Aussie Skincare Microbead Recall: 9 Products Pulled

You probably grabbed a face scrub without thinking twice about what’s inside those tiny beads. But in November 2025, the New South Wales Environment Protection Authority (EPA) ordered six companies to stop selling nine skincare products because they contained banned plastic microbeads, and now we unpack which brands were caught, what this means for your bathroom shelf, and how to avoid hidden microplastics in your routine.

Products pulled from shelves: 9 ·
Brands ordered to stop sales: 6 ·
Banned ingredient: plastic microbeads ·
Year Australia phase-out began: 2015 ·
Regulatory body: NSW Environment Protection Authority (EPA)

The six‑row key‑facts table below shows the core enforcement data at a glance.

Are microbeads in face wash bad for your skin?

How microbeads harm aquatic life

• Microbeads are tiny plastic particles that do not biodegrade and accumulate in waterways (NSW EPA). They enter the food chain through fish and other marine organisms (7NEWS).

Why microbeads are banned in Australia

• The Australian government began phasing out microbeads voluntarily in 2015, and a legal ban on rinse‑off products took effect nationally from 2018 (SBS News). NSW enacted its own specific ban on 1 November 2022 (NSW EPA).

Bottom line: Microbeads in face wash are ecologically harmful and banned in Australia. Consumers should avoid polyethylene (PE) in any rinse‑off cosmetic.

What face cream was just recalled in Australia?

Nine products pulled from NSW shelves

• The NSW EPA issued compliance notices under the Plastic Reduction and Circular Economy Act (PRCE Act) to six businesses covering nine items (NSW EPA). Products included Natio Men’s Purifying Face Scrub and Natio Ageless Skin Renewal Exfoliator, as well as Coles Group’s KOi For Men Cleansing Face Scrub Oat & Desert Lime (NSW EPA).

Brands including Natio and Coles implicated

• Six companies were named: Aesthetics Skincare Pty Ltd, Coles Group Ltd, Frostbland Pty Ltd, JMSR Australia Pty Ltd, McPherson’s Consumer Products Pty Ltd, and Natio Pty Ltd (NSW EPA). The compliance notice orders apply only in NSW, so some of the same products could still be sold in other states (SBS News).

Bottom line: Nine face and body products from six brands were forced off NSW shelves in November 2025 for containing plastic microbeads. Check your labels, even if you bought them in another state.

Is Natio a clean brand?

Natio’s claims vs. regulatory findings

• Natio markets itself as a natural‑inspired Australian skincare brand. Yet two of its products — Natio Men’s Purifying Face Scrub and Natio Ageless Skin Renewal Exfoliator — were found to contain banned plastic microbeads (SBS News). This directly conflicts with a “clean” brand positioning.

Where is Natio Skincare made?

Natio’s manufacturing location

• Natio is an Australian skincare brand headquartered in Melbourne, and its products are manufactured in Australia (7NEWS). The recall affects locally made goods that still used polyethylene beads.

Bottom line: Natio is an Australian‑made brand that claimed natural positioning but was caught selling products with banned plastic microbeads. For shoppers seeking truly clean skincare, independent certification matters more than brand marketing.

Which face wash ingredients should you avoid?

Common harmful ingredients in face washes

• Avoid polyethylene (PE), polypropylene (PP), nylon, and any ingredient listed as “polyethylene beads” or “microbeads” (SBS News). Other ingredients to watch include parabens, sulfates, and phthalates. Some toothpastes also use microplastics for abrasion (7NEWS).

How to identify microplastics on labels

• Look for terms like “polyethylene” (PE), “polypropylene” (PP), “polyethylene terephthalate” (PET), or “nylon‑12” in the ingredients list. The NSW EPA advises consumers to scan the ingredient list of every rinse‑off product and return any that contain these plastics (NSW EPA).

Bottom line: Polyethylene and other plastic‑based ingredients appear in scrubs, cleansers, and even toothpaste. Read the INCI list — if you see PE, PP, or nylon, put it back.

Are microbeads banned in Australia?

Australian regulatory framework for microbeads

• Microbeads were banned in rinse‑off cosmetic products in Australia from 2018 under national agreement (SBS News). NSW later introduced its own ban effective 1 November 2022 under the Plastic Reduction and Circular Economy Act (NSW EPA).

List of banned cosmetic ingredients in Australia

• Beyond microbeads, Australia bans other ingredients such as hydroquinone in high concentrations and certain sunscreen compounds (NSW EPA). The enforcement action against microbeads is a rare example of active policing of cosmetic bans.

Bottom line: Yes — microbeads are banned in Australia for rinse‑off cosmetics, but enforcement gaps in 2025 show that some products still slipped through. Check state‑by‑state rules.

What is the cleanest skincare brand in the world?

Criteria for ‘clean’ skincare

• “Clean” typically means free from parabens, phthalates, sulfates, and microplastics. No official global standard exists, so certification bodies like EWG Verified and COSMOS set different benchmarks (7NEWS).

Top clean beauty brands according to industry reports

• Brands frequently cited include Drunk Elephant, RMS Beauty, Ilia, and Saie (SBS News). However, many brands claim “clean” while still using questionable preservatives. The safest approach is to cross‑reference with independent databases like EWG Skin Deep.

Bottom line: No brand can claim to be the “cleanest” in absolute terms. For Australian consumers, the safest strategy is to avoid any product listing polyethylene, polypropylene, or nylon — and to prioritise certifications over marketing.

Timeline

• 2015 – Australian government announces voluntary phase‑out of microbeads in rinse‑off cosmetics (SBS News).
• 2018 – Ban on plastic microbeads in rinse‑off products becomes law in Australia (NSW EPA).
• 1 November 2022 – NSW ban on microbeads in rinse‑off personal care products takes effect (NSW EPA).
• April 2024 – NSW EPA begins enforcement action that eventually leads to compliance notices (NSW EPA).
• November 2025 – Public announcement: six companies ordered to stop supplying nine products (NSW EPA).

Clarity: What we know and don’t know

Expert perspectives

“The NSW EPA is one of the few regulators in the world to take enforcement action against plastic microbeads in personal care products.”

— NSW EPA spokesperson, in the official press release (NSW EPA)

“The compliance notices cover only NSW, so the same products can still be sold in other states.”

— SBS News report (SBS News)

“Microbeads were once widely used in cosmetics to add texture and exfoliate, but they end up in waterways where fish ingest them.”

— 7NEWS analysis (7NEWS)

These perspectives highlight the regulatory gaps and the persistent presence of plastics even after bans. For consumers, the message is clear: trust labels, not brand stories.

Frequently asked questions