Did you know that the nail polish you are currently using could be affecting your health in ways you may have never even thought?
Mainstream nail polishes contain several chemicals and other harsh ingredients that have the ability to cause severe adverse reactions alongside damaging health concerns.
As a result of this, you may have come across nail polish brands that claim to be 3-free, 5-free, or even 7-free, and it is likely that you have wondered what exactly is meant by those confusing phrases.
In this blog post, we will be covering everything that you need to know about non-toxic nail polish, as well as offer an explanation as to why the nail polish you are using right now could be bad for your health.
The Importance Of Non-Toxic Nail Polish
First off, to truly understand the importance of non-toxic nail polish, it is fundamental that one knows the negative health connotations associated with regular nail polish.
A 2015 study found that certain chemicals that are used in most bottles of nail polish, can be absorbed into the body via the nails and cause several damaging health effects to the user.
These damaged health effects vary greatly from person to person, but they can cause quite a devastating impact. Regular types of nail polish contain cancer-causing chemicals, can cause hormone imbalances, alongside thyroid issues, and increase the risk of diabetes should you be overexposing yourself to the product.
Though you may assume that you are not going to be affected by these chemicals, just think of how much you breathe in the scent of nail lacquer while painting your nails and how often the paint touches your skin, as well as the amount of contact your nails have with your mouth directly, or when preparing food for both you and your loved ones.
Fortunately, enough research has been established so that while regular nail polish used at your nail salon is sadly still able to promote itself, innovative and safe nail products have been developed with the health of the customer in mind.
Non- toxic nail polish comes in several variants, with each type excluding certain chemicals, ingredients, and products that may have highly damaging effects on the user. These types of non toxic nail polishes are often referred to as 3-free, 5-free, 7-free, or 10-free.
Here at Côte Nail Polish, all of our vegan nail polishes are cruelty-free, and most importantly, non-toxic. Our customers can be assured that their health is our optimal concern and that we will always endeavor to use the best and highest quality ingredients for our nail polish and accessories.
What Is 7-Free Nail Polish?
7-free nail polish is free of 7 toxic chemicals that are common in most regular nail polish formulas. The chemicals this nail lacquer is free from are as follows: dibutyl phthalate, formaldehyde, toluene, formaldehyde resin, camphor, ethyl tosylamide, and xylene.
Each of these chemicals can have a negative impact on the user’s health, and therefore, substituting them out of the polish formula will help to lessen the toxic effect of nail varnish.
There are also other variants of the free toxin nail polish, each omitting a specific number of chemicals:
3-Free:
This formula is void of the “Toxic Trio”: Dibutyl Phthalate (DPB), Formaldehyde, and Toluene. These three chemicals are by far the most harmful, as they are associated with some of the most harmful and debilitating diseases, including cancer and diabetes.
5-Free:
The chemicals excluded in 5- free include the above-mentioned “Toxic Trio” as well as formaldehyde resin, and camphor.
10-Free:
This type of formula omits dibutyl phthalate, TPHP, toluene, xylene, ethyl tosylamide, camphor, formaldehyde, formaldehyde resin, parabens, and gluten. Therefore, this formula of nail polish is considered to be one of the safest types of nail polish due to its substitution of toxic chemicals.
Chemicals Excluded in 7-Free Polish
Simply providing the names of the seven harmful chemicals left out of these 7- free polishes will not accurately represent the harm that these toxins can cause. In this section, we have outlined the chemicals that are excluded from seven free nail polishes, explaining the health issues that these can cause.
Dibutyl Phthalate (DPB):
DPB is a harsh chemical that affects the endocrine system, which controls hormone regulation. Too much DPB can cause issues with your thyroid, causing mental health issues as well as physical problems like fatigue. It can also hamper developmental growth and potentially affect reproductive health.
Formaldehyde:
This commonly used chemical is a known human carcinogen, meaning it has been known to increase the risk of cancer. It can also cause severe dermatitis, skin irritation, and eye irritation.
Toluene:
Toluene can cause birth defects in the children of pregnant women who are overly exposed to the chemical. It can also affect the nervous system, causing nausea, lightheadedness, and fatigue.
Formaldehyde Resin:
This chemical is a common allergen causing skin irritation, redness, and itching. It is used in nail lacquers to help solidify the liquid into a thicker texture.
Camphor:
Camphor can lead to poor nail health, which is the opposite of what you want when caring for and painting your nails. This is because the harsh toxins strip your nails of their essential nutrients, starving them of what they need to maintain their strength. This chemical can also cause disorientation, and more alarmingly, seizures.
Ethyl Tosylamide:
This chemical is banned in Europe due to potentially causing severe allergic reactions in users. The role of Ethyl Tosylamide is to help the polish to stick to the surface of the nail, though non-toxic nail polish also has great durability without the associated health risks.
Xylene:
This chemical is what gives your nail polish that distinct smell that often causes headaches or lightheadedness. It is used in nail polish to avoid clumpiness by thinning out the solution, but it is an incredibly toxic chemical that can cause immense reactions and irritation.
Why 10-Free Nail Polish Is Even Better
10-free nail polish is better than 7-free as it excludes some additional chemicals and products that are not only toxic but also environmentally damaging, and even unethical to be using.
Parabens:
Parabens are a group of preservatives that are used in polishes to aid longevity. Not only do parabens interfere with the hormonal system, but they're also a factor directly involved with well-researched carcinogens that can cause skin and breast cancer.
Triphenyl Phosphate:
Triphenyl phosphate is another harmful toxin often included in traditional nail polish to aid the malleability of the varnish. Ongoing or frequent or extended exposure to Triphenyl phosphate can cause changes in hormone regulation, affecting reproductive systems, as well as metabolism. Consequently, it is best to avoid this harmful chemical, especially in your nail polish.
Gluten:
Gluten may seem surprising, but for those with a gluten allergy or intolerance, the inclusion of gluten in their nail polish can lead to severe adverse reactions. For those with celiac disease, topical exposure to wheat products can cause irritation.
Conclusion
In summary, regular nail polishes can be extremely harmful to not only the health of your nails but to your body as a whole! We believe that educating people on the toxic ingredients in nail polish can help customers to make more informed decisions regarding their health.
At Côte, we are dedicated to sharing our belief in beautiful, clean, and safe nontoxic nail polishes, and that is why all our products are 10- free, cruelty free, with a non-toxic formula and amazing vibrant colors. Additionally, all of our products are vegan and free of studies involving lab animals.
Check out a few of the clean nail polish ingredients we use in our polishes, such as N Butyl Alcohol, isopropyl alcohol, and aluminum powder (to mention a few), here.
