The ones people ask about
Polyethylene
Polyethylene is the world's most common plastic. In makeup it is used as a wax or as a fine powder. Polyethylene terephthalate, or PET, is a different plastic, used as the base of cosmetic glitter.
- On a list as
- Polyethylene · Polyethylene Wax · Polyethylene Terephthalate
- What it does
- Wax, binder and glitter base
- Where it comes from
- Synthetic: a plastic
- Vegan?
- Yes
Why it’s in a formula
As a wax it gives sticks and pencils their structure; as a powder it helps pressed powders bind and glide. PET film, cut small and coated, gives glitter its sparkle.
- The EU counts solid plastic particles deliberately added to products as microplastics and is phasing them out, giving makeup the longest time to reformulate. We list polyethylene plainly so you can choose.
- If you'd rather avoid plastics in makeup, look for polyethylene, nylon and PET on the list.
Where you’ll find it at Divina
Read from each piece’s published ingredient list. 5 pieces.
L'Anticerne
Crème Concealer
$52
Listed as Polyethylene
Not vegan: lanolin (as acetylated lanolin alcohol)
La Palette
Eyeshadow Palette
$78
Listed as Polyethylenewax, Polyethylene Terephthalate
Vegan, going by its list
Questions
Is polyethylene in makeup a microplastic?
It can be. The EU counts solid plastic particles added to cosmetics as microplastics and is phasing them out, with makeup given years to reformulate.
Is polyethylene safe on skin?
It is inert, isn't absorbed, and is considered safe in cosmetics. The concern is environmental: what happens after it washes away.
How we know: every ingredient list on this site is the manufacturer’s own, read piece by piece and shade by shade, and the pieces above are worked out from those lists each time the site is built. Ingredient names and functions follow the EU’s CosIng database. This page describes cosmetic ingredients; it isn’t medical advice.
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