Nail products can contain a variety of ingredients, some of which may be harmful. Here are some details about nail products and their ingredients:
Positive:
- Nail polish ingredients have undergone review by the Cosmetic Ingredient Review, which uses peer-reviewed scientific literature to determine safety.
- Nail products for both home and salon use are regulated by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) .
Negative:
- Some nail products contain harmful substances such as toluenesulfonamide-formaldehyde resin and methacrylates.
- Some nail polishes contain phthalate and organophosphate plasticizers, which can be harmful.
- Some nail products contain chemicals of concern, such as acrylamide, benzophenone, and BHA.
Ingredients or materials:
- Film formers ensure nail polishes dry hard and shiny. Examples include nitrocellulose and cellulose acetate butyrate.
- Plasticizers provide flexibility and adhesion. Examples include triphenyl phosphate, trimethyl pentanyl diisobutyrate, camphor, and dibutyl phthalate.
- Resin improves adhesion, hardening, and gloss. Examples include tosylamide/formaldehyde resin, tosylamide/epoxy resin, formalin, methylene glycol, and tolunesulfonamide/formaldehyde resin.
- Solvent-extender keeps nail polish in liquid form. Examples include ethyl acetate, isopropyl alcohol, butyl acetate, and toluene.
- Pigments provide color. Examples include iron oxides, color lakes, mica, and other FDA-approved colorants.
- Suspending agents keep ingredients evenly distributed. Examples include stearalkonium hectorite and bentonite.
- UV stabilizer prevents colors from fading. An example is benzophenone-1.
- Artificial nails are composed primarily of acrylic polymers.
It is important to use nail products safely, following labeled directions and paying attention to any warning statements. If you have concerns about specific ingredients, you can look them up on the Cosmetic Ingredient Review website or the EWG Skin Deep® Cosmetics Database.
