What Non-Toxic means and what you need to know.

In 2020 when I set out to create a healthier nail polish brand, “10 Free" was a fairly new term being used in the nail treatment and nail polish industry.  It was to denote the top ten toxins found in nail products.  With rising concern and the regard given to toxins and how they affect our health & wellbeing, it's important to know the risks they pose.

And now, just 3 short years later we can actually say that we are “24 Free’. 10 Free back then, for us, meant that you wouldn’t find any of the following toxic ingredients in our nail treatments or polishes. Fast forward to today and that list has increased to include 14 more potentially harmful ingredients, see below.

1.  Formaldehyde - a carcinogen used in nail polish to strengthen the nail because it bonds with keratin (what our nails are made of) however, over use can leave nails brittle and prone to breaking and peeling.  High concentrations of formaldehyde can cause throat and lung irritation, skin rashes and cancer.

2.  Toluene - a carcinogen linked to fertility problems, serious harm to female reproductive health and fetal/newborn development, - is used in nail polish to provide that desired smooth finish by keeping the pigments from separating. Also used as an additive in gas and can affect the central nervous system.

3.  DBP - Dibutyl Phthalate - a plasticizer that has been proven to disrupt hormones and cause reproductive abnormalities and is associated with damage to the liver and kidneys. Used in polish to give it its plasticlike consistency.

4.  Camphor - a plasticizer that adds more shine and plasticity to nail polish.  Over exposure can cause nausea, dizziness and headaches when inhaled.  

5.  Formaldehyde resin and resins are hardening agents which help your polish to dry and stay put for several days.  They also cause allergies, respiratory disturbances and skin irritations. 

6.  Xylene - a solvent used in keeping polish thin so as not to get gloppy.  It is a known allergen with vapors causing eye and skin irritation, headaches and is a possible carcinogen.

7.  Parabens - are a group of ingredients that act as preservatives to keep bacteria, mold and fungi from growing in your cosmetics. In the body they can act like the hormone estrogen and disrupt the normal functions of hormone systems affecting male and female reproductive system functioning, reproductive development, fertility and birth outcomes.  Parabens can also interfere with the production of hormones and increase the risk of cancer.

8.  Ethyl Tosylamide - a plasticizer that increases the durability and longevity of nail polish. It is sulfur-based with antibiotic like properties and is banned in Europe for use in cosmetics since it can cause mild to severe allergic reactions and antibiotic resistance.  

9.  Triphenyl Phosphate - is a compound used in plastic manufacturing as a fire retardant in foam furniture, it is absorbed into the body via nail polish.  It is a proven endocrine disruptor.

10.  Fragrance - sometimes nail polish manufacturers use fragrances to hide the smell or simply to give it a pleasant "scent", yet most fragrance compounds have been linked to serious health problems such as cancer, reproductive and developmental toxicity , allergens and other sensitivities.  

11.  Animal Derivatives

12.  Benzene

13.  Bismuth Oxychloride

14.  Carcinogenic Mutagenic

15.  Chromium Oxides - Green

16.  Cyclic Silicones

17.  Glycol Ethers of Series E

18.  Hydroquinone (HQ)

19.  Methyl Ethyl Ketone (MEK)

20. 4 Methoxyphenol (MEHQ)

21.  Nonylphenol Ethoxylates

22.  Phythalates

23.  Reproxic (CMR) Substances 

24.  Tert- Butylhydroperoxide 

If you were counting, that's 3 plasticizers, 2 (possibly 3) carcinogens and several miscellaneous compounds and solvents that all have a negative effect within the human body. 

As a self proclaimed health enthusiast, former nail technician and nail polish aficionado, I knew there had to be a better way.  I also knew there were other women, just like me who are conscious of the foods we ingest and the products that we apply to our hair, skin and nails.  I won't get into the other ways in which we have to be diligent and watchful - like stress, lack of sleep, caffeine, alcohol, smoking, refined sugar, processed foods and saturated fats, I'll dive into those another time.  But for now, just being in awareness of the 100.89 million women in the U.S. using nail polish and nail care products in 2020 was overwhelming to me, not to mention the 92 percent of teen and tween girls entering the market.  Women own on average, 25 bottles of nail polish - according to Refinery29.com. 

It's certainly something to think about for sure!  

 

 #loveYANA

 

We are also Cruelty Free, Vegan, Gluten Free and our cuticle oils are Nut Free.  Our beautiful bottles have been imported and are made of fine Italian glass.  All ingredients that create our healthier formula have been sourced within the United States.  Each batch is uniquely crafted and hand poured and proudly made in the U.S.A.

www.onegreenplanet.org, www.prevention.com, www.safecosmetics.org, www.ewg.org, www.allwomenstalk.com, www.thoughtco.com, www.statista.com, www.theshelbyreport.com