The truth about what’s in your nail polish

By MiNDFOOD Promotion

The truth about what’s in your nail polish
Your nail polish may look pretty, but is it safe? Here's why you may want to consider switching to a brand that's conscious about chemicals.

If you’ve ever held your breath when walking past a nail studio due to the overpowering odours wafting out the door and wondered if there is a dark side to the polish palette… unfortunately, you would be right.

The reality is, there is no such thing as ‘natural’ nail polishes – they’re all a kind of paint, with many of them containing chemicals that are known to be pretty concerning for our health.

5 toxic chemicals commonly found in nail polish

1. Toluene. A solvent that is listed as a restricted ingredient for use in cosmetics by the European Commission, the global authority for cosmetic ingredients. It can cause headaches and other neurological symptoms and is also considered a reproductive hazard.

2. Benzophenone. A group of chemicals that contribute to the stability of the colour in nail polishes. Studies by the European Commission on Endocrine Disruption show strong evidence that benzophenone contains hormone-disrupting properties and the Environmental Working Group has assessed it as having a high-risk of being a skin allergen.

3. Formaldehyde. A well known carcinogen and respiratory toxin.

4. Xylene. Has been researched and is classified as an irritant and respiratory toxin.

5. Parabens. Found to be hormone disrupting by the Environmental Working Group.

Avoiding the nasties with cleaner ingredients

The good news is there are better choices available. Some nail polish brands now aim to reduce the health risks to consumers by incorporating cleaner ingredients and leaving out questionable chemicals in their formulas.

You may have noticed nail polish marketing around 3-free, 5-free, 7-free and more recently 10-free. When it comes to safety, what’s left out is as important as what’s included, so the higher the number, the safer it is.

10-free is a way of letting people know that the nail polish brand has replaced 10 of the ingredients. 10-free nail polishes do NOT contain: toluene, dibutyl phthalate, formaldehyde, camphor, formaldehyde resin, ethyl tosylamide, xylene, parabens, phthalates and benzophenone.

Why are nail polishes allowed if they contain harmful ingredients?

There is a huge wave of consumers demanding safer cosmetics. A study led by Duke University and the public health advocacy organisation, Environmental Working Group suggests that we absorb at least one potential hormone-disrupting chemical (triphenyl phosphate, or TPP) each time we get our nails done.

And while the long-term health impacts are not yet clear, we think that’s a cause for concern.

After all, when you think about what we use our hands for on a daily basis, including cooking and eating, surely it’s in our best interest to opt for nail polish that has the safest ingredients possible.

Better choices have never been easier

“At HealthPost, our missions to make it easier to choose products that are both better for you and better for the planet,” says Liz McNamara, HealthPost’s natural health expert.

“That’s why we have incredibly high standards as far as the products we stock. We of course understand that many people still want to wear nail polish from time to time, even if it isn’t 100 percent ‘natural’.

With that in mind, we assessed many ‘clean’ nail polish brands to find the best one with the safest ingredients available in Australasia.”

Why we rate Hanami nail colour

Australian naturopath, Hannah Jones founded Hanami in 2016 to fill a gap in the market for locally made beauty products that were safe for humans and the environment.

Hanami nail polish is a 10-free, contains no restricted ingredients and no known toxins. They are certified vegan, cruelty free, wudu-friendly and breathable to maintain nail health.

Shop ‘clean’ nail polishes and more than 5,000 natural, clean, sustainable and ethical wellness products at healthpost.co.nz

HealthPost’s top polish picks – shop now at healthpost.co.nz

Left to right: Hanami Polish, Still, 15ml, $24.90; Hanami Polish, Lady, 15ml, $24.90; Hanami Polish, April Sun In Cuba, 15ml, $24.90; Hanami Water Based Nail Polish Remover, 125ml, $21.90.

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