The Big 3 (toxic chemicals that is)
Ok so there has been a lot of talk about toxic chemicals in nail polish. Established brands have changed their formulas to be free of these chemicals which raises a lot of questions. What are they? What do they do? Why are they so bad? Are polishes just as good without them? Who makes polishes free of the Big 3? I’m going to try and answer those questions here.
What are the Big 3 toxic chemicals?
The chemicals we’re talking about are Dibutyl Phthalate (DBP), Formaldehyde and Toluene.
What do they do?
Dibutyl Phthalate (DBP) is a plasticiser to prevent chips and cracks. DBP is an oily liquid that is soluble in fat and slightly soluble in water. It is not very volatile so it does not evaporate readily into the atmosphere.
Over 75% of DBP is used as a plasticiser in polymers such as PVC, 14% is used in adhesives, 7% in printing inks and 3% in other miscellaneous uses, including sealants and grouting agents used in construction as well as consumer products such as cosmetics.
http://www.greenfacts.org/glossary/def/DBP-dibutyl-phthalate.htm
Formaldehyde does not exist in nail polish. It is used in some nail hardeners but not in the actual polish. A resin, tosylamide/formaldehyde resin, makes the polish tough and resilient. While the resin is manufactured from formaldehyde, once the product becomes a resin, the formaldehyde is chemically changed and essentially no longer present. So while formaldehyde is grouped in with toluene and DBP in marketing statements and considered one of the Big 3, it isn’t actually an issue unless you have a reaction to the formaldehyde resin.
The bottom line, you should be aware of formaldehyde in your treatment products, not polish.
Toluene (methylbenzene, toluol, phenylmethane) is a solvent that makes the polish easy to apply. It is an aromatic hydrocarbon commonly used as an industrial solvent for the manufacturing of paints, chemicals, pharmaceuticals, and rubber.
Toluene is found in gasoline, acrylic paints, varnishes, lacquers, paint thinners, adhesives, glues, rubber cement, airplane glue, and shoe polish. At room temperature, toluene is a colorless, sweet smelling, volatile liquid.
http://www.emedicine.com/emerg/topic594.htm
Why are they bad?
I’m not convinced that they are bad. I really think this is something each person should decide for themselves. There are risks and effects caused by exposure to each of these chemicals. But, whether or not limited exposure to polish will actually result in those effects is yet to be determined. I don’t feel it is my place to make that call so I choose to present you with the info I’ve found so you can make up your own mind.
US FDA Office of Cosmetics and Color’s report on Using Nail Products
Professional Beauty Association’s Facts About Salon Nail Polish Products for Consumers
Campaign for Safe Cosmetics
Environmental Working Group’s report The Dangers Of Phthalates Industry Spin vs. Fact
California Proposition 65
Are Polishes Just As Good Without Them?
The not so fun answer is, it depends. While some brands have been Big 3 free for years and have top notch formulas, some of the brands jumping on the band wagon don’t have it quite right yet. The best thing I can tell you is to experiment. I’ve noticed that with OPI’s newest collection, Night Brights, it’s hit or miss.
Who makes polishes free of the Big 3?
Avon, Butter London, Dashing Diva “Extra Virgin”, HoneyBee Gardens, Lippmann Collection (newer collections), NailTini, NARS (new formula), Nocti, Nubar, OPI (Australia collection & newer), Revlon, Sally Hansen, Vinyl Deborah Lippmann, Zoya
DBP free but still contain toluene: Creative Nail Design, Misa, Orly
UPDATE: Please check out this post for a more current list of Big 3 Free polish brands – Celebrate Earth Day – Check Your Ingredients
Are there brands I left out? Please email me or post a comment, I want to keep this listing as accurate as possible. Thank you!
Oh my goodness, I have been having stomach problems and can’t seem to find out what is the problem. I gardened today and just took off my nail polish and use Rejuvacote, nail growth by Duri, immediately I felt a burning feeling in my finger. Do you think this stuff has anything to do with my stomach issues?
Wow, Suzanne, I wish I could help but I’m not a doctor or even a licensed nail tech so I wouldn’t even know where to begin in trying to diagnose the cause of the burning feeling. i would suggest seeing a doctor if that persists. I hope you find out what caused the problem.
Hi Suzanne. I get horrible stomachache (among many other things) from nail products (and I’m a straight guy so I don’t use these products on me).
My girlfriend used nail polish yesterday in the morning (outside), and in the afternoon when she came back from work I still couldn’t be around her.
I do have multiple chemical sensitivity, so I react to many things around me. These seem to be one of the worst triggers for me. But even people who don’t have full blown MCS do react to some of these things. Be careful and see a doctor.
[...] Jenna, my lovely lady friend, perhaps you were not aware but nail polish (especially THAT nail polish) has some seriously farted up crap that really shouldnt be on kids. At all. In fact the FDA and Green organizations issue articles and bills each year to alert the public to the The Big Three. [...]
[...] LONDON seems to be based out of Seattle, which is cool (sort of local…) and are “3 Free” and High Fashion. Hen Party is described as a sheer opal lacquer. It looks very [...]
is essie toxic free?
It is now. Essie’s with blue lettering on the label are 3-Free
I used an essi polish which was red on my toenails about 2wks ago and still have a yellowing of my nails…is this related to the possible formaldehydes in the product? Also I hear its only the darker polishes that have these chemical s in them…true?
Thanks for the info, was very informative. I searched this because a Sally Hansen extreme wear was in my house and it had formaldehye resin. I guess, some sally hansen lines can be removed from your list.
Hey babe,
How about China Glaze? Is it free of Big 3?
[...] (Sources of information for this review: http://www.ewg.org/skindeep, http://www.alllacqueredup.com/ 2007/05/big-3-chemicals-that-is.html,http://www.stylelist.com/2009/04/23/formaldehyde-and-nailpolish/, http://planetgreen.discovery.com/fashion-beauty/toluene.html, http://www.wikipedia.com, and http://www.wisegeek.com) Share [...]
do you know if Rimmel is free 3?
[...] This was one of the first few collections that China Glaze made that is Big 3 Free. You can read this post by Michele from All Lacquered Up if you’re interested it the technicality of it. I mentioned [...]
[...] nail polish is that it contains no carcinogens such as formaldehyde, toluene and DBP, which you probably want to avoid. They also donate $1 of every nail color bottle sold to organizations that benefit women through [...]
OPI have all those ingredients. I had to return them. the base and top coat has them and the nail polish too.
How old was the OPI nail polish you purchased? Their line hasn’t had formaldehyde, DBP or toluene since the India collection over three years ago. And they recently started pulling formaldehyde resin from the formula in recent collections.
[...] sealing it onto myself to soak in for weeks at a time? Even if you don’t buy the scary stories, it just seems like it wouldn’t hurt to go for a friendlier option. Enter Zoya, without the [...]
[...] Most major producers tend to be 3 Free. These nail polishes boast being less toxic by excluding the following chemicals: Dibutyl Phthalate (DBP) Formaldehyde, and Toluene. For one self-professed nail polish fanatics viewpoint on 3 Free click on this link to All Lacquered Up. [...]
If my nail base coat has formaldehyde resin… is that bad? Since it is a base coat which is supposed to protect my nails?
And if I have nail polish which has formaldehyde, if i use a base coat will it still be okay?
Please reply… im like full stressing now that I’ve read a lot about these three chemicals! >
Hi May! I wouldn’t stress. Formaldehyde is a gas and does not exist in nail polish. An offshoot of formaldehyde is in some treatment products but very few anymore. Formaldehyde resin is not toxic but some people are allergic to it so if you have a reaction to your base coat, I would switch.
[...] Here’s a great article from All Lacquered Up that breaks it all down. Basically, DBP is a plasticizer that’s used to prevent chips and cracks, toluene is a solvent that makes nail polish easy to apply and formaldehyde makes the finish tough and resistant, but is usually not found in polishes so it’s less of a concern. [...]
AMERICAN APPAREL MAKES POLISH WITHOUT THE BIG 3 TOO
Does Shellac nail polish contain the big 3? Is it safe to use while pregnant? Thank you for your help!
[...] Up”. Orly lacquer is “big-3″ free (DBP, Toluene, and Formaldehyde). All Lacquered Up has a pretty informative post if you’re interested in further reading. Each shade is also [...]
For the first time in 25 years I’ve only just been able to paint my nails sucessfully without any reaction thanks to Revlon’s recent formaldehyde & toulene free nail varnish! My only wish is they would bring out some more colours as I’m bored of using the same colours! Helen from Warwickshire
[...] why it’s a big deal and those three are toxic chemicals found in nail polish. Read this: The Big 3! Although I don’t really care whether it’s 3-free or not, it’s always good to be [...]
[...] media to raise brand awareness. Zoya’s success is especially remarkable when considering the “3-free” line is only sold on it’s website (various independent re-sellers can be found [...]
I have to say I am surprised by the lack of alarm. Formaldehyde is a proven carcinogen. Toluene is harmful as well, and a potential carcinogen. The three chemicals mentioned in this article are all harmful, and that’s why there have been so many 3-free nail polish lines, even water-based nail polishes. Another thing, these chemicals are tested on animals. Women working in nail salons find that these chemicals give them headaches and health problems. Please be wary of these ingredients!
Hey there, just came across your blog by searching 3 free nail polish on google. Super interesting post, thanks for the explanations. I made a little research and seems like ESSIE is 3 free too. It says so in the details of the ESSIE nail polishes on the ULTA website.
http://www.ulta.com/ulta/browse/productDetail.jsp?skuId=2204182&productId=xlsImpprod1320170&navAction=push&navCount=1&subdoc=103october2010bca&categoryId=cat80068
Hi G! This post is very old and I’ve updated my list since then. Essie went 3-Free a couple years ago. Check the links in this post for my updated list of brands. Thanks!
Sinful polish, available at Walgreens, is free of those bad chemicals and at $1.99, you can’t beat that deal. The only prob is some colors, you need to apply an extra layer or so, but it’s cheap, looks great and is bad-chemical free, so it’s worth it in my book. They also have like 100 colors!!!
Just to let you know that I received “bad-link” pages for the two links at:
US FDA Office of Cosmetics and Color’s report on Using Nail Products
Professional Beauty Association’s Facts About Salon Nail Polish Products for Consumers
Thank you for letting me know. I updated the links.
[...] or free of the worst three substances. The following link provides a good explanation: http://www.alllacqueredup.com/2007/0…s-that-is.html I would ask your salon if the products they are using are "big three free." A lot of [...]
We are Big 3 free and feel this is very very important!
[...] has black ink. That means it was before OPI started doing their polishes 3-free. What is 3 free? All Lacquered Up has a great post, so I would direct you there to read what she’s learned. But basically, it [...]
[...] the UK anyway. I will be posting more about this, but for now I found this fab, informative post on All Laquered Up. Meanwhile I went TLC shopping for my talons and came back with some [...]
Wow, thanks to everybody who mentioned the nail polish chemicals/stomach ache connection. I was diagnosed with multiple chemical sensitivities, years ago, and have pretty much cleaned up my act. Mostly, I got dizzy around the wrong chemicals. But, recently, I got some nail strengthener to deal with my tearing nails (too much caregiving/washing), and thought, what the heck, I’ll do polish, too. And, I’ve had a really horrible stomach ache for two days since removing it. It’s all 3 Free for me, from now on. And, there’s a natural remover called sun coat I think I’ll order.
[...] “B3F” signifies that the polish is “Big 3 Free” – meaning that the formula does not contain the toxic chemicals Dibutyl Phthalate (DBP), Formaldehyde, and Toluene. While the long-term effects of the chemicals are unknown, they can still be causes for major allergies and reactions. More information and a list of B3F brands can be found here. [...]
http://chinaglaze.com/about/
*All China Glaze colours are free of DBP, Toluene and added Formaldehyde.
straight from their website
This is a very old post. At the time the information about the brands was correct. I have linked to updated posts that were published after China Glaze changed their formula.
[...] three scary sounding chemicals Dibutyl Phthalate, Formaldehyde and Toluene (for more details click here). but nail varnish is my main girly indulgence! so i look up the fancy ones that are suitable for [...]
[...] alllacquredup.com The Big 3 [...]
[...] tous les Zoya (c’est à dire qu’ils n’ont ni BDP, Toluène, ni Formalydène) (Article de AllLaqueredUp sur le [...]
[...] polishes use a resin derivative called tosylamide, which helps polish to harden and adhere [8 6 5]. Formaldehyde resin is known to cause acute upper respiratory irritation and contact dermatitis [8 [...]
Bio Sculpture Nail Polish is also free of the Big 3.
[...] Last but not least, I also love another Essie shade, Angora Cardi, that I especially love to wear at the start of autumn and spring because the shade makes me feel as fuzzy as the name itself. The colour is a creamy, muted plum, and unlike Geranium this shade can be found at your local drugstore such as Shopper’s Drug Mart/Pharmaprix and Jean Coutu across Canada. As with all my nail polish shades, I use Revlon base coat and top coat because, not only are Revlon nail polishes cheap and easily accessible (available at drug stores), but Revlon base and top coats are the best toluene-, formaldehyde- and DBP-free products out there. However, the colour polishes of Revlon can be a hit or miss. All the nail polishes listed in this post are free of these big three toxic chemicals. [...]
Some time ago I printed out a page saying that OPI (with those gorgeous colors)is the largest distributor of nail polish in the world but the only one that still uses toxins, e.g. Toluene.
When was that information published? OPI used to contain toluene but it hasn’t in a few years.
I have in fact found nail polish containing formadehyde resin.
In an opi black color, and in Julie tangerine dream.
[...] are the websites I mentioned about giving more information about chemicals in nail polish: http://www.alllacqueredup.com/2007/05/big-3-chemicals-that-is.html#.UbPoEUA3tvB - this page is extremely comprehensive about the chemicals found in nail polish and other nail [...]