Aside from lipstick, nail polish is another beauty essentials that most women can’t live without. Some women even spend some time picking the right nail polish color to match their mood, makeup or outfit-of-the-day. It is no wonder that nail polish salons have been a lucrative business in the beauty industry. However, behind these colorful bottles of nail polish hide a dark secret – 5 toxic chemicals that can have possible side effects to humans when used for a long period of time. This is especially alarming for people who are working at nail salons and are exposed to these chemicals on a daily basis.
5 Toxic Ingredients in Nail Polish
Formaldehyde
This is the same chemical that is used to preserve dead bodies. In the same way, it is also used in nail polish as hardener and preservative. People working in mortuaries always wear protective gears (gloves and mask) when handling formaldehyde to avoid inhalation and skin contact. The reason why they do it is because frequent exposure to formaldehyde can irritate the eyes, nose, throat and skin. Also, according to this article by Tox Town, formaldehyde is considered as human carcinogen.
Toluene
Toluene is a colorless liquid with a pungent smell and is often used as solvent in paint thinners. In nail polish, it is used to give the polish a smooth finish (similar to a wall paint). However, frequent inhalation of toluene over long period of time can cause nausea, difficulty in breathing and brain damage. Repeated exposure to toluene while pregnant may also increase the risk of damage to the fetus.
Dibutyl phthalate (DBP)
DBP is often added in nail polish to increase flexibility on nails so that it won’t easily chip. However, this chemical is already banned by the European Union in cosmetic products because it is classified as hormone disruptor.
Formaldehyde resin
Formaldehyde resin is a by-product of formaldehyde and is often used in nail polish to form tough, shiny and durable films on nails. It is not as toxic as formaldehyde but some studies show that it can cause skin irritation and allergic reaction to some people.
Camphor
Camphor is normally used in vapor rubs and topical pain relievers. It is also responsible for giving nail polish its glossy, shiny appearance. Camphor is really not toxic if used within the limit of 11%, more than that limit it can cause skin irritation to some people who are more sensitive to this chemical.
If you really love to paint your nails, then choose nail polish brands that are at least free of the “Big Three” (Formaldehyde, Toluene & DBP) toxic ingredients. Take note though that even if the nail polish is free from these 5 toxic chemicals, there is really no such thing as 100% natural nail polish because they will still contain artificial colorants.
Here I present non-toxic nail polish brands in the Philippines that are either 3-free or 5-free of toxic chemicals mentioned in the above list.
1. Zoya
It’s been awarded as the longest wearing natural nail polish by Women’s Health Magazine. It’s also free of formaldehyde, toluene, DBP, formaldehyde resin and camphor. Plus, you have around 300+ colors to choose from their collection.
Zoya is available at Lazada and Polish Please.
2. Dazzle Dry
This nail polish brand is free of formaldehyde, toluene, DBP and camphor. It’s also vegan-friendly because they don’t use any animal by-products (e.g. red dye called carmine which is made from cochineal beetles). According their website, their nail polishes dry in as fast as 5 minutes and chip-free up to 4 weeks.
Dazzle Dry is available at its official online store.
3. SpaRitual
Their nail polishes are vegan and free of formaldehyde, toluene, DBP, formaldehyde resin and camphor. They also use eco-friendly packaging. In fact, their nail polish containers are made of at least 50% recycled materials.
SpaRitual is available at Beauty and Butter nail salon but it’s not for sale, you can only avail the use of the product inside the salon.
4. Nubar
This nail polish brand is vegan and free of formaldehyde, toluene and DBP. Nubar is very popular among Hollywood celebrities, even the international singer Rihanna is often seen wearing Nubar nail polish.
Nubar is available at Nubar Philippines Facebook page. You can also consult their Facebook page to see a list of nail salons that use Nubar nail polish.
All of these nail polish brands are safe to be used on pregnant women and little daughters who want to have their nails painted like their mommies. The only downside of non-toxic nail polish is its exorbitant price (a bottle costs Php 300 – 800).
Do you know other non-toxic nail polish brands that are not on this list? Let me know on the comment section below.
Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links, which means that if you click on one of the product links and purchase the products, I’ll receive some commission.
