I’m one of the many girls who love frequently using nail polish. Red and blue on Monday can change to yellow and green on Wednesday only to change to bright pink on Thursday. But as too much make-up can be bad for your skin, excessive nail polish can wreak havoc on your nails. It is important to know what you are applying to your fingertips.
Even though many of the nail polish brands claim to have toxin-free ingredients, a study by scientist Valetti Lang, acting manager of the Pollution Prevention Branch of the Department of Toxic Substances Control for the California Environmental Protection Agency, disabuses us of this notion. She and her team collected 25 different nail products, testing them at an independent lab for three chemicals (dibutyl phthalate, toluene, and formaldehyde), called the “toxic trio” due to their health risks. Dibutyl phthalata has been linked to birth defects in studies with lab animals, toluene may cause developmental problems in children of pregnant women who have been exposed to it repeatedly, and formaldehyde is a known carcinogen.
Image Source: Bill Diodato
The results of the study provided evidence that most of the labeling did not reflect the contents of the products accurately. Twelve products had labels claiming to be toxin-free, while the other 13 had no such claims. Although none of the products had formaldehyde, only two of the 12 “toxin-free” products were actually free of all three toxins, the two being Color Madnic Luscious nail lacquer and Zoya professional nail lacquer. The ten others fell short, including Dare to Wear nail lacquer and Sation 99 top/base coats. Of the unlabeled 13, only five were free of all three toxic chemicals.
This study shows that we unknowingly use many potentially harmful products. Even if the levels of the toxins in the products happen to be considered safe by the FDA, repeated use and exposure to them can lead to a negative affect in the long run. Ultimately, we cannot be 100% sure of the labels that we see on our nail products. As for any advice? Cut down on the use of nail polish. Make less frequent trips to your regular salon. Before choosing to apply anything product on yourself, make sure to check the validity of the claims of both the particular brand and the product. I know I will. After all, it’s better to be safe than sorry.
Feature Image Source: DIY mani by anneheathen
