Harmful Addictions 

Does gel polish contain formaldehyde. The effect of gel and varnish on nail health. "5-Free" safe varnishes

97 percent of girls twelve to fourteen years old living in the United States of America paint their nails. How many girls in Russia do the same is unknown, but observations show that they are not much inferior to American women.

Meanwhile, modern nail polishes are not only not harmless, but also frankly dangerous for human health. Their impact on the body is stronger, the younger the fair sex.

What awaits those who paint their nails every day

In the world, gel nail polish is more popular than ever. Many women prefer it to him. But recent research by scientists is alarming: gel polish is not as harmless as we thought before. And the point is not at all in the use of a lamp that emits UV radiation, but in those substances that are included in the coating formula.

The gel polish removal technique is also unsafe, because during the sawing of the top layer of the nail plate, dust containing chemical compounds enters the lungs, which can lead to bronchial asthma, allergies and other serious problems.

However, ordinary nail polish is no better. The vast majority of products presented in our stores do not meet safety requirements.

In 2015, scientists from Duke University conducted an experiment. 26 women had their nails painted with well-known cosmetic brands purchased at a regular supermarket. Already 6 hours after the start of the experiment, a toxic substance, triphenyl phosphate (triphenyl phosphate, abbreviated as TPHP, is used in nail polishes as a hardener), was found in the urine of the fair sex. After 10 hours, the concentration of this substance exceeded the permissible limit by 7 times! At the same time, the maximum value was stored in the body for 24 hours after the creation of the manicure!

So what are the ingredients in popular nail polish formulas? And is there a product that is really safe?

Did you know?

On May 15, the fair sex celebrates a holiday - Lacomaniac Day. This is the name of girls and women who are passionate about manicures and collecting nail polishes. The idea of ​​the holiday originated in 2009 in the nail care community on the LiveJournal blogging platform, and the date of the celebration was chosen by popular vote.

"Deadly Five": life-threatening

Scientists have identified three main ingredients in nail polish that pose a threat to human health. These are formaldehyde, toluene and dibutyl phthalate. In the nail art industry, the name "toxic trio" stuck behind them. Later, two more dangerous components joined these substances - formaldehyde resin derivatives and camphor. Together they formed the Toxic Five.

Each ingredient on the list emits toxic fumes that are dangerous to humans. In large volumes or with frequent use of nail art products, they cause nausea and dizziness, but this is not the worst!

Formaldehyde

In nail polishes, this substance serves as a hardener, used as a preservative to prevent bacterial growth. The US National Toxicology Program lists formaldehyde as a carcinogen. Long-term exposure causes cancer of the blood, throat, and nose. Other side effects include bronchial asthma, accumulation of fluid in the lungs, dangerous consequences for the pregnant woman and the fetus. The European Union restricts the use of this substance in personal care products for women, and in Japan and Sweden it is banned altogether.

Dibutyl Phthalate (dibutyl phthalates)

The presence of this ingredient in the composition can be suspected by the inscriptions on the package "heavy duty coating" and "long-lasting formula". A chemical compound is added to nail polish to make it more malleable and less prone to chipping and cracking. Penetrating into the human body, dibutyl phthalate mimics the action of female estrogen hormones, which can lead to hormonal imbalance, reduced fertility, and early menopause. Dibutyl phthalate is banned in Europe, and in the US and Russia, the choice to use products with it in the composition or not falls on the shoulders of consumers.

Toluene

Toluene in nail polishes provides even application and a smooth finish. It is actively used in liquids for removing varnish. You can recognize it by its characteristic sweet smell. According to the Canadian Center for Occupational Health and Safety, long-term exposure to toluene can lead to decreased brain activity, neurological damage, respiratory problems, abnormal fetal development in pregnant women, nausea, and hearing loss. Animal studies have shown that toluene increases the likelihood of cancer.

The European Union has a ban on the use of toluene in the manufacture of personal care products, and in the state of California, USA, it is on the list of chemicals harmful to fetal development.

Formaldehyde resins

To date, there is no conclusive evidence that formaldehyde resins are carcinogenic, but preliminary studies and animal tests show that these chemicals cause allergic reactions, skin irritation and pigmentation on the skin of the hands.

Camphor (camphor)

In nail products, it is used as a "special effects" agent. Camphor gives the coating a beautiful glossy and sparkling appearance. This substance is not as dangerous as those listed above, and is even used to relieve cold symptoms in medicines - such as nasal sprays. However, studies show that with prolonged use of products with it in the composition, allergic reactions and severe skin irritation may occur. And inhalation of camphor vapors can provoke headaches, dizziness and nausea.

Observational studies have also shown that exposure to camphor can lead to organ damage, such as liver dysfunction. In the USA, the concentration of camphor in the product cannot exceed 11%.

How to choose safe nail polish

Doctor of Medicine Audrey Kunin believes that the greatest danger of harmful substances in the composition of nail polishes is not for consumers, but for the masters of the nail art industry. To minimize the risks and side effects from their use, special conditions should be created in beauty salons and manicure rooms. One of the main - the room should be well ventilated.

It is very important that the master in his work, and the consumer, when applying the coating at home, use only high-quality, proven products. On the label of such products will appear inscriptions: 3-Free or 5-Free.

At the same time, the 3-Free mark indicates that there is no formaldehyde, toluene and dibutyl phthalate in the composition of nail polish, and in 5-Free products - besides them, also formaldehyde resins and camphor. Take care of yourself, be healthy!

Some nail polishes can be quite harmful due to carcinogens such as formaldehyde and toluene, as well as other harmful chemicals. Now they are increasingly being replaced by less toxic ones. It happens that from low-quality varnishes the nail plate acquires a yellowish color, it may begin to exfoliate or even deform.

In manicure, I am attentive to the choice of the manufacturer and read the composition of the varnish. This is the main rule, on which the quality of the nail and the health of the client depend. Some of the most hazardous substances used in nail polish include:

Toluene - Used to help coat nails. Harmful to the nervous system. Formaldehyde is a known carcinogen. Used to extend the shelf life of the varnish. Dibenzoates - gives flexibility to the varnish. Nitrocellulose - forms a durable layer. Solvents - lacquer thinner. When evaporated, it releases harmful substances.

To avoid dangerous compounds in nail products, it is best to choose lacquers marked 5-Free.

How to make a manicure safe?

The advantage of a modern gel polish manicure is that it lasts for a long time and the nails remain beautiful. And the downside is that the hands still require care. After all, before women did a manicure once a week - they removed the cuticle, processed the side rollers. Hands received timely care, which is not now. But every woman dreams of beautiful and well-groomed hands. There are two ways to achieve this result. Trust the master or do a manicure at home yourself.

Trusting the beauty of your hands to the master, you trust your health. With negligence and non-compliance with hygiene standards by the manicurist, the client risks getting a lot of diseases, up to hepatitis C and HIV.

Therefore, it is very important to make sure that the instruments have been disinfected and sterilized before starting the procedure. You can also ask to use your tool or do a European manicure with disposable tools.

If you decide to do a manicure yourself at home, then another danger lurks here. You can damage your skin or nails, as well as provoke the appearance of burrs. To avoid this, do not use scissors or tongs. There is a safe way to make your hands neat and well-groomed and get rid of burrs forever.

You will need a file for natural nails (abrasiveness 200-240 gr), orange stick, cuticle remover, warm water bath, scrub, hand cream and cuticle oil.

With a file, give the desired shape to the nails. With the same file, go through the side rollers to get rid of rough skin. At the same time, try not to touch the nail plate. Then move the cuticle back a little with an orange stick and dip one hand in a bath of warm water for 5 minutes. Then apply a cuticle remover to the cuticle (you can replace it with liquid soap by adding a little soda to it). Now you can clean out the ptergium with an orange stick (thin skin that grows from under the cuticle and fits snugly against the nail plate). Movements from the center to the side rollers, without pressing on the matrix area. Do the same with the second hand. Next, apply a scrub on your hands and massage, rinse. If you are not going to varnish your nails, then you can apply cream or cuticle oil.

Do this once every 5-7 days and your hands will always look well-groomed and young.

For those who wish to paint their nails with varnish, it is necessary to lightly sand the surface of the nail plate in order to remove the upper fatty layer (it recovers within 24 hours) and degrease the nail plate well. After that, you can apply varnish.

Now there is a very large selection of nail polishes, which one to give preference to? All modern nail polishes contain 4 main types of ingredients: polymers, solvents, plasticizers and pigments. Pay attention to the composition of the varnish. The most controversial and frightening ingredients are formaldehyde, dibutyl phthalate and camphor.

Feel free to open the bottle, smell the varnish, there should not be a sharp unpleasant odor. It is also worth checking the brush - the hairs should be even (not wrinkled), the same length. The consistency of the varnish is uniform.

Modern nail polishes are divided into several groups.

The basis. Prepares the surface of the nail for the application of the main varnish, protects the nail from yellowing when using colored varnishes in dark colors. Some bases contain additives - particles of talc, silk and other substances that fill in the irregularities of the nail. There are also therapeutic bases containing substances to protect against fungal diseases or components that promote the growth and strengthening of the nail (with an admixture of epoxy or formaldehyde resins, as well as polyvinyl butyrol; sometimes with calcium). Healing bases can be used both in conjunction with decorative varnish, and independently. Colored (decorative) varnish. Apply to base. Protective varnish. A clear lacquer designed to protect an applied colored lacquer or base from cracking and peeling. Gives nails a glossy shine. Take the test Do you love yourself? The feeling of love can be directed both at a certain person and expressed in relation to your own person. Its manifestations have various forms, but it should not have anything to do with selfishness and narcissism. In order to determine the degree of self-love, we suggest answering questions.

Nail polish is a fun and easy way to change up your look. Especially now, with so many quality brands on the market, each one constantly releasing new shades and textures. And that's not to mention additional aspects - adding sparkles, applying stickers to varnish or creating artistic nail designs. But, most importantly, to create a completely new style, you just need to remove the old nail art with a cotton pad dipped in nail polish remover.

Historically, nail polishes have been quite harmful. Many contained known carcinogens such as formaldehyde and toluene, as well as other harmful chemicals. Nowadays, pretty much all of the worst ingredients in nail polishes have been replaced with their less toxic counterparts.

Varnishes without harmful substances

Look at the label if there is a mark on it "5 free", then the varnish does not contain formaldehyde (formaldehyde), formaldehyde resins (formaldehyde resins), toluene (toluene), dibutyl phthalate (dibutyl phthalates or, for short - DBP) and camphor (camphor). These five most common toxins and contaminants are often found in traditional, inexpensive nail polishes.

There are also varnishes "3 Free", which means that only 3 components are excluded: formaldehyde, dibutyl phthalate (DBP) and toluene.

Toluene: Used to help nail polish flow smoothly, "like clockwork". Unfortunately, high levels of toluene are said to be detrimental to the nervous system, and can even lead to delirium and nausea.

Dibutyl Phthalate (DBP): Keeps polish from chipping, but has also been linked to cancer and birth defects.

Formaldehyde: Are you ready for this? Formaldehyde is widely used in the storage and embalming of dead animals (and humans as well). It is a known carcinogen. Ah, now imagine this chemical on your nails… No thanks!

Formaldehyde Resin: Some brands such as Chanel and L'Oreal have gone even further and called themselves "5-Free". They eliminated two additional harmful ingredients. The first is formaldehyde resin, a substance derived from formaldehyde that is not as toxic but can be an allergen.

Camphor: It is said that a large dose of camphor can be poisonous and cause convulsions.

At the end of the article you will find a small list of "3 Free" and "5 Free" varnishes.

A number of non-toxic and environmentally friendly varnish brands on the market are also made without preservatives and acetates, which emit low levels of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and can cause headaches and breathing problems.

Let's take a closer look at the composition of modern varnishes, this will help you choose enamels that are not harmful to health.

Click on the photo to open it in full size

Plasticizers and resins (Plasticizers and Resins)

In order to create a smooth, durable surface, two ingredients are added to nail polishes: plasticizers and resins (polymers). Plasticizers, such as dibenzoates, give the varnish flexibility, which helps prevent chipping and cracking. Resins, such as nitrocellulose or styrene acrylic polymers, form a hard coating on the nails when the polish dries. Together they create a durable color that evenly lays on the surface of the nails.

But not all resins are the same. High-adhesion resins are used in gel polishes such as CND Shellac. Whereas low-adhesion resins are used to create products that can be easily removed with nail polish remover. Whether it is high-adhesion resins or low-adhesion resins, adhesion to the nail surface depends on its chemical structure.

Solvents

Plasticizers and resins are dissolved in special solvents that bind all the components together and give the varnish its liquid structure. They also cause the polish to dry on the surface of the nail as a hard coat. When exposed to air, the solvents evaporate (or change from liquid to gas), leaving plasticizers and resins underneath as a hard layer. Solvents also help to evenly distribute dyes and mineral-based pigments throughout the nails. Solvents can also include acetates, which, although considered safe for use in cosmetics, release small amounts of chemicals (VOCs) that readily combine with air as gases. Greener brands use plain water instead.

How to buy varnish depending on the desired effect

if you want to : fast drying formula lacquer
looking for lacquer with a higher level of ethyl acetate, which evaporates faster and therefore dries faster on the surface of the nail

if you want to: matte finish lacquer
looking for lacquer with iron oxides on the label

if you want to:
looking for lacquer

if you want to: lacquer with a shimmery or shiny finish
looking for lacquer with the mica component on the label

"3 Free" varnishes

A Beautiful Life, Adoree, American Apparel, A-england, Anise Cosmetics, Butter London, Aura-Soma, Deborah LIppman, Bari Cosmetics, BB Couture, Essie, OPI, Wet 'n' Wild, Beauty Without Cruelty, China Glaze, Color Club, Del Sol, Dr's Remedy, E.L.F., Finger Paints, Hard Candy, Jessica Cosmetics, Jordana, Karma Organic Spa, L.A. Girl, M2M Jon Natural Nail, Manglaze, Milani, Misa Cosmetics, My Earth, Niyot, Priti, RJ Mineral Cosmetics, Savina, SolarActive, Soulstice Spa, SpaGlo

"4-Free" varnishes

Curtsy & Bow, Get Nailed, Inglot, Nailtini, Orly, PeaceKeeper, Pop Beauty, Rescue Beauty Lounge, SpaRitual, Tip Top Nails

"5-Free" safe varnishes

Chanel, Catrice, Dior, L'Oreal, Dashing Diva, Lippmann, Obsessive Compulsive, Revlon, RGB Cosmetics, Dazzle Dry, Essence, Helen E, Mavala, No Miss, Nubar, Sante, Zoya, Givenchy, Hopscotch Kids, Scotch Naturals, Uslu Airlines

You may wish to double check the label upon purchase as things may change over time.

Also, if you know any other brand of varnish without harmful substances, share with us.

Recently, when choosing nail polish, more and more often I have to deal with a mark on the bottle “Without toluene! No formaldehyde! To be honest, just a year ago, few people could pronounce these words without hesitation. Today, there are no problems with pronunciation, but with the realization of what kind of substances these are, the situation is worse.

Why not clarify the situation?

what is formaldehyde, what is toluene, and why are nail polish manufacturers so proud of their absence?

Let's start with the fact that formaldehyde is a preservative.
According to Wikipedia, formaldehyde is widely used in cosmetics, especially in nail polishes.
Norm of formaldehyde - does not exceed 0.1%.

I want to note that formaldehyde is added to ordinary varnishes (not gel polishes) for quick drying and durability of the coating. It is not present in gel polishes because formaldehyde is a gas. If it was part of the gel polish, then the material would quickly thicken.

In Russia, supposedly “healing” varnishes are produced with a concentration of 2% - 5%.

The maximum degree of absorption of formaldehyde is achieved within 12-18 hours after applying varnish to the nail plate.
At the same time, 11-76% of everything applied to the surface of the skin turns out to be in the blood.

Among other things, formaldehyde is the cause of the accumulation of nitrazamines (mutagens) in cosmetic substances.

Given that the concentration of formaldehyde in Russian preparations exceeds European standards by 5-10 times, the time of exposure of this preservative to human skin increases tenfold.

If you carefully look at the instructions for the drug, then it says that before use, either oil or a greasy cream should be applied to the skin around the nail.

Otherwise, a chemical burn of the skin awaits you, given the 2% concentration.
The principle of action of formaldehyde is that it causes protein denaturation, and as you know, the human nail plate consists mainly of protein (keratin) and has a tannic property. Therefore, it seems to us that the nail plate has strengthened, become harder, stronger. In fact, the formaldehyde dried out the nail and destroyed the keratin bonds.
As a result, the nail can become even more weakened and brittle.
You can conduct a simple test (apply the drug on the nails and if after a couple of minutes you feel a burning sensation, tingling in the nails), then the maximum permissible concentration of formaldehyde is exceeded 10 times.
So, now you know that long-term use of a product containing formaldehyde dries out the nail plate without giving it health!

I will also add here a list of the most famous "medical" preparations containing an increased concentration (Eveline cosmetics "8 in 1 Healthy Nails Recovery Formula", Trind Nail Repair, Smart Enamel from Frenchi Products, Relouis Double iron, MAVALA Scientifique, Masura - Samurai Shield)

Indicated on the packaging - Formaldehyde, formaldehyde resins.

But there is good news, more and more global manufacturers are abandoning the dangerous component and removing it from their recipes. They also write a note on the bottle big3free- means that there are no three main harmful components in the composition of the varnish,

  • toluene (methylbenzene, toluol, phenylmethane),
  • formaldehyde (Formaldehyde),
  • dibutyl phthalate (Dibutyl Phtalate, DBP)

In addition, in the European Union, the sale of varnishes with their content is generally prohibited; in the CIS, this issue remains with the consumer. Big4free (B4F) means that in addition to these three components, there are no formaldehyde resins in the varnish, and camphor in big5free (B5F). They are considered absolutely harmless to nails.

What do you think about formaldehyde for nails?

The default nail polish cannot be natural. But sometimes it is not only unnatural, but also harmful to your nails, if not poisonous. If you think that your nails are safe because you only buy polishes that cost more than 100 rubles... No, it's not. The price here is not always indicative. Therefore, we take a box of varnishes and begin to look through the compositions and throw out those that have at least 1 of the 5 special components ...

I think everyone was faced with the fact that after applying some varnishes, the nail plate acquired a yellowish color, could begin to exfoliate or even deform. I faced such an unpleasant moment not so long ago and immediately realized that I did not like it.

The change in the nail plate is due to the color of the varnish, the intensity of the pigment contained, and the action of other components that make up the composition. In order not to spoil my nails in the future, I decided to deal with the composition of varnishes.

Very often blue and green nail polishes turn out to be bad, here is an honestly stolen photo from irecommend from a Sally Hansen nail polish review


5 dangerous components in varnishes

So what have I found out? The main hazardous components that can be in nail polish are 5: formaldehyde, toluene, dibutyl phthalate, formaldehyde resins and camphor. Although the last 2 components are considered by some manufacturers to be conditionally harmful and are not excluded from the composition.

What are these components for, and what danger do they pose?

  1. Toluene is used in varnishes to improve consistency so that the varnish glides smoothly over the nail and is evenly applied. Doctors and chemists say that this is a highly toxic substance.
  2. Dibutyl phthalate protects the varnish from chipping. Yes, it is unpleasant that the varnish can chip off, which reduces the period of wear, but even more unpleasant is the cancer and birth defects that this component can provoke.
  3. Formaldehyde and formaldehyde resins: carcinogens used in embalming. Formaldehyde resin is a derivative of formaldehyde and is less toxic but may cause allergic reactions.
  4. Camphor is poisonous in large quantities and can even cause convulsions. Not the best prospects.

What is so scary, you ask? After all, we are not going to eat varnish, and the nail is a dead tissue, the horny plate of which is difficult to damage. The main danger is not the varnish itself, but the fumes resulting from its drying process. Even if you paint your nails in a well-ventilated area, we still get a fair dose of varnish vapor

Also, harmful substances can cause a decrease in local immunity of the nail, which in turn can be the cause of the addition of a fungal infection.

How can I recognize harmful components before they have time to ruin my nails?

Of course, you need to look at the composition. Then you won't fool us, everything will be visible. The percentage of the content of one or another component depends on the ordinal place in the list. The closer to the beginning, the larger the component. Unfortunately, strengthening or at least not harmful components are in last place.

By the way, I did not immediately find where the composition is hidden on bottles of varnish. The labels are glued almost tightly (I barely peeled them off), but the composition is almost always hidden under them.


But sometimes studying the composition may not be necessary.

If there is an inscription on the bubble "3-free", "4-free" or "5-free" this means that 3, 4 or 5 of the above harmful components this varnish does not contain. Many brands use this as a marketing ploy.

The first group does not contain toluene, formaldehyde and dibutyl phthalate, formaldehyde resin or camphor was also removed from the second group, and all 5 components were excluded from the third.

Examples of varnishes from the Big 3 free group: China Glaze And Divage- contain camphor and formaldehyde resin.

Brands that excluded all components: Chanel, Dior, Dance Legend. Surprisingly in new Color Expert I didn't find anything dangerous from Golden Rose either, well done.

As you can see, varnishes from both the expensive and cheap segments of the market can be dangerous, or vice versa.

Love yourself, and remember: beauty does not require sacrifice!

You know that recently I went to Ylang Studio, where I got a manicure using natural products. I chose harmless Zoya nail polishes as a cover. These are not the most natural nail polishes, but according to reviews, they have very good durability. It turns out a compromise between the composition and quality of the product. And then I thought that I did not tell you about the benefits or harms of nail polishes.

What varnish is the most harmless?

In short, completely natural varnish has not yet been invented, as well as hair dyes (except for henna and basma). The main problem is durability. Of course, now more and more brands are trying to make water-based varnishes, but, judging by the reviews, they have not achieved significant success. I am far from being a gourmand, so I have little experience in this area, but I have already bought myself Benecos, which consists of 98% natural ingredients. It will be interesting to compare it with traditional nail products. Today I have prepared for you a rating of safe nail polishes and tell you which ingredients to avoid. There will be only one gel polish in the lists, I think that I will tell you more about shellac (and gel polishes) in a separate post.

3 Free

Although the Cosmetic Ingredient Review (a research organization supported by the US Food and Drug Administration) has recognized these ingredients as safe at certain concentrations, none of the existing eco-standards considers them to be environmentally friendly or safe. Contrary to popular belief that the nail is “dead tissue”, it passes about 8.5% of the substances. That is why the harm of nail polishes (and gel polishes too, but about them another time) is not at all far-fetched. Over time, even major cosmetic companies began to abandon these ingredients.

3 free brands list:

  1. Sally Hansen
  2. Deborah Lippmann
  3. China Glaze
  4. e.l.f.
  5. Wet N Wild
  6. Rimmel
  7. Maybelline

4- and 5-free

  • Formaldehyde Resin: phenol-formaldehyde resin, like formaldehyde in varnishes, is harmful when inhaled. Strong allergen.
  • camphor: camphor is dangerous to the body when inhaled in large doses

None of these ingredients are allowed by eco-standards

4 free brands (do not contain Formaldehyde Resin, but contain camphor):

  1. Dior
  2. Inglot
  3. KIKO Milano
  4. A-England


Brands 5 free:

  1. Catrice
  2. Essence
  3. Obsessive Compulsive
  4. Zoya
  5. Sante (despite certified products, the polishes are not eco-certified and even contain silicones. Sante disappointed me here.)
  6. Chanel
  7. spa ritual
  8. uslu airlines
  9. Givenchy
  10. The Organic Pharmacy
  11. Dance legend
  12. Sophin


6 free

These nail polishes are also paraben-free, but some brands at this stage are starting to write everything they want on the “does not contain” list:

  • animal ingredients (the first time I hear that the varnish could contain them!),
  • heavy metals
  • alcohol (considering the composition of varnishes, alcohol is definitely harmless there. Yes, and the nail plate is degreased before coating, usually with alcohol, so this is pure marketing)

Brands 6 free:

  1. Nails Inc NailPure line (indicate the absence of alcohol and animal ingredients)
  2. Mavala (no animal ingredients or heavy metals)
  3. Pacifica (no animal ingredients) The brand is sold on Iherb.

7-free

  1. CND Shellac ( methyl ethyl ketone (MEK)-free)
  2. Ella+Mila
  3. Jessica

8-free

10-, 11-, 12-free

10-, 11-, 12-free is already pure marketing. Brands want to show that there is simply nowhere more natural. Most often, fragrances, nano-particles, various preservatives and even sugar with gluten get on the list) I entered these brands in a separate list, although, in my opinion, they could have been included in 8 -free, in the company of quite good varnishes)

Brands 10 free:

  1. 100% Pure (no fragrances or animal ingredients)
  2. Kure Bazaar (no nano-particles, no critical preservatives of benzophenone 1 and 3, Styrene is a synthetic polymer found in most previous varnishes that gives durability)
  3. Orly Breathable and the standard line of varnishes (claiming to be 12 and 13free, actually 9 and 10free. No animal ingredients, gluten and MEHQ / HQ and MIT - what it is, I could not find out)


Water-based varnishes

Water-based nail polishes are an alternative to traditional nail polishes. The compositions are as simple as possible - water, dyes (often these are mineral pigments) and polymers, for durability. Judging by the reviews, such varnishes just lack durability, they break off on the very first day. I would like to try them to see the quality for myself. Here are the most popular representatives of alternative varnishes:

  1. Acquarella
  2. Suncoat Girl (available on Iherb)
  3. Honeybee Gardens (noted to contain synthetic dyes)

Like color cosmetics, natural nail polishes are an emerging field. I really hope that science will find a worthy natural alternative to traditional varnishes!