Putting Your Best Foot (and Hand!) Forward

By Avanti Vadivelu
 
To many women, nail polish is an essential beauty product that no one should live without. In fact, many of us end up having some sort of polish on our finger or toe nails all year-round, without giving a thought to what’s actually contained in those little colorful bottles. In fact, three chemicals found in most nail polishes can be downright dangerous: Toluene, formaldehyde, and dibutyl phthalate (DBP). 
 
Here’s the Bad News…
 
Toluene: Toluene is a chemical found in most nail polishes, paints and thinners. It gives your polish a smooth finish and helps it to dry quicker. However, toluene can be toxic to the kidneys and liver and could even hurt chances of conception. And according to greenlivingonline.com, 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: Formaldehyde is a substance that helps your nails polish to stay intact and to not chip away. It also irritates your eyes, throat and nose. Breathing in its fumes can cause headaches, dizziness, coughing and wheezing, and physical contact can result in rashes or more. 
 
DBP: DBP Gives your polish that extra punch by adding shine. But it has also been linked to birth defects, damage to reproductive organs and has found to be toxic to lungs, livers and kidneys. 
 
All of a sudden those pretty toe nails you’ve been sporting doesn’t seem so worth it, right? Well, don’t make that vow to never polish your nails again just yet…
 
Here’s the Good News…
 
Several companies have made strides towards ensuring safer nail polish that do NOT contain those harmful three chemicals listed above. For example, the cosmetic company Zoya boasts its line of long-lasting nail polishes that are toluene, formaldehyde and DBP free. The whole continent of Europe has banned the use of toluene and formaldehyde in nail polishes. And, here in the United States, the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics has succeeded in urging two of the leading nail polish companies, OPI and Sally Hansen, to remove all three of the dangerous chemicals from their nail products. 
 
Here are some other safer nail polish alternatives you can turn to:
· Acquarella Polish
· Almay Healthy Nail Color
· Anise Cosmetics
· Honeybee Gardens
· OPI Australia collection
· Peacekeeper
· Poshe's Products
· Primavera
· Sante
· Zoya Smitten and Candy Collection
(Source: greenlivingonline.com)
 
And remember, even if you go to your favorite nail spa down the street, you can make it a healthier visit by ensuring that their products don’t have the three dangerous chemicals (or, bring your own healthier nail polish for them to use), and go during the times of day that are less busy so as to reduce the amount of unsafe fumes you inhale. 
 
As they say, knowledge is truly the best power, and now you’re equipped with the nail know-how to help keep you, your family, or even your future family safe and healthy.