All crafting enthusiasts and makeup gurus know there is a price to pay when using glitter. Yes, it is dazzling and theatrical but with one use, comes lots of damage control—expect an impossible-to-clean mess in any inconvenient crevice. So what does that chaos mean on a larger scale? Microplastics—the essence of glitter which consists of small pieces plastic are making headlines as scientist warns of the environmental dangers they present.

Scientist's main concern right now is the effect that glitter and other similar materials such as microbeads found in cleansers and toothpaste have had on the world's marine environments.

According to the EPA, "It is estimated that approximately 90% of the plastics in the pelagic marine environment are microplastics."

Thankfully, change is already being implemented in the United Kingdom, whose ban on microbeads took action this year, while America maintains a partial ban—but there is still plenty to be done. Glitter—both loose and in makeup, has yet to be held to the same standards as microplastics although they contribute to the marine pollution problem.

As a result of the pollution in our waters, animals are not only caused physical distress and death, but marine wildlife is mistaking the tiny pieces of plastic for food, which impacts growth and reproduction. This not only has the power to alter ecosystems, but these particles are now being found in seafood meant for human consumption.

According to eic.rsc.org, "There is a need to change the way plastic is viewed by society: from ubiquitous, disposable waste to a valuable, recyclable raw material, much like metal and glass. It’s hoped this will increase the economic value of plastic waste in a circular economy."

Thankfully, not all hope is lost for the glitter obsessed. BBC reports that eco-glitter, made from eucalyptus tree extract and aluminum is the latest groundbreaking alternative to the highly popular microplastic.