Any nail polish, be it gel, acrylic, or dip powder, is made of chemicals. Though the top manufacturing brands take extreme care not to include harmful chemicals, you cannot say the same about the cheap nail polish brands available on the market. As a purchaser, one should be aware of what constitutes healthy gel polish. Therefore, you should know the ingredients that go into manufacturing high-quality gel polish.
Is Making Non-toxic Polish Possible?
Honestly, no way anyone can produce chemical-free nail polish because nail polish is all about mixing various chemicals in the manufacturing process. However, you can look for gel polish brands with comparatively fewer toxic chemicals. So, 100% non-toxic polish is not yet a reality. However, today’s nail polish qualifies as non-toxic because it is free of highly harmful chemicals. Manufacturers name them 3-free, 5-free, 7-free, 10-free, or 12-free, depending on the number of toxic substances the nail polish is free from.
Let us now dissect what each of these terms signifies. Simultaneously, we shall discuss the harmful effects of toxic chemicals on your LDS nails.
More about Non-toxic Nail Polish
3-free Nail Polish
3-free nail polish does not contain the most harmful chemicals, Dibutyl Phthalate, Toluene, and Formaldehyde.
Formaldehyde is carcinogenic and can cause cancer if used extensively. Generally, hair stylists use formaldehyde to straighten hair.
Dibutyl Phthalate can cause reproductive problems, whereas toluene is harmful to unborn fetuses.
4-free Nail Polish
Besides the three toxic chemicals listed above, 4-free nail polish does not contain formaldehyde resin. Formaldehyde resin is a renowned allergen that can cause skin allergies and dermatitis.
5-free Nail Polish
5-free nail polish does not contain camphor, besides the four harmful substances discussed above. Camphor can cause severe skin irritations and allergies. Besides, camphor has a strong odor that can be repulsive to some.
6-free Nail Polish
Besides the five chemicals discussed above, 6-free nail polish does not contain parabens. Parabens are generally preservatives added to nail polish to preserve them for long. These chemicals keep the nail polish free from bacteria and mold but can cause skin and breast cancer.
7-free Nail Polish
7-free nail polish does not contain xylene in addition to the six toxic chemicals discussed earlier. Xylene is often used as a nail polish thinner to ensure against the formation of lumps. It also gives a distinctive odor to your nail polish. However, xylene vapors can be allergic and cause headaches, nausea, dizziness, and skin irritation.
10-free Nail Polish
In addition to the seven toxic chemicals discussed above, 10-free nail polish is free from fragrances, animal ingredients, and phthalates. While fragrant nail polish seems pleasant to smell, it is better to avoid them because these chemicals can cause allergies, sensitivities, reproductive issues, and cancer.
One should also ensure that health gel polish does not contain animal ingredients. For example, phthalates are carcinogenic and can cause liver or kidney cancer.
12-free Nail Polish
12-free nail polish is the healthiest gel polish because it does not contain the most toxic chemicals. It includes the ten chemical products discussed above. Besides, it is free from ethyl tosylamide and triphenyl phosphate.
Nail polish generally includes ethyl tosylamide as a plasticizer to increase the product’s durability. However, it is a toxic chemical that is resistant to antibiotics. Triphenyl phosphate is also a plasticizer that can cause reproductive toxicity.
Besides these twelve harmful chemicals, some nail polish brands contain colophonium. Colophonium is a plant product available on pine and spruce trees as a sticky substance. However, this organic chemical has been associated with allergies, dermatitis, and respiratory issues.
How Do You Select a Healthy Gel Polish?
The best way to get healthy LDS nails is to purchase and use healthy gel polish. While 12-free nail polish should be the best, you should ensure to buy at least 7-free nail polishes. Dibutyl phthalate (DBP), formaldehyde, and toluene are the most prominent toxic chemicals. Therefore, it is healthy enough if your nail polish is free of these three chemicals.
However, you should also ensure that your nail polish is free from animal products. The best nail polish brands available are 100% vegan and do not have animal products.
Despite the absence of the twelve listed toxic chemicals, no nail polish can claim to be 100% toxic-free. However, the other chemicals present in nail polish do not qualify as harmful, but they can cause allergies like skin irritation.
Final Thoughts
When selecting nail polish, you should look at the ingredients to verify whether the product contains any harmful chemicals discussed here. This article would have proved beneficial to choose healthy gel polish. First, however, one should ensure that your product is at least free from the three most toxic chemicals, dibutyl phthalate, toluene, and formaldehyde. Ensure this and have the healthiest LDS nails in town.