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Nail it!

 
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When it comes to making your fingernails and toenails dazzle in red, pink or blue pick your poison ... as nail products are "among the most toxic cosmetics on the market."1

Why do you care?

  • Nails are highly porous - capable of absorbing whatever chemicals are applied - and they go right into the bloodstream without passing through the liver - the body's detoxifying organ.2 That's a nail biter!
  • Chemical solvents make up 60-70% of the ingredients in conventional nail polish. Solvents allow the polish to flow easily from the bottle to brush to nail and evaporate when drying.3 That's what those fumes and strong smells are.
    • Common solvents in nail polish: formaldehyde, toluene and amyl/butyl/ethyl acetate and acetone.
    • Problems: may cause immediate problems like contact dermatitis (red, swollen, itchy skin) breathing problems, dizziness and allergic reactions to longer term reproductive and other health issues.
    • See Effects of Common Nail Polish Ingredients.
  • Resin and plasticizers are used to make the thin layer of polish strong, pliable, resistant to chipping and provide sheen.
    • Common polish formulations use dibutyl phthalate (DBP), to make the resin.
    • Exposure occurs 2 ways - inhalation of fumes (particularly since DBP does not evaporate quickly) and absoption through the nail and surrounding skin.4
  • Colour agents used in many cosmetics including nail polishes are allergens and irritants, some contain lead acetate, a heavy metal toxic to the nervous system, and some are linked with cancers.5 See our Ingredients to Avoid (under Broad Ingredient Categories) for FD&C and D&C colours that may be problematic.

The Know How

  • No natural nail polish is completely free of synthetic ingredients - although some manufactures seek non-toxic formulations.
  • BEST is to use water-based formulations:
    • Water-based formulas replace chemical solvents with water.
    • Allows cuticles to breathe. They will thank you!
    • Some water-based products are peel-offs, so you don't even need nail polish remover.
    • Many are available in natural food stores and on-line directly from manufacturer.
  • BETTER to look for nail polishes formulated with chemical solvents that do not contain the "nasty 3" - toluene, formaldehyde, or dibutyl phthalate (DBP)".
    • A few conventional brands are free of all or some of the "nasty 3" such as: OPI, Sally Hansen and The Body Shop.
    • Read the label to ensure specific formulations are up-to-date.
    • Phthalates can be listed as DBP (dibutyl phthalate), DMP (dimethyl phthalate ), DEP diethyl phthalate, "butyl ester" or simply "plasticizer."
  • Safer nail polish alternatives as reported by Green Living On-line include: Acquarella Polish, Almay Healthy Nail Color, Anise Cosmetics, Honeybee Gardens, OPI Australia collection, Peacekeeper, Poshe's Products, Primavera, Sante, Zoya Smitten and Candy Collection.
  • Due to pressure from consumers as well as health and environmental groups, a top nail polish manufacturer, OPI Products, Inc., has publicly stated they will remove toluene and dibutyl phthalate (DBP) from its products. The product is marketed with "Contains no DBP, toluene or formaldehyde." Smart marketing to smart consumers!

Know and Tell

  • Now that Patti's toes are out of hibernation it was time to get them polished up a in a healthy way - see Product Reviews for Suncoat and Honeybee Gardens.
  • Ally and Claire, our junior Know How'ers, like the pretty colours from Suncoat and "the mom's" weren't worried when more polish got on their toes than their nails.
  • A Pure Know How subscriber shares a non-toxic water-based alternative nail product she has used called acquarella.
  • Patti was a bit discouraged today. She was in her local big box pharmacy for research on nail polish. Boy did they have nail polish ... an entire aisle was dedicated to polish, removers, and glue-on nails. She was thinking about this 1 store in 1 neighborhood in 1 city in 1 country - and all the "hope in a bottle" for sale and the industry behind it. Pure Know How's vision is for informed people to make informed choices - and we'll admit, we are a bit biased to healthier non-toxic choices. It's a challenge to take on and we thank our subscribers for their support and open-mindedness.

1 Drop-Dead Gorgeous, Kim Erickson 2002.
2 Nail Products- PRODUCT REPORT, The Green Guide. 2002
3 Nail Products a toxic brew, should it be on you? Rachel Ross, Toronto Star, May 10, 2004
4 Not Too Pretty: Phthalates, Beauty Products and the FDA. Houlihan, Jane, et. al Environmental Working Group, Health Care Without Harm and Coming Clean, July 8, 2002
5 Environmental Working Group's November 2000 report, Beauty Secrets

 

Last Updated: 2007-06-26