Avoid the Toxic Trio with Natural Nail Polish

by Abra Pappa for Nutritious America

Do you love perfectly manicured fingers and toes? Are you hip to the newest trends in nail color? Are you a “tried-shellac-and-won’t-go-back” kind of girl? I too take pleasure in a little digit pampering and feel girly and put together when my toes are painted to perfection. Unfortunately, in my quest to live a natural green life I can’t seem to ignore the toxic fumes when I walk into the nail salon, or question what it is exactly that I am coloring my fingers and toes with.

One thing is sure, we live in a toxic world. It seems everywhere you turn there is a new chemical to avoid and a new toxin to watch out for. Our beauty regime is not spared. What we put on our bodies is just as important as we put in our bodies. Patch medications have proven that what we put on our skin enters into our bloodstream. Because of this, we do need to be more conscious of the lotions, potions, and polishes that are part of our beautifying regime.

Yes, even polishes are suspect. As it turns out, our nails are quite porous and our bodies absorb what is put on them. Additionally, there is blood flow right under the nail beds which means a direct pathway for chemicals to travel into our bloodstream. The chemicals found in the majority of nail polish are quite toxic, containing what’s referred to as the “toxic trio” – Toluene, Dibutyl Phthalate (DBP), and Formaldehyde. This trio of chemicals is known to be extremely dangerous to the human body.

Does this mean you have to forgo your weekly mani/pedi pampering session? No way, thanks to a growing market of natural polishes we can stay beautiful and toxin-free!

Here are my top three natural nail polish brands and the colors that I think rock!

Honeybee Gardens Non Peel Off Polish – A water-based polish free from harmful chemicals and nasty fumes. Honeybee polish comes in an array of fun colors. My color pick is “Hippy Chick” – a gorgeous matte lavender. The best feature of honeybee polish is the no-fuss removal. You don’t have to reach for the toxic (yet again) nail polish remover; instead you can use rubbing alcohol or even vodka to get this stuff off. Honeybee also makes a wonderful polish remover full of essential oils for nail and cuticle health.

Karma Organic – Free of the toxic trio, Karma Organic nail polish is safe for pregnant women, children, and cancer patients. Their polish is chip-resistant and durable. I am madly and deeply in love with color “Femme Fatale,” a rich, seductive, green-blue that will have all your friends green with envy.

Scotch Naturals – A water-based formula that is eco-friendly, vegan, gluten-free, free of the toxic trio, and high salon quality. I am seriously crushing over the “To Hell with Swords and Garter” seductive scarlet creme color.

Next time you go for a mani-pedi with the girls, bring along your own toxic free shades and bask in the glow of glorious green living.

Disclaimer: The views expressed above are solely those of the author and may not reflect those of
Care2, Inc., its employees or advertisers.

Melania P.

8:42AM PST on Feb 12, 2013

Never use nail polish, but good to know. Sharing

February 12
send a green star

Duane B.

7:04AM PDT on Sep 22, 2012

Thank you for sharing.

September 22
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Winn A.

12:01AM PDT on Sep 21, 2012

Thanks

September 21
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Susan A.

3:50AM PDT on Sep 14, 2012

My Nurse Practitioner told me years ago that nail polish was toxic, and I stopped ever having them done; so thanks for the info on non toxic choices!!

September 14
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Joe R.

4:29PM PDT on Sep 13, 2012

Nice ad.

September 13
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Heidi H.

2:43AM PDT on Sep 13, 2012

I hope to find these brands. Thank you.

Janine K.

2:54PM PDT on Sep 3, 2012

I'm looking for that one cause I don't want anybody to look at my toes in yoga class and say, "OMB! Look at that girls gnarley toes (although I shouldn't be thinking such thoughts)."