Polyethylene
Caution
Official INCI name
A plastic used in scrubs and as a thickener. As microbeads it's a microplastic — banned in rinse-off products in many countries.
What it does
Thickener or film former. Gives body, texture or hold (gums, polymers, waxes).
Worth knowing
Persists in the environment or harms aquatic life (e.g. microplastics, some UV filters).
“Polyethylene” is its name in the EU glossary of common ingredient names (no. 21689), the names labels in the EU must use. © European Union, EUR-Lex.