[1]Photo used under Creative Commons from Skaggs Design & Advertising
As our fingers and toes go into hibernation under warm winter gloves and closed toed shoes the mani-pedi business is still going strong. Many are heading to spas and salons for a little extra pampering to ease the stress that comes along with the holiday season. Did you ever stop to question the safety of the polish you put on those nails?
After many years of mani-pedis, I stopped wearing polish altogether. I couldn’t ignore the smell of the polish-a smell that reeks of toxic chemicals. I also remember my nails turning yellow after wearing polish for weeks without a break. That just didn’t seem healthy.
The good news: most of the major nail polish companies no longer use the “toxic trio”, toluene, formaldehyde or dibutyl phthalate, which have been linked to asthma, cancer and reproductive problems.
The bad news: some polishes still contain the “toxic trio” and some contain other toxic chemicals that can be absorbed into your blood stream and your body. Long term exposure to these toxins can cause cancer and other serious illness [2].
More good news
There are safe, toxin free nail polishes on the market-for you (men and women) and your kids. Here are two brands that I would recommend:
- Scotch Naturals and their kiddie line, Hopscotch Kids, got it right with their polish. Both water based polishes contain only three ingredients- water, acrylic polymer emulsion, and non toxic colorants. They both received a very low hazard score on the Skin Deep Cosmetic Safety Database [3]. They come in very cool, eco-chic colors and there is no chemical smell!
- Acquarella Nail Polish also got a very low hazard score on the Skin Deep [4] site. It doesn’t contain any toxic chemicals- only three ingredients: acrylic polymer emulsion, water, and non-toxic colorants (No FD&C). Lots of pretty colors to choose from.
So you don’t have to give up your mani-pedi visits, just BYOP (Bring Your Own Polish) the next time you get pampered!
[5]Photo used under Creative Commons from James Lee
Always remember to check out the safety of your polish and all other beauty care products on the Skin Deep Cosmetic Safety Database [6].
Don’t forget to make sure your polish remover is safe-check for specific product safety on Skin Deep [6].
Do you wear nail polish? Which polish do you like to wear?