BEAUTY MATTER

“Imagine dropping a salt shaker on the floor and then having to clean it up one individual salt crystal at a time,” describes Cosmetics Business. “Now imagine having to do the same after spilling it into the ocean, but instead of salt, which dissolves, the pieces are microplastic [plastic pieces smaller than 5mm]. The same size, but never dissolves.”

Glitter is a microplastic. Comprised of petroleum-based plastic coated in aluminum that persists in the environment for centuries, it coats ocean floors and feeds fish. Allure quoted Dr. Sherri Mason, Professor of Chemistry at SUNY Fredonia, calling glitter “a little poison pill.”

Maddie BoatwrightNovember 22, 2016

RACKED

“Glitter is having a moment,” 24-year-old Saba Gray tells me. “I mean, if you look all over runways, there’s glitter popping up everywhere — Margiela, Givenchy, Gucci. Topshop sells it now, and Forever 21.” As she puts it, “Times are a bit rough, but if you throw some glitter on it, doesn't seem so rough.”