Exfoliant mean it can be used even by those with sensitive skin,” comments Corinne Morley.
Trilogy was the first New Zealand skincare brand to become carbon neutral, achieving certification in 2007. Our mantra is ‘maximum effect on your skin, minimum effect on our environment’ and our products are made from sustainably sourced pure plant oils and active botanical ingredients.
What’s more, Trilogy packaging is fully recyclable and uses FSC (Forest Stewardship Council) certified paper and board, with non-bio-accumulating vegetable-based bio-inks and varnishes. Trilogy further reduces its carbon footprint by using local suppliers where it can for boxes, labels and point-of-sale materials. Last year Trilogy confirmed compliance to a new Australian law, “Illegal Logging Prohibition Act,” which requires confirmation that the timber products used in the supply chain are from ethical sources and haven’t been obtained from illegal logging.
Trilogy is proud to support World Oceans Day, and excited to share an effective, nourishing and ocean-safe exfoliant, free from microbeads. Trilogy products are available from selected Myer, Priceline, pharmacy and health stores nationwide.
1 Chr.M. Boerger et al., ‘Plastic ingestion by planktivorous fishes in the North Pacific Central Gyre’, in: Marine Pollution Bulletin 60 (2010), pp. 2275-2278.
