Microplastics, especially microbeads found in cosmetic products like shampoo, are a growing problem as they make their way into oceans when washed down drains. Many shampoos contain synthetic plastic polymers like polyethylene, polypropylene, and nylon as microbeads instead of natural components because they are cheaper to produce and make products use up more quickly, though they harm marine life and ecosystems. The document provides alternatives to microbead-containing shampoos and lists some companies that have removed microbeads from their products.