Everyone can tell just from the smell, that nail polish contains some pretty obnoxious chemicals. Let’s dive right into what chemicals are lurking in your nail polish, and how they can affect our health. In 2019 Harvard Health stated that, “Studies have shown that chemicals in nail polish can be absorbed into the body”. It’s important that we take control of our health, and are aware of what we’re putting on and into our bodies. After all, we not only put nail polish on our bodies, we inhale the fumes.
Common Chemicals in Nail Polish:
- Formaldehyde – Is a preservative that has been recognized by the National Cancer Institute as a potential cancer-causing substance. It is also among the most common substances that cause allergic contact dermatitis.
- Toluene- Is known to cause irritation, nerve damage, inflammation of the skin, liver and kidney damage. Even at very low levels it’s highly genotoxic causing DNA damage and mutations in humans.
- Dibutyl phthalate- A known endocrine disruptor that is linked to hormone changes, diabetes, and thyroid irregularities.
- Lead- has been linked to health effects such as disrupting the HPA axis, and brain and kidney damage.
- Parabens- Known endocrine disruptors that mimic estrogen in the body.
- Camphor- Most camphor is synthetically derived, and it can cause skins irritation and seizures. It’s very dangerous and even deadly if swallowed.
- Ethyl Tosylamide- Is banned in Europe for its antibiotic properties that can lead to antibiotic resistant infections.
- Xylene- Is a known irritant, allergen, and carcinogen. Xylene can cause headaches, dizziness, and lightheadedness, and repeated exposure can affect concentration, memory, vision, muscle coordination, and cause damage to the liver and kidneys.
- Triphenyl Phosphate (TPHP)- A known allergen, as well as toxic to the liver and kidneys. Repeated exposure may damage the nerves causing weakness, pins and needles, and poor coordination.
- Benzophenone-1- A known irritant, allergen, and endocrine disruptor.
- Gel nail polishes contain most of the same chemicals as conventional nail polish, and usually use UV lights to cure or harden the polish. Most curing lamps emit ultraviolet A light, which is a known cause of cancer, aging, and cellular damage. People who use UV lamps to cure their polish have an increased risk of developing skin cancer. You can think of it like a tiny tanning bed.
Nail polish companies are not required to list their ingredients, so this can make its challenging when trying to avoid these toxins. Sadly, if you’re trying to find an “organic” nail polish, it’s simply not going to happen. Nail polish has very limited regulations by the FDA and the Federal Trade Commission. However, there are some brands that have made it their mission to develop non-toxic nail polish, because they have a passion for beauty that doesn’t sacrifice wellness. When choosing a non-toxic nail polish it’s best to look for something labeled at least “10- free” or higher. “10-free” means the formula is made without 10 of the most common harmful chemicals typically found in nail polish. To make it simple, we’ve done the work for you and listed our favorites below.
Our favorite nontoxic nail polish brands:
- Sally Hanson- Good. Kind. Pure.
This polish is 16-free, vegan, and available at most stores including Target, Walmart, and most drugstores. This is hands down the non-toxic nail polish brand with the most colors to choose from, and they all contain bamboo and marine algae to nourish nails.
- Ella + Mila
This polish is 17-free, non-Toxic, vegan, and cruelty free. The company prides themselves on being environmentally responsible and health conscious. These polishes contain a chip resistant formula, and there are tons of beautiful collections to choose from all with sparkly and non-sparkly options.
- imPRESS Color Press on Manicure
We love this press on manicure! It’s peel and stick so there’s no fuss and no glue. It’s perfect for those that suffer from mast cell and multiple chemical sensitivities, because it has no smell. That’s right, NO SMELL! This manicure lasts for about a week doing dishes and all! They even make a press on pedicure.
You can find all of these brands linked on our amazon at: https://www.amazon.com/ideas/amzn1.account.AGTRZNRCBT6RK3KHSRNFWK3LZG3Q/1YHJGVC82XIUO?type=explore&ref=idea_cp_vl_ov_d
References
Nassim, J., MD. (2019, November 21). A look at the effects of nail polish on nail health and safety. Harvard Health. https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/a-look-at-the-effects-of-nail-polish-on-nail-health-and-safety-2019112118231
Flory, B. (2019, June 21). How Toxic is Nail Polish? (and What to Use Instead!). Non Toxic Revolution. https://www.nontoxicrevolution.org/blog/2019/6/12/non-toxic-nail-polish
What Exactly Is 10-Free Nail Polish? (2022, September 13). InStyle. https://www.instyle.com/beauty/nails/what-is-10-free-nail-polish
Fennessy, L. (2023, January 24). 2023 Buying Guide: Best Nontoxic Nail Polish Brands. The New Knew. https://thenewknew.com/best-nontoxic-nail-polish-brands/
Camphor: Uses and Risks. (2013, February 22). WebMD. https://www.webmd.com/vitamins-and-supplements/camphor-uses-amd-risks
EWG Skin Deep® | What is ETHYL TOSYLAMIDE. (n.d.). EWG. https://www.ewg.org/skindeep/ingredients/702313-ETHYL_TOSYLAMIDE/
Hazardous Substance Fact Sheet. (2016, March). New Jersey Department of Health. https://nj.gov/health/eoh/rtkweb/documents/fs/2014.pdf
Hazardous Substance Fact Sheet. (2000, May). New Jersey Department of Health and Senior Services. https://nj.gov/health/eoh/rtkweb/documents/fs/1951.pdf
EWG Skin Deep® | What is BENZOPHENONE-1. (n.d.). EWG. https://www.ewg.org/skindeep/ingredients/700685-BENZOPHENONE1/
impressmanicure.com. (n.d.). https://www.impressmanicure.com/press-on-colors-design-nails