Traditional nail polish is packed with seriously harmful chemicals. The weird thing is, there’s actually no need for them to be there. So why aren’t we all wearing non-toxic nail polish?
What is non-toxic nail polish?
It’s totally made of mung beans. Jk, not even close.
The truth is, there’s actually no way to make a completely chemical-free nail polish. If there was, we would definitely be doing it. Non-toxic nail polish is actually better described as low toxic nail polish. And some nail polishes have fewer toxic chemicals than others.
Why bother with non-toxic nail polish?
Soooo many reasons. ‘Normal’ nail polish contains a bunch of full-on chemicals that you really don’t want anywhere near you. The three worst culprits are Formaldehyde, Toluene, and the DBP (Dibutyl Phthalate). This nasty little trio has serious health effects that range from asthma to fertility issues to CANCER.
No. Thank. You.
Other commonly used chemicals include camphor, xylene, Phthalates, Parabens and heavy metals. These nasties have their own list of unpleasant health concerns. So, if you’re not partial to things like skin allergies, nausea, or liver damage, read on.
What is 12-Free?
Trust us, you want 12-Free.
Non-toxic nail polish will be labeled 3, 5, 7, 10 or 12-Free. This refers to the number of chemicals your nail polish is free from.
For all those who are feeling a little confused and would like to know the difference, here’s a little easy-to-understand breakdown:
3-Free polish does not contain dibutyl phthalate, toluene or formaldehyde.
4-Free polish does not contain dibutyl phthalate, toluene, formaldehyde or formaldehyde resin.
5-Free polish does not contain dibutyl phthalate, toluene, formaldehyde, formaldehyde resin or camphor.
6-Free polish does not contain dibutyl phthalate, toluene, formaldehyde, formaldehyde resin, camphor or parabens.
7-Free polish does not contain dibutyl phthalate, toluene, formaldehyde, formaldehyde resin, camphor, parabens or xylene.
10-Free polish does not contain formaldehyde, toluene, DBP, camphor, formaldehyde resin, xylene and don’t contain parabens, fragrances, phthalates, and animal ingredients.
12-Free polish does not contain formaldehyde, toluene, DBP, camphor, formaldehyde resin, xylene and don’t contain parabens, fragrances, phthalates, animal ingredients, ethyl tosylamide and triphenyl phosphate.
Is non-toxic nail polish better quality?
Non-toxic products can still carry the stigma of being a bit crap. But you don’t have to sacrifice quality just because you want a polish that's kinder on your nails.
Call us high maintenance, but we love high standards. We want our nail polish to look amazing. We also want to be healthy and safe. That’s why we did a LOT of research and found a way to have it all.
As a result, all Kester Black products are 12-Free and they look freakin' awesome to boot. We’ve put a lot of thought into our nail polishes so you don’t have to.
All you need to worry about is which colours you’re going to wear. Best problem ever.
