The truth is, while no pinpoint polish can be chemical-free, there are five different additives included in some smash polish formulations – substances used for fall, lastingness, fluidity and more – that have been identified as allergenic, carcinogenic or merely plain toxic !
fortunately, enough of cosmetic companies have realized it ’ s possible to make an excellent smash polish without using some or all of these five cruddy toxins .
many of these brands use the terms “ 3-Free ” or “ 5-Free ” to designate which of the chemicals on this number have been left out of their nail polish formulations ; but with some lavishness brands, it ’ mho much more clandestine – a obscure benefit that merely isn ’ thymine advertised.
Reading: Toxic Free Nail Polish
never fear, we ’ ve done some inquiry for you… fair see below !
What are these 5 frightening toxins you can live without?
- Toluene: (used to give nail polish a smooth finish) is a common solvent used for paint thinner, lacquer, glue and ink. It is also used as a gasoline additive and in jet fuel blends. Inhalation at low levels can cause confusion, light-headedness and nausea; while higher levels of exposure may harm your nervous system.
- Formaldehyde: (used as a hardener and preservative) is also used in the embalming of dead animals and humans, in the production of particle board and industrial resins and was recently designated as a “known … human carcinogen” by a U.S. government program. It is a skin, eye and respiratory irritant.
- Dibutyl Phthalate (DBP): (used to increase flexibility and shine) is also used in adhesives and printing inks and is a suspected endocrine disruptor, linked to birth defects in animals. Its use in nail polish is banned in the European Union, and it was permanently banned in 2008 from use in children’s toys in the U.S.
- Tosylamide/Formaldehyde Resin: while not a known carcinogen, this additive is a potential allergen linked to dermatitis and can off-gas formaldehyde.
- Camphor: This scented substance can cause nausea, dizziness and headaches.
3-Free nail polish does not contain toluene, formaldehyde or dibutyl phthalate ( DBP ) .
5-Free nail polish goes one step further and is manufactured without toluene, formaldehyde, dibutyl phthalate ( DBP ), formaldehyde resin and camphor .
Best of all, 3-Free and 5-Free brands are available at every price point ; so you can pick and choose how much you want to spend whether you ’ ra shopping at a drugstore, peculiarity store ( such as Sephora ) or an upscale department store .
You love luxury labels, and don’t mind spending a bit more:
Chanel (5-Free)
If you ’ re used to the classy labels – and don ’ metric ton mind paying $ 27/bottle for the cachet of a prestige brand – it ’ s a bit of an “ insider ’ south secret ” that all Chanel nail polishes are actually 5-free. As with everything Chanel, the trace is known for classics, particularly pale pinks ( such as “ Ballerina ” ) and reds in all possible shades, including icons such as “ Pirate. ” This is not the brand for glitter, but it is for glam .
Dior (5-Free)
Where Chanel goes, so goes Dior – another luxury brand that doesn ’ deoxythymidine monophosphate openly tout its toxin-free status ( in fact, when I recently stopped in to Sephora in NYC, a Dior makeup artist on-site didn ’ t even know about it ). The Dior Vernis lacquer cable claims a super-shiny gel-effect ; is 5-free ; retails at the lapp $ 27 price bespeak as Chanel ’ sulfur polish ; and – as with their lip glosses – specializes in bright and pretty nudes, corals and hot pinks.
Read more: 15 Best Matte Nail Polishes To Try in 2021
You love trendy and unique brands, not just designer labels:
Priti NYC (5-Free)
Priti NYC specializes in “ luxury eco-friendly ” 5-Free pinpoint polish, made in the USA, in over 150+ subtle and bluff colors – including whites and delicate pale pinks – for $ 15/bottle. The trade name besides offers 5-free top and establish coats and a soy sauce nail polish remover that is non-toxic, non-flammable and without any harmful VOCs, and features an ingredients page on their locate that lists each component and explains what it is. Priti NYC is a favorite of designers for their fashion week track shows and offers 15 % off through a complete polish recycling plan .
Butter London (7-Free)
If you think british style is all the rage, UK-based sword Butter London claims to be 7-Free ( omitting two extra chemicals ; xylene and ethyl tosylamide ) and features over 100+ trendy, highly-saturated shades including lots of metallics, opalescence and super-pop brights – with crafty, Anglo-inflected names such as “ Hen Party, ” “ Snog ” and “ Sloane Ranger – that retail in the $ 15-18 compass. Butter London besides has a durable 7-Free “ Patent Shine 10x™ ” line that yields a super-shiny, gel-style finish up and has ingredients to strengthen nails. Best of all, the site features a pop-up book chart that let ’ s you “ try on ” any color in their current argumentation on photos of models ’ hands, depicted in four unlike clamber tones .
Deborah Lippmann (5-Free)
Deborah Lippmann – a celebrity nail down artist – offers 5-Free nail polish trace that uses no animal test and features over 70 on-trend, graphic colors, many packed full of sparkling, motley metallic glitter. The note besides offers celebrity collaborations such as Lara Stone ’ s bright coral “ Lara ’ sulfur Theme ” and “ Stronger, ” a “ retentive vibrant violet with glitter ” by Kelly Clarkson. The polish is sold at Sephora equally well as on-line, and retails at $ 18-20/bottle .
Julep (5-Free)
Julep is not entirely 5-Free but besides claims a vegan-friendly formula with “ antioxidant park coffee infusion ” and “ oxygen technology ” that “ allows 30 % more oxygen to permeate the nail bed than other nail polish. ” The lineage retails in the $ 14/bottle range, comes in cute, skinny tubes and specializes in unusual colors ( celery green, clean, cornflower ) and particular effects ( glitter, chrome, changeable ). Customers give honest reviews correct on the locate to help you make a choice .
Acquarella (5-Free)
The Acquarella Water Color brand is grounded in making a polish that ’ s ampere non-toxic as possible. This water-based nail polish line includes about 50 colors and claims not only to be 5-free, but is besides odor-free, quick-drying, cruelty-free, includes no petrochemical solvents and sells for $ 16-18/bottle. The brand ’ second breeze through polish remover is fruit- and vegetable-derived and fragrance-free but will not remove any other post of polish, as it ’ mho designed merely for their water-based argumentation. It reputedly can be crafty to apply – be sure to read the directions. Acquarella is besides sold on Amazon .
Tenoverten (5-Free)
Tenoverten ( named for an upscale nail salon chain in Manhattan ) is 5-free, cruelty-free, vegan, made in the USA and offers roughly 30 unlike colors – all named after streets in Downtown NYC – covering all the basic shades, plus “ Lucky Red, ” a bright crimson hue designed by Lucky Magazine. Tenoverten retails for $ 18/bottle. The brand besides offers a 5-Free infrastructure coat and clear coat .
You want a 3-Free or 5-Free Polish at an affordable price:
Ella + Mila – (5-Free)
Ella + Mila was created specifically to be eco-friendly ; is 5-Free, cruelty-free and vegan ( with PETA certification ) ; and is made in the USA. The brand – named after one of the fall through ’ south twin daughters – markets to moms who may want to share polish-time with their kids, with “ Mommy & Me® ” boxed sets featuring a bottle labeled “ ma ” with a smaller bottle labeled “ me. ” The line features over 100 colors on their web site, many in bold candy colors. Regular-size bottles retail for $ 10.50, and kid-size for $ 7.00.
OPI (3-Free)
OPI – a polish used in many salons – is 3-Free, does not support animal test, broadly retails for under $ 10 and intelligibly lists their policies on their site under “ OPI Cares. ” The mark offers an endless count of colors and is known for issuing theme collections with cute names – such as a Hawaii solicitation with “ Go with the Lava Flow ” and “ Is Mai Tai Crooked ? ”
sol now you can “ vote with your wallet ” and choose a polish without up to five chilling additives, while hush achieving glistening, gorgeous painted nails. Why not ? It might barely be a smart ( and cool ) thing to do .