Nail polish

The Chemicals 

 

A common beauty supply that females use on their fingernails and toenails. There's a variety of colors, textures, and shine. To create these formulas, chemicals are used. The main ingredient is nitrocellulose, a long-lasting film forming agent derived from cellulose. Interesting fact: it was used for automobile paint! There's adhesive polymers that make sure the nitrocellulose sticks to the nail.  Camphor is embed between polymer chains to make the polish flexible. Pigments are added. Ulraviolet stabilizers help ensure that the colors don't change in the sunlight, and butyl acetate helps leave behind the pigmented color on the nail when it dries.

The Allegations

•Cancer

•Birth defects

•Asthma

•Reproductive problems

•Due to “toxic trio –

•Toluene

–a clear, colourless liquid commonly used in nail polish as well as in paints, thinners and inks. It gives nail polish that nice smooth finish and helps everything to dry quicker.

–causes symptoms of headache, dizziness, fatigue and irritated eyes, nose and throat. Toluene has also been found to be toxic to the kidneys and liver and possibly a reproductive disruptor. It's of particular concern to pregnant women since it’s transmitted to the fetus via the placenta and then onto the infant through breast milk.

•Formaldehyde

–nail hardener and helps stop polish from chipping.

–an irritant to the eyes, nose and throat. Breathing in the fumes often leads to coughing and wheezing, while exposure through contact to the skin results in rashes and other skin irritations. Other symptoms can include headaches, fatigue, dizziness and immune dysfunction.

•Dibutyl phthalate

–acts as a plasticizer, adding flexibility and sheen

–linked to birth defects and damage to reproductive organs

 

Nail Polish Alternatives (3 free)

 

•Butter London

•Chanel

•China Glaze

•CHI

•Colorpops

•Lippman Collection

•L’Oréal USA

•NailTini

•OPI Products

•Orly International

•Rescue Beauty Lounge

•Revlon

•Sally Hansen

•Seche

•SpaRitual

•Suncoat

•Zoya