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Are nail polishes dangerous?

Are nail polishes dangerous ?



Organic nail polish !

So far, a 100% natural nail polish (or even 95% as the cosmebio label asks) no longer existed. a few years ago, a market was put on a certified organic varnish, but it had been removed. the only varnish called natural did not contain certain products considered dangerous. recently, the brand Logona developed a certified organic range (natrue and bdih). a true global innovation. The result of a sharp research, its high tolerance formula “5 free” excludes controversial ingredients and minimizes the risk of allergy. the varnishes of this range do not contain formaldehyde, formaldehyde resin, toluene, colophane or camphor. These are the first certified bdih "natural cosmetic" varnishes! find the bottom of this page.



Presence of pollutants in nail polish

Studies have highlighted a possible danger from some nail polishes for European consumers.
According to the latest report of the Early Warning System for Non-Food Hazardous Products (rapex) sponsored by the parliamentary committee of June 26, 2012, some nail polishes on the market would contain toxic products, responsible for cancers.
At the end of 2009, a survey by the General Directorate of Competition, Consumption and Suppression of Frauds (Dgccrf) conducted in the national market revealed in some varnishes, the presence of prohibited phthalates and levels of formaldehyde above those authorized since 1996 (5). %.
According to frédéric vincent, spokesman on consumer and health issues at the parliamentary committee on June 26, 2012, "Prohibited phthalates are the substances most often identified in these products. They come mainly from the United States but also from Europe, especially from the United Kingdom".
The risks to consumers would then seem well established. some environmental chemists in the health-environment network report that "formaldehyde is a carcinogen and phthalates are toxic to reproduction. these substances in varnish can cross the nail and reach the metabolism. as they are volatile, they can also be breathed.".

Question asked to the parliamentary committee on 26 June 2012 by mme christine de veyrac, Member of the European Parliament:
"In the light of these elements, can the Commission indicate whether it is considering developing measures to enhance consumer information regarding the toxicity of certain nail polishes?"

Following this question, mr dalli, on behalf of the commission, inter alia, replied:
"According to the information available to it, the Commission does not consider it necessary to put in place measures to strengthen consumer information regarding the toxicity of certain nail polishes. "

You will find the full answer on the website european parliament



The "hazardous" trio in nail polish

The Parisian newspaper published an article on 12 June 2012 on the subject where the conclusions of the investigation conducted by the dgccrf are found. "Prohibited chemicals or exceeded thresholds. nail polishes, cosmetic stars of summer, are not all without risk. "

What we have retained from the article you can read in full on nail polish is the result of this investigation.
"on the analyzed samples of varnish and hardeners taken from 200 points of sale, approximately 10% were out of the law. It was mainly stocks sold on the markets, braderies, sales, small shops.".

This small sentence is ultimately very reassuring. This suggests that if you buy brand varnishes in known stores and that these products comply with European regulations, it is unlikely that you are concerned!

According to "experts," compounds that can be dangerous and can be found in nail varnishes are in the number of three:

  1. Phtalates :
    Since the history on the bottles, everyone knows these products, but as the inrs reminds them, they are everywhere: " phtalates, produced a few 3 million tons a year in the world, are present everywhere at different levels in our daily environment."
    They can enter our body by inhalation, contact or ingestion.
    "they have toxic properties for reproduction. the carcinogenic character of some phthalates on rodents has caused concerns. "
    See the complete card of the inrs on Phtalates

  2. Formaldehyde :
    Formaldehyde is also a well-known product that is found everywhere in our environment. according to the inrs:
    "it has strong sensitivizing and irritating properties and available data indicate that the onset of nasopharyngeal cancers is related to its irritating properties. prevention of irritating effects therefore seems essential."
    The iinternational cancer research centre (circ) classified it in June 2004 in Group 1: sufficient elements are available to establish a cause-effect relationship between human exposure to the substance and observed cmr effect (cancerogens, mutagenics or toxic to reproduction).
    In 2005, following an American study, oms classified it as a certain carcinogen for the man of nasopharynx and nasal pits.
    Formaldehyde is a cov (volatile organic compound). it has the property to become gaseous at room temperature and as it is considered an irritating eye, nose and throat, it is better understood why the regulation imposes maximum thresholds.
    You will find the complete sheet on the inrs website formaldehyde

  3. The toluene :
    Toluene is a very widely used aromatic solvent in the industry. it is classified by the cradle in group 3: substances of concern to humans due to possible cmr effects (cancerogens, mutagenics or toxic to reproduction). appropriate studies have provided elements but are insufficient to classify the substance in category 2 (insufficient evidence).
    Therefore it is not considered a carcinogen, nor as a mutagenic and a priori it does not represent a risk for reproduction. it can irritate the nose, throat, and skin by which it can be absorbed. He could harm the child in gestation. it can affect the nervous system.
    Short exposure: eye irritation and irritation dermatoses.
    High exposure: headache, nausea, dizziness, sleepiness, loss of consciousness, severe irritation, redness, ...
    Other information on The toluene and on the occupational health site The toluene

Less allergic, it is unlikely that with a nail varnish bottle you are concerned !



Cov in nail polish

In addition to these three compounds, other elements belonging to the cov family can be found. these famous volatile organic compounds found everywhere and which are also part of the composition of certain nail polishes.
These covs are often in the varnish (see test at the end of the page) but most often they do not appear on the composition. which is logical since they are part of the .secret of manufacture !
In these cov, aromatic compounds such as benzene (ethyle benzene), xylene, toluene but also chlorinated solvents such as dichloroethane are found.
Cov effects are often difficult to demonstrate. they are very variable and depend on individual sensitivity, concentration in air, exposure durations or combinations between products.
It is nevertheless confirmed that, according to concentrations, regular exposure to cov can result in various disorders: irritation of the eyes or throat, allergies, headaches, asthma attacks, urticaria, nausea, fatigue.



Concentration in formaldehyde

Another substance frequently found is the tosylamide formaldehyde resin (noted tosylamide/formdehyde resin). This resin is used to form hard and shiny films, providing excellent wear resistance, while maintaining a great shine to nail polish.
This compound is made from formaldehyde but its chemical composition is totally different. It's not a gas, but a thick, sticky substance.

What does European regulation say?
For products in contact with the skin (use as a preservative) the maximum permissible concentration is 0.2% formaldehyde (0.1% for oral hygiene products). It is forbidden in sprays and aerosols. in the case of hardening products for nails, European legislation imposes a maximum of 5% formaldehyde. This is specific to use on nails, and the skin, especially if it is injured, should not be in contact with the product (a fat body should be applied to the cuticles to protect them). Tosylamide can actually create a contact allergy. Typical symptoms include redness, swelling, itching and blistering.
In addition, the text specifies one important thing: "all finished products containing formaldehyde or substances [...] releasing formaldehyde must return on labelling the mention "contains of formaldehyde" to the extent that the concentration in formaldehyde in the finished product exceeds 0.05%." that means that if you have a varnish sold in europe containing tosylamide but which does not include cylamide.

Attention to labels that mention "without toxic products" since the department of toxic substances control (usa) revealed the presence of significant amounts of formaldehyde, toluene and dbp (dibutyl phthalate) in nail polishes produced with usa. dbp is banned in europe in cosmetics, including nail varnishes, to the extent that it is classified by cradle in group 3: substances of concern to humans due to possible cmr effects (cancerogens, mutagenics or toxic to reproduction). appropriate studies have provided elements but are insufficient to classify the substance in category 2 (insufficient evidence).



Nail polish and paint !

The varnish appeared around 1920 following the manufacture of automotive paint. its composition has evolved but it remains a complex product that always looks like paint:

- pigments and deacons for color,

- one or more resins for grip and glossy appearance,

- solvents for a good application of the varnish,

- a rheological agent that brings viscosity and elasticity,

- one or more plasticizers to make the product more flexible,- a film agent that creates a nail film.



Cocktail effect: a potential risk

Without dramatizing, all these substances remain dangerous, because unlike what we think, nails are permeable and therefore are not a barrier to the penetration of these products in our metabolism.
If you feel a product, it is that they contain volatile substances, substances that you will absorb by inhalation.
All these perfectly known substances can create different adverse reactions by interacting with our skin, or our respiratory system. these reactions are not necessarily known.
And even if, in the current state of our knowledge, these products do not pose a special problem, these compounds are almost everywhere.
Moreover the use of a varnish is usually related to the use of a diluent and probably makeup.
All these products used regularly will create what one can call "the cocktail effect.".
Nail polish can therefore present a risk to users. in most cases, this is manifested by allergy or irritation on the parts of our body that have been in contact with our fingers. the nail can also deform and the cuticles can disappear.

The problem is much more for people who use them in their profession like beauticians, massively exposed.
A study conducted in california shows that manicures working in trade shows would suffer from several diseases and diseases ( Chronic asthma, dermatitis, breast cancer) due to exposure to chemicals. it is likely that the varnish is not the only one responsible.



Publication and report on nail polish

There are many publications on nail polish. two of us confirmed what we thought:

1- the composition on the label does not inform us of the actual composition of the product
Article published on 13 September 2013 in Paris: "Endocrine disruptors in almost 40% of beauty products".
Nearly 40% of hygiene and beauty products contain at least one endocrine disruptor (pe,) according to a study made public on Friday to betting.
In summary on nail polish, the article states that:
"According to this study carried out on a basis of 15,000 beauty-hygienic products nail polishes come to mind with 74% of them that contain at least one endocrine disruptor.
These molecules are particularly suspected of having an impact on fertility and of being linked to the increase in the number of so-called hormone-dependent cancers, mainly those of breast and prostate. » the entire article: nail polish

2- the most expensive products are not always the least dangerous
A report on the Swiss television on 05 June 2012 is also very interesting. the first part is a video on the varnish: Toxic nail polish
Under the nail polish, toxic !
The nail polish has become a weapon of mass seduction! for proof, the ranges of colors and marks that break in the cosmetic rays.
Abe decided to scratch the varnish to learn more about their composition and to test their toxicological profile. certain compounds may cause problems because of their penetration into the body.

Part 2 is the varnish test. it includes a video part and a text part in which you will have all the explanations and results: Nail polish test

These tests were carried out on a basis and nine varnishes by a lausanne laboratory
Red dior massai - scarlet vamp de l'oréal - glossfinity ruby fruit de maxfactor pro shine de manhattan (base) - got the blues for red de O.P.I - forever strong red lacquered from maybelline - Anti-Choc de bourgeois - after sex de essie - colour glamorous life de essence - nail polish dark hot red at hm

The covs are sought after: aromatic compounds and chlorinated solvents.
And the chromatograph said " on the 53 covs sought, some products exhibited traces of 20 to 25 of these products. It's still impressive! » especially that nothing indicates on the label their presence !
In the most critical are: Toluene, ethylbenzene, xylenes, styrene, dichloroethane and xylene.
Based on the compositions and measured concentrations, the laboratory considers that: a product is very bad, six are bad and two are good!
The measured cumulative rate of cov between the worst and the best vari of 330 milligrams of cov/kg to 15 milligrams of VOC/kilo!!

After this cov search, the test is followed by a resistance test.
In summary, it's not the most expensive one. whether it is at the levels of these components or its resistance, it can even be seen that the cheapest get out pretty well!



Think about respecting a few rules

If you want to put nail polish, try to respect some basic rules:
1- Have the room, especially if you're pregnant.
2- Avoid overflowing on the skin.
3- Leave naked nails from time to time, without any varnish, this will check their condition.
4- Avoid buying varnishes in braderies, markets or foreign sites. these products may not be at European standards.
5- You prefer nail polishes such as those we market (see below) which, without being organic, are guaranteed without formaldehyde, without toluene and without colophane.
6- In theory, you can also check its composition on the label but only in theory, since in practice, either the text is illegible, or there is not the composition. Moreover, this labelling does not take into consideration ingredients that are not deliberately present, such as by-products and impurities.

It is also possible to search the composition on the internet but it is not simple since most manufacturers do not indicate the composition of their nail polish. Probably not to scare customers !



Our nail polish

1 - the organic varnish of the brand logona (certified bdih natrue)

You were many to wait for it, it finally arrived: the range of natural nail polish certified organic. The result of a sharp research, its high tolerance formula “5 free” excludes controversial ingredients and minimizes the risk of allergy. This varnish contains no formaldehyde, no formaldehyde resin, no toluene, no colophane, no camphor. This is the first certified bdih "natural cosmetic" varnish! the range comes in 5 shades, from the most classic to the most trendy. each varnish offers perfect coverage. the extra-large brush facilitates the application, for a rendering of the most glamorous.

Top Coat Natural finish - Logona Quick view

Top Coat Natural Varnish Finish

Made from shellac and glycerin, this transparent Top Coat varnish is applied over your natural colored varnish to restore shine and...
€13.20
Unavailable, sorry !
Out of stock


2 - the natural varnish of the sante brand (no organic certification)

We also offer the nail polishes of the sante naturkosmetik brand. you will find varnishes with more addictive colors than others and above all, with a high tolerance formula, without formaldehyde, without toluene and without colophane.

For sublime hands to the tip of the nails, Sante also offers very mild complementary care.


Find all our nail polishes