There are things that belong in the ocean: mermaids, Alexis Ren (#frank crush above) Dory and – you.

Microbeads are not one of them.

But the sad fact is babe, they may be tiny. But this is no tiny problem.

So let’s go back to the start.

What are microbeads?

They’re tiny plastic beads that can be found in facial scrubs, cleanser, body washes and some toothpastes. You know the ones that come in all sorts of colours and make your body wash look like a bottle of confetti. They act as exfoliants, replacing natural ingredients such as sand, walnut kernels and seeds.

Why are they bad news?

These little beads start their journey in the bathroom, but they soon end up in waterways like rivers and oceans. Because of their size, sewage filters can’t trap them like other rubbish. So straight into the ocean they go and into the stomachs of unsuspecting sea creatures. They can travel up the food chain, making microbeads one of the fastest growing forms of marine pollution.

A UK study found that each time a face wash with microbeads is used, 94,500 of these little guys can be released into the ocean. And they don’t break down so it’s got environmentalists worried about what this means for our ocean’s future.

What’s being done about them?

So far, the US, Australia and Canada are moving towards a complete ban on products with microbeads in them. And recently, the UK has been looking at doing a similar thing.

But #letsbefrank, what can we all do about it?

My babes are a worldly bunch (with mermaid tendencies) so you may want to help out in your own way. My coffee-based skincare range uses natural and naturally-derived ingredients such as ground Robusta coffee beans and sea salt to exfoliate your bod, naturally. Because #letsbefrank, no man wants blue balls and no mermaid wants blue balls anywhere near her.

Me on the other hand? I like to know all about balls, bods and other dirty details. So if you want to know more about skincare ingredients (like Parabens), just ask.

Hit me up on Twitter.

xx frank