Wednesday, June 26, 2013

Natural Nail Polish (and Remover)

So this thought won’t be for everyone but everyone needs to think about the products we are putting on our skin, nails and hair.

Buying Tips: Natural Nail Polish (and Remover)

How to find non-toxic, water-based nail polishes in bright trendy colors, and the acetone-free nail polish remover you need for an odor- and chemical-free manicure or pedicure.

By Emma Grady & Starre Vartan

Nail Polish "Toxic Trio"

A coat of nail polish can brighten a mood, complement an outfit or mask an unsightly nail. After a long week at work, a manicure and pedicure can be a special treat, but you could be exposing yourself and others to potentially harmful chemicals while treating your tootsies to some TLC. Nail polish is typically made with ingredients you might expect to find in a factory, even though nasty chemicals aren’t necessary for sparkly toes or fingernails.

The chemical aroma of nail polish should be a red flag for potential toxicity; the odor comes from a group of ingredients that have come to be known as the “toxic trio” by certain health advocates, like Alexandra Scranton, director of science and research for Women's Voices for the Earth, and Sonya Lunder, a senior analyst at the Environmental Working Group, two nonprofit environmental and health watchdogs. Each of the "toxic trio" chemicals is classified as the most toxic by the Skin Deep Cosmetics Database, maintained by the Environmental Working Group as a repository for the science behind the chemicals in our personal care products. (The studies don't necessarily link these chemicals to harm from occasional short-term use at the levels present in nail polish.)

“Skip the nail salon when you’re pregnant,” Lunder cautions, and always steer clear of the "toxic trio."

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