If you've been following me here at G&M, you probably know that nail polish isn't just a hobby for me: it's an obsession. So, years ago, when I first found out that some polishes contained some pretty nasty chemicals, I immediately began to research these ingredients & to search for safe alternatives.
The main nasty chemicals found in nail polish??? Formaldehyde, Dibutyl Phthalate & Toluene. These ingredients can typically be found in many less expensive polishes: scary, I know. On the upside, many big name companies're realizing that their consumers won't buy polishes containing these 3 chemicals & have removed them from their ingredients.
Below, I'll explain what these ingredients're & why you don't want them in your polish, as well as list some brands who don't include these chemicals in their products.
Formaldehyde
When I started researching this stuff, this was the only ingredient of the 3 that I had actually heard of before & finding that this was in my nail polish totally grossed me out!!! The reason??? Formaldehyde may cause allergic reactions & is unsafe for use by asthmatic people. It is a carcinogen.
Though it is less commonly included in nail polish these days, formaldehyde is often added to nail hardeners & many nail companies include nail hardeners in all of their colored polishes as an added bonus. Not a great bonus in my opinion, considering that formaldehyde has been connected to lung & nasal cancer & is considered a known carcinogen by the International Agency for Research on Cancer.
So, while you probably aren't going to develop cancer just because you painted your nails with a formaldehyde-containing polish, I'd still personally avoid any products containing this chemical: it's just not worth the risk.
Dibutyl Phthalate
This chemical is used to make plastics that're extra-flexible; think shower curtains, rain boots, hairspray & plastic wrap. Its goal in nail polish? To ward off cracks, chips & all those other issues that make us cringe when they happen to our freshly-painted nails.
While DBP isn't believed to be a carcinogen, it has been linked to reproductive issues if the mother is exposed to it while pregnant. While companies're still allowed to put it into products in India, it has been banned for use in cosmetics by the European Union. That, to me, sends a clear message that this chemical is one to watch out for & even though India hasn't banned it, it's still a scary substance.
Toluene
Often included in polish to make it apply more smoothly, toluene is another scary chemical that can be found in many polishes. Nail polish isn't its only application, though, it's also included in petrol as an octane booster & is also used as a raw material to create TNT.
Toluene has been known to affect the nervous system & to cause dizziness, headaches, eye irritation, nausea, birth defects, developmental abnormalities & liver & kidney damage. I don't know about you, but those potential side effects do not sound worth it to me. Again, this chemical has also been banned by the European Union, but not by India.
Avoiding 'The Big 3': Safe Polish Recommendations
Now that we've gone over the basic uses of these chemicals & their potential hazards, I've some good news!! In recent years, most big nail polish brands have become aware of these harmful substances & have removed them from their formulas! These days, it's easier than ever to avoid these chemicals.
Some of my favorite brands that have eliminated these 3 nasty ingredients are: OPI, Sally Hansen Salon, MAC, Deborah Lippmann & Chanel.
And that's just the beginning: there're many more brands out there that have gone without these 3 ingredients. In fact, going 'clean' almost appears to be the new standard in nail polish, which is very exciting! As a polish lover, I hope to someday see all brands eliminate these ingredients from their formulas.
What do you guys think of these 3 ingredients & their inclusion in nail polish??? Do you wonder about any other polish ingredients?? Do you want to know of other brands that avoid these chemicals or some more natural brands??