EcoLiving Ideas

By Chryso D'Angelo on Dec 7, 2009

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Welcome to my beauty column! We will devote this space to a new product category for the month, be it body wash, nail polish, or bath salts. We’ll let you know which brand outshines the other in the categories of safety, environmental responsiveness, packaging, practicality, and results so that you can make informed choices about what you slather on, dust on, and lather up with. This month we take on nail polish.

When I was a tween, painting my nails was a Friday night ritual. I’d pull out my square Lucite case, which held all my supplies—a cuticle pusher, a nail file, a buffer and toe separators (for my pedicure) and loads of little hot pink, orange, purple, even blue bottles. I’d paint away on my bed, on the floor, at the kitchen table.

Fun for me. Not for mom. “Woo! It smells in here!” she’d say. Then she’d open the front door and wave it back and forth like a fan. “You know, that smell’s no good for you. You’re breathing that in.”

What did mom know? I continued to paint my nails at home. As I got older, I’d have them professionally done at the salon for special occasions. Then, in September, I watched a segment of The Dr. Oz Show called “10 Major Agers”. The doc said that Toluene, a solvent found in nail polish, can cause nervous system damage—and it is one of the perpetrators of that terrible smell. Turns out mom was right again (she keeps doing that!).

“While we know that everyone from 10-year-old girls to 50-year-old women enjoy beautifully painted nails, the truth is that painting your nails is like coating them with a medley of toxins,” says Dr. Michael Roizen, Chief Wellness Officer at the Cleveland Clinic. “In fact, nail polish is likely the most toxic cosmetic there is.”

According to Dr. Roizen, toluene keeps the color in liquid form, but it evaporates quickly and fills the air with toxins, putting your respiratory system at risk. Other harmful ingredients found in polish include benzophenones (known carcinogens that have estrogen-like effects), and formaldehyde and phthalates (both are color solvents, but they are toxic to the nerves and endocrine system). These chemicals are all responsible for that nail polish smell.

“If you apply polish in adequately ventilated rooms, it's probably okay,” said Dr. Roizen (memories of mom swatting fresh air in the house), “but surely you shouldn't be changing your polish several times a week, like some teens are known to do.” (Uh oh).

Dr. Roizen also poo poos using nail polish remover more than twice a month: “Acetone is so toxic to your eyes, nerves, and lungs, that it's a good idea to go to Home Depot and find one of those filters that will protect your lungs and brain when you use it. When you do need a remover, avoid those that use acetone.” (Try Non-Toxic Soy Nail Polish Remover)

Well, there’s no making up for the thousands of strokes of toxic polish you’ve laid on your nails, but there’s still good news. Water-based polishes, which don’t contain many of the harmful ingredients described above, are on the market—and they work. I tried them out myself—and I think even mom would approve!

Acquarella Water Color Nail Polish

Safety:
• Signed the Environmental Working Group’s Compact for Safe Cosmetics and enjoys full-member status 
• Ranked 1 out of 10 in safety on the Skin Deep database (low hazard) 
• Free of Toluene, Formaldehyde and Phthalates  

Environmental responsiveness:
• Certified Vegan, No Animal Testing, Free of Animal Products  

Results: Wow. This water-based, non-toxic polish is odor-free! My hue of choice was Incognito—a dark blue which made me feel like a cool rocker chick after I painted my square, trimmed nails. The polish went on fairly thick, so I assumed it would clump, but it didn’t. I failed to follow up with a second coat and was sadly disappointed when it started to chip on day two. But after a touch-up on each finger, the polish lasted 3-4 days. It lacks the true staying power of conventional brands, but it’s not a health hazard. Plus, the company donates 20 percent of proceeds from the sale of their pink polishes in October to the Breast Cancer Fund. That is why Acquarella Water Color Nail Polish is my Best of the Bunch!

Practicality: $18

Sula Paint & Peel Polish Nail Enamel

Safety:
• Did not sign the Environmental Working Group’s Compact for Safe Cosmetics

• Free of Toluene, Formaldehyde and Phthalates

Environmental responsiveness:
• No Animal Testing, Free of Animal Products

Results: The hue was Colonial Blue. It went on thick, smooth, and it dried in—I’m not kidding—a minute. It was a smidge smellier than Acquarella (the leader of the pack in odor-free-ness), although it does not contain any of those toxins responsible for the stink. The best part about this polish is it peels off in complete pieces, which makes nail polish remover obsolete. If only Sula Paint & Peel Polish had signed the EWG’s Compact for Safe Cosmetics! Since it didn’t, it landed second right below Acqueralla. My message to the company—get on that list!

Practicality: $9

Honeybee Gardens Nail Enamel

Safety:
• Signed the Environmental Working Group’s Compact for Safe Cosmetics, however at the time of this writing, EWG reported that Honeybee Gardens did not meet requirements to enjoy full-member status
• Ranked 2 out of 10 in safety on the Skin Deep database (low hazard) 
• Free of Toluene, Xylene, Formaldehyde and Dibutyl Phthalate

Environmental responsiveness:
• Certified Vegan, No Animal Testing, Free of animal products  

Results: After I got used to the deep color of Acquarella’s polish, I was a little disappointed that Honeybee’s light pink hue, Fairy Dust, went on so light. The polish also smudged quite a bit during application, making my job of manicurist a little tough. In the end, though, my nails looked pretty and I could appreciate an odor-free room. Plus, it’s quite affordable!

Practicality: $5.99

PeaceKeeper Nail Paint

Safety:
• Signed the Environmental Working Group’s Compact for Safe Cosmetics, however at the time of this writing, EWG reported that PeaceKeeper Nail Paint did not meet requirements to enjoy full-member status
• Ranked 3 out of 10 in safety on the Skin Deep database (moderate hazard) 
• Free of Toluene, Xylene, Formaldehyde and Phthalates

Environmental responsiveness:
• No Animal Testing  

Results: The pretty light salmon color (Paint Me Tranquil) went on smooth and thick and lasted days past the competition. Unfortunately, the twist cap didn’t; it broke after my second use. The company’s deep dedication to human rights made up for the faulty packaging (after all, maybe it was a fluke). PeaceKeeper donates a portion of their proceeds to organizations like UNIFEM and Project Hope International.

Practicality: $7.98

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Reviews

By Jane Englese on Dec 13, 2009

Rating:

Comments: Very insightful! I thought that horrible smell came from only one ingredient - who knew there were so many? I am going to look for some of the more practical options below. I also think it's a great idea to wear a hazard mask while removing your polish too! Who cares if you look a little funny - so long as you're in the privacy of your own home; go for it! Save your nervous system and health!

By Nada Kim on Dec 10, 2009

Rating:

Comments: Great article! I had no idea that nail polish and nail polish remover had so many dangerous chemicals. After reading this informative article, I will definitely be more cautious.

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