microbead

[ mahy-kroh-beed ]

noun

Usually microbeads. a tiny particle of plastic, usually smaller than two millimeters, used in such personal care products as body washes, facial scrubs, and toothpastes: The microbeads help to exfoliate your skin.

Origin of microbead

First recorded in 1965–70; micro- + bead

The positively charged microbeads had released up to 65 percent of their triclosan.
We all unknowingly eat plastic, which may host toxic pollutants | Alison Pearce Stevens | April 6, 2022 | Science News For Students
The environmental scientists worked with microbeads made of polystyrene, a type of plastic.
We all unknowingly eat plastic, which may host toxic pollutants | Alison Pearce Stevens | April 6, 2022 | Science News For Students
Chemical options are generally too harsh for daily use, and a growing awareness of the pollution problem posed by plastic microbeads has cancelled an entire sub-genre of products.
Skincare gifts that are actually worth the splurge | Rachel Feltman | November 18, 2021 | Popular-Science
I didn’t have to worry about harming any critters in the sea, because unlike microbeads, volcanic rock isn’t toxic to marine life.
This Face Wash Made Me Rethink My Skin-Care Routine | Luke Whelan | April 21, 2021 | Outside Online

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