Bringing Bright Color and Controlled Texture to Body Scrubs
Red polyethylene microgranules are a fine synthetic abrasive widely used across the cosmetic industry for creating mechanical exfoliating formulas. This ingredient sits within the Scrubs for Cosmetic Production category, serving as a core exfoliating agent in body, hand, and foot care products. The rounded shape of the granules makes them gentler on skin compared to natural abrasives like fruit stone powder, which is why formulators often choose them for products aimed at sensitive skin types.
The primary demand for this material comes from cosmetic manufacturing - body scrubs, exfoliating shower gels, hand and foot treatments, and polishing balms. The vivid red tone does more than provide tactile sensation during use, it also gives the finished product strong shelf appeal, as contrasting granules suspended in a clear or translucent gel visually signal an active exfoliating effect to the consumer. Beyond cosmetics, colored polyethylene granules are also used in demonstration and educational materials, as well as a technical filler in formulations requiring consistent particle dispersion.
Granules should be added at the final stage of production, once the main gel or cream base has cooled to no more than 40 degrees Celsius, to prevent deformation and ensure even distribution throughout the batch. A typical usage rate ranges from 3 to 10 percent of the total product mass depending on the desired exfoliation intensity - lower concentrations work well for facial or hand formulas, while higher amounts suit body and foot scrubs. The granules are water resistant and stable in most cosmetic bases, neither swelling nor dissolving, which keeps the product texture consistent throughout its shelf life.
They pair well with other decorative and abrasive ingredients - for instance, combining them with mica scrub adds a shimmering visual layer, while blending with marine mix scrub granules creates a multi-textured formula with varying particle sizes. For gentler formulations, pairing with softer botanical abrasives such as raspberry scrub allows precise control over exfoliation strength within a single recipe.
The 1 kg pack size is suited for studio-scale and small industrial production - enough material to produce several dozen liters of finished scrub, making it a practical choice for workshops, emerging brands, and labs testing new formulas before scaling up. Store the granules in a dry place, in a tightly sealed container, away from direct sunlight and heat sources, to prevent clumping and preserve color stability throughout the entire storage period.
Citrus body polish with red granules
Red polyethylene microgranules 35 g
Clear scrub base 280 g
Sweet almond oil 18 ml
Essential oil of sweet orange 5 ml
Glycerin 12 ml
Distilled water 35 ml
Warm the clear base gently to around 42 degrees Celsius, then remove from heat and let it cool to about 38 degrees. Stir in the glycerin and distilled water until fully blended. Once the mixture reaches room temperature, add the almond oil and orange essential oil, mixing thoroughly. Finally, fold in the red polyethylene microgranules using gentle stirring rather than vigorous mixing, so the particles distribute evenly without settling. Transfer the finished scrub into a wide-mouth jar and allow it to stabilize for a few hours before first use.