When it comes to nails, who doesn't like a perfect shiny manicure? As you might have read in the media, nail polishes can have chemicals in their formula with questionable long term effects in our bodies. I say questionable because we really haven't done controlled studies to see what the long term effects of these chemical exposures.
If you are wondering, there is some evidence to suggest that the chemicals in nail polish can make it into our system, even though we are only applying them mostly to our nails. Some of the chemicals in nail polish formulation can evaporate easily so we can also inhale them. If you happen to be at a salon with poor air circulation, you will have a high exposure through this route. Do you notice how strong the nail polish smell can be when you walk into some salons?
A few years ago, I started to sift through my beauty products and finding safer alternatives to the products I was using. It all started with a bad skin reaction to a kitchen cleaner that I had been using for a while and I happened to accidentally get on my wrist as I was cleaning. As I researched the different chemicals in cleaners and cosmetics and the effects they can have in our bodies with our exposures, I started a quest to find safer alternatives.
For nail polishes, some manufacturers started to remove harmful ingredients from their formulations resulting in the different types of polish categories available for purchase- three free, five free, seven free and nine/ten free. Three free polishes are lacking toluene, formaldehyde and dibutyl pthalate (DBP), three of the main chemicals you definitely want to avoid. Five free polishes are lacking all these plus formaldehyde resin and camphor. Seven free polishes are lacking all the ingredients in five free polishes plus xylene and parabens.
Pacifica makes a great 7 free nail polish in some beautiful hues. You can definitely find the staple nudes and reds. They are available in Target and Ulta so I can easily purchase them. Their price point is very reasonable at just under $10 per polish, which is definitely a plus. I find that they have pretty good staying power too for having a cleaner formulation. If you have tried the water-based polishes for kids you know exactly what I mean.
Have you found yourself looking for safer alternatives to everyday cosmetics too? What is your favorite nail polish?
I hope you enjoyed this post. Thanks for reading!
*This post is not sponsored and reflects my own personal opinions.*
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