To some, keeping your nails groomed and painted can feel like a luxury. A treat that only happens when you have time, but to others, using nail polish can be a regular part of your beauty routine. Whether you do it once a week, or once a year, do you know what you are putting on your nails?
What are our nails made of?
Our nails are made up of the same protein keratin as our hair, meaning that they can absorb whatever they are soaked in, or painted with. Our nail bed is very much alive.
Most traditional nail polishes contain an assortment of ingredients which can be harmful to your health. These harmful chemicals can be inhaled or absorbed through our nail bed and into our blood stream.
Why are traditional nail polishes a concern?
Have you ever wondered why every time you walk past a nail salon the smell is so intense even outside? Let alone when you’re inside and sitting there for a hour.
There are more nasties in traditional nail polish than in almost any another skincare or cosmetic product, and the formulation of nail polish would read like a chemical cocktail, if you could read the ingredient list. The exact ingredient list is not usually found on the label, and if it is, it’s generally too small to read.
Some companies are becoming aware of the issues of traditional nail polish and are working towards creating cleaner and greener options. You may see nail polishes that are advertised as 3-free, 5-free, 7-free or even up to 10-free. Explained below are some of the common toxic chemicals that are found in traditional nail polishes, and the ones companies are now trying to leave out.
Here are some of the toxic ingredients found in nail polish.
There is the so-called ‘toxic trio’. Most 3-free nail polishes won’t have these 3 ingredients;
- Formaldehyde – this chemical is used as a nail hardener but has had researched links to cancer.
- Toluene – used in paint strippers and glue, this is a chemical that gives people a high when they sniff it. It is a known irritant to the skin, eyes and throat, and prolonged contact with the skin can cause contact dermatitis.
- Dibutyl Phthalate (DBP) – commonly used as a plasticiser which makes the product more flexible, but it is thought to cause reproductive issues. It has been banned in the EU.
Nail polishes that are 5-free generally won’t contain the toxic trio plus these additional ingredients;
- Camphor – synthetically sourced from turpentine oil which is used to strip paint. It can cause nails to dry out, become brittle and discoloured.
- Formaldehyde resin – although this resin hasn’t been linked to cancer, like regular formaldehyde, it’s a skin allergen known to cause dermatitis.
7-free and up to 10-free polishes will exclude some, or all of these;
- Xylene – is a compound found in petroleum products and is used as a solvent for paints and paint thinners.
- Ethyl Tosylamide – a plasticiser which increases the durability and wear of the nail polish, but has been banned in the EU.
- Parabens – a type of preservative widely used in cosmetics to protect against bacteria, which has been suspected of interfering with hormone function.
- Benzophenone-1 – which is used as a UV absorber to protect personal care products from deterioration by absorbing, reflecting or scattering UV rays, but has been linked to breast, ovarian and prostate cancer.
- Phthalates – these are produced from tar oil or coal, and are generally used to flavour a cosmetic product. (Not sure why this is needed in nail polish!?)
- Styrene – often added for colour, this is a volatile organic compound associated with irritation of the skin, eyes and upper respiratory tract, and has also been considered a potential human carcinogen.
Fortunately there are alternatives to traditional nail polish.
Whether or not you like to prioritise well-kept nails, it’s important to be aware of what you are using. If reducing your toxic exposure is important to you, look for companies providing safer options. But also be aware that companies leaving out the ‘toxic trio’ may just be replacing them with other nasties. Look for water-based polishes as they are safer, have fewer fumes and are non-flammable.
Our favourite low-tox nail polish brands.
One of our favourite companies with 10-free nail polish is from Hanami. Hanami have recently gone even ‘greener’ with their new Plant Polish formula. It’s made from 82% naturally derived ingredients (such as corn, cotton, sugarcane and potato) – rather than petrochemicals. It is breathable, water permeable, 10-free (non toxic), as well as certified vegan, cruelty free, and Australian made. They also have an amazing selection of beautiful colours to choose from, so the only hard decision will be choosing which colour you want!
Another great Australian company is Sienna. They have a great 10-free and new plant-based formula in a stunning range of colours. With their distinctive glass bottles with timber lids, sustainability is at the forefront of everything they do. Their recently released formula is the world’s first micro-plastic free, aluminium free and nano particle free nail polish, and they ensure traceability from the sourcing of the raw materials right through to the production and processing methods.
Change is happening, but stay aware.
As consumers become more aware of these chemicals, our hope is that companies start to change their formulas to ones that are not only better for us, but the environment too. As always, watch out for greenwashing and if you are unsure, companies doing the right thing (like Hanami and Sienna) will be loud and proud about how clean their nail polishes are, and have no reason to hide anything!
Our hope is that Australia will eventually move towards safer options in our nail salons too. By providing spaces that are adequately ventilated, with non-toxic and cleaner options, the health and safety of not only the customers, but the workers too, will be greatly improved.
If you know of other great low-tox nail polish brands let us know below! Also check out our Eco Directory for other brands doing wonderful things in the beauty space.
References:
www.cosmeticsinfo.org
www.hamani.com.au
Truth in Beauty – Mukti