#FirstWorldProblem for sureeeeeeeeeee but girlfriend has resorted to painting her own nails during quarantine….and let’s just say, it usually looks like a preschooler did it. But after three months of no other option, I decided to order some nail polish online and give it a go.
Toxins in Nail Polish
Sneaky toxins are EVERYWHERE. But I think every girl can relate that walking into the nail salon awakens the senses and you can feel yourself breathing in chemicals instantly. EEK!
Ella + Mila do a great breakdown on their website of the top toxins and their harms: (you can find the full article here).
“Toluene is a liquid that is used as a solvent and has the familiar smell of paint thinner. You can be exposed to toluene by breathing it in or getting it on your skin, causing skin irritation. Unfortunately, inhaling high levels of toluene is said to be harmful to your nervous system and can cause light-headedness and nausea. Toluene is a toxin that may also cause birth defects and developmental problems in children of pregnant women who have had extended exposure.
Dibutyl Phthalate (DBP) is a commonly used plasticizer and has been linked to cancer. DBP has also been connected to birth defects in studies involving lab animals. In fact, this toxin was added to the California Proposition 65 list of suspected teratogens, which are agents that cause malformations of an embryo.
Formaldehyde is a commonly used chemical to preserve and embalm dead animals (and humans). Its vapors are also irritating and can trigger asthma. Formaldehyde is also a known human carcinogen, a factor directly involved in causing cancer.
Formaldehyde Resin is a derivative of Formaldehyde, mainly used in the production of coatings and adhesives. It is not as toxic as Formaldehyde but can be an allergen.
Camphor is a poison that can cause seizures and disorientation if used in large doses. This chemical acts as a cover on your nails, depriving them of nutrients and causing yellow staining on your nails.
Triphenyl Phosphate (TPHP) is a chemical used in plastics toimprove flexibility and as a flame retardant. A handful ofanimal studies and in vitro studies have suggested that it could be anendocrine disrupter which affects your hormones – in particular, it could potentially affect reproductive health and lipid metabolism (that’s where the “nail polish makes you fat” headline comes from).
Xylene is irritating to the skin, eyes, and respiratory tract. It can cause systemic toxicity by ingestion or inhalation. The most common route of exposure is via inhalation. Symptoms of xylene poisoning include CNS effects (headache, dizziness, ataxia, drowsiness, excitement, tremor, and coma), ventricular arrythmias, acute pulmonary edema, respiratory depression, nausea, vomiting, and reversible hepatic impairment.”
What to look for in a nontoxic nail polish
So what is the solution? A lot of nail polish brands are coming out with “7 free” nail polishes, meaning they use alternatives for these dangerous chemicals lurking in our polish.
3 Nontoxic Nail Polish Options
1 – Ella + Mila: This is the brand that I personally tried out and I loved it. It highly recommend purchasing the base coat and top coat as well. AND while you are at it – grab some of their soy based nail polish remover.
Are you painting your own nails during the Q? Check out these tutorials and let me know below what brand you are using! xx E
