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!
I’m glad to hear that Sally Hansen polishes are “Big 3″ free. I just tried their No Chip 10 Day polish, and I love it–it’s super-smooth to apply and dries streak-free. And it does last an awfully long time, though not quite 10 days–but that’s okay since I always want to change my polish before then anyway!
Not true many sally hansen products contain the big 3 specially there cheaper ones
Thank you for this enlightening coverage of the companies who are proactively trying to keep their customers safer.
I’d rather use something that doesn’t have petrochemicals or potentially harmful irritants, than something that does. You never know what the long term effects of exposure can be, or if any genetic mutations, or excessive built up inflamation is being caused — they don’t necessarily do much research on the effects of all the abuses we put our body through on a daily basis.
By the way I’m so hooked on your blog, you’re so fun to read, and provide the best and most updated info on nail care trends and colors. I’ve searched high and low and finally find your blog for all the info I was looking for on nails and trends. Thank you!!
Keep up the awesome job!
-J
L’Oreal (“Pro Manicure” line – not sure about others) is free of all three. I’d love to know if Rimmel polishes are free of these chemicals, too!
Rimmel polishes are also free of all the nasties. I emailed Coty (Rimmel’s parent brand) to find out. Here’s the response I got:
“All RIMMEL® nail enamels are free of dibutyl phthalate (DBP), toluene, formaldehyde, and formaldehyde resin, with the exception of RIMMEL® Nail Rescue, which contains trace amounts of formaldehyde and formaldehyde resin.”
Yay!
so this has nothing in it that can harm you then ? all the new rimmel makes in shops
Glad to see a fellow beauty blogger informing everyone about DBP, Formaldehyde and Toluene in nailpolish. Great to read the info on which brands are free of these chemicals! Comes in handy, especially for the pregnant crowd.
Check out my post on the subject:
On my Beauy Blog, Raging Rouge. LOVE your blog, BTW!
another one that is free of all 3 is Sparitual……72 colors and treatments + they are also vegan.
Please add Color Club to your list, their polishes are free of the big 3 as well.
It’s wonderful to see so many people paying attention to these chemicals and their inclusion into products that we use every day. I am a nail technician, and I inform my clients that the nails are about 100 times more absorbent than skin, so be careful what you put on them! I use Spa Ritual exclusively, which is from the UK. (the EU is far ahead of the US in banning chemicals and have banned the “Big 3″) DBP in particular is a reproductive system toxin and has recently been linked to birth defects. Spa Ritual has eliminated these 3, and in place of it have incorporated rubber polymers. My pedi clients typically add 2 weeks onto the pedicure when they use Spa Ritual, rebooking in 6 wks instead of 4! They are also vegan and have lots of fantastic colors. I would suggest this line to anyone looking to eliminate these toxins from their beauty routine!
Thx so much for the info. I have been looking at the Sparitual brand so now I know!! I will be giving this brand a try.
The National Research Council is currently doing a study on the Phthalates and it’s possible health risks. I’ll wait for the verdict, but I don’t think it will be good.
I see you mentioned Sally Hansen when listing the polishes that don’t have the Big 3. I’m allergic to formaldehyde, so I always check and most Sally Hansen polishes do have formaldehyde resin in them. I have even emailed them about it but received not response.
I was told my allergy is to toluene formaldehyde resin so I’ve only used clinique polish for years. As they don’t make it any more, I’m wondering which one to try now. I don’t want to turn into Elephant Man again.
I’m terribly allergic to formaldehyde/toluene resin – my face swells up (from nail polish)! I buy this brand called Pure Ice from Walmart. It’s only $1.99/bottle and they have fabulous, vibrant colours that STAY! I take my own polish to pedicures and this stuff stays on for at least a month if not six weeks. My aesthetician has to really scrub to get the colour off. I’ve worn it on holiday (with flip-flops for shoes) and it’s stayed on, no chips, no flakes, nothing. Why pay more?
Zoya and Sparitual are 2 major brands that don’t use the big 3!
I believe Adoree nail polish also big 3 free. I don’t see those big 3 words in the ingredients list. Check out the detail here: http://www.esthersnc.com/adoree.html.
The cheapest polishes (Wet n Wild, NYC) have been big 3 free for a long time.
While I know nothing about DBP, I know that formaldehyde is a potent toxin, but at the levels in polish, I doubt they are too harmful. Toluene, on the other hand, well, I work in a lab with toluene all the time. It can really give you headaches and is a potent toxin.
Sinful nail polish, available at Walgreens, is also big 3 free. These wear very well too!
They don’t make polishes, but if you are looking for non-toxic nail CARE treatments, Nail-Aid’s stuff is awesome. I use their liquid bandage for broken nails embarrassingly often, and their brush-on wrap is also great. Nothing they make contains chemicals from the “lacquer axis of evil” and everything in their supply chain is cruelty free. Their customer service is also fantastic.
What about Chanel brand nail polish or all the other “high end” cosmetic counter brands?
Sally Hansen is not big 3 free. They make great nail polish, but as someone who is allergic to the Tosylamide/Formaldehyde Resin (my eyes swell shut) . . . I found out the hard way that they still use the resin in their formulas. Thanks for the other information though.
. . . and Estee Lauder is big 3 free (although I don’t know about Chanel), but they wear terribly – chip instantly.
Orly Nail polish and of SpaRitual is 3 free. SpaRitual is also the first Vegan nail polish line…its awesome! You have to check it out.
NYC makes nail polish line that is free the big free
they’ve got cute names like time square, china town etc. 
and thanks for informing me about the chemicals
My whole confusion is with the big 3 is the smell. You know what I'm talking about? That head-achy intense smell that is specifically characterized with nail polish. I have yet to come across a nail polish brand that doesn't carry that sudden wave of chemical smell. Now if these nail polishes are free of the big 3, why do they still smell the way they do? It makes me wonder if they really are as healthy as they seem to be.
Like some commentors before me, I'm also very concerned about the accumulated result of repeated exposure to nail polish. Sure these 'trace amounts' won't show any damage after a couple of years. But if you're like me, you probably have been using nail polish for 7+ years. What happens after all those years? Am I going to find tumors in my body? That is my main concern.
Hello,
I am new to this website but just wanted to add my own experience.
I was recently patch tested cause I had an awful rash all over my face, eyelids and neck. My Mum and then my dermatologist though it might be my nail polish – always used OPI polishes (until now).
I tested positive to formaldehyde resin – so now avoid any polishes with this in it – so I have written off to a lot of suppliers:
Rimmell – does not contain formaldehyde, formaldehyde resin, toluene, or DBP – the same with Butter London, Nubar and am waiting for a reply from Avon. OPI, Leighton denny and Nails inc – DO contain these – so avoid if you have a reaction to any of them.
Formaldehyde apparently is okay with me but not formaldehyde resin (weird!!!). Keep you posted cause I know there is a lot out there with the same allergic reaction I had to nail polishes. Love the dark colours so bought Nubar – so far so good – fingers crossed.
Please note that Sparitual DOES contain formaldehyde resin – so that polish is out for me. Some nail polish manufacturers are saying that their products do not contain the Big 3's but always check as in the case of Sparitual.
Tina, 6th July, 2009 at 7.30 p.m.
I have a sally Hansen nail polish in front of me right now and the 5th ingredient is FORMALDEHYDE RESIN…so I do not think they belong on the list of products without the big 3!
Anon – The term Big 3 Free refers to Toluene, DBP (dibutyl phthalate) and Formaldehyde. Not Formaldehyde Resin. The resin is different and as I stated in the article, not considered toxic. There are people with allergies to Formaldehyde Resin and that is why I included a link to my updated post, categorizing polishes by their ingredient list.
Check Your Ingredients
Hi, It's been a long journey trying and sourcing the safest nail polishes out there – well really ones that I am not allergic to.
I am allergic to touelene, formaldehyde resin and also all acrylates that go into nail polishes – if you feel that you are like me and are allergic to these products – then email the nail polish company and insist that they send you a list of ingredients – to be honest the only ones that did this for me was Nubar and I have stuck with them through Lindsay in ebay – what a gem – she knows her stuff and will answer any questions about the polish that you have and if she does not know, then she will find it out for you.
Happy hunting people but be careful when nail polishes say that they are free from the big 3's – they may have other things in the polishes that give you bad reactions and rashes. I see someone found this out through Sally Hansens products!!
Tina X
Just for you to be aware of certain facts: I recently went on nail polish shopping and discovered that Avon and Opi do include in their formula and. I was shocked, since I am constantly checking safe products lists and data bases and Avon and Opi were one of the "safe" nail products. Just take time to read carefully the ingredients list printed on each bottle/package, even if it's micro size; you can avoid a great damage to your body.
I could give you a list of companies that say that their polishes do not contain the big 3's but like yourself I do scan the wee writing (even bought a magnifying glass) – because I have found that they may not contain formaldehyde but DO contain formaldehyde resin – WHICH IS WHAT ME AND PROBABLY A MAJORITY OF US IS ALLERGIC TO -
Please please please read the tiny print and what I do now is I write to say NYC to find out the ingredients in their polishes – cause I really have to be sure !!!
Tina & Claudia – Thank you for your comments. As I stated in the comment just before yours, the term 3 Free excludes Formaldehyde Resin which is why I have an updated post, that is linked to in this article, that breaks down the brands by their ingredients.
Check Your Ingredients
I believe that OPI still has formaldehyde resin in their formula! Should I keep buying them or switch to other brands? I know that Zoya is big-3-free but they're even more expensive than OPI in Toronto. Is Essie big-3-free as well?
Hello Jolie,
Yes I found this out that OPI still use formaldehyde resin in their polishes – this is the reason why I have stopped using them – hence my rash.
Anyway I have discovered Nubar and also Zoya = Zoya polishes are not expensive on ebay. If you can get into ebay – please browse on both nail polish companies. A girl called Lindsay does the Nubar polishes and will help you in every way if you are not sure about the colours etc.
Also the consistency of Nubar polishes are great as is the bottle and the brush. Brill stuff.
Let me know how you get on and both are safe to use. No inhaling of any chemicals at night.
Tina.
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Argh! So for those of us who are not allergic to formaldehyde resin, are there any risks involved in the ingredient being in the polishes? I use a combination of essie, nails inc and opi polishes, and am now totally unsure as to whether this is a health risk or not. Please help!
If you are truly concerned with any of the ingredients, please seek the advice of a health professional. Since I am not a doctor or a scientist, I am not qualified to give out medical advice. All I can do is relate the information I find and share my personal experiences. I do not have an allergy to formaldehyde resin and do not know of any risks in using a product that contains it but don’t take my word for it. Because there are people with an allergy to that ingredient I point out which formulas contain it but that doesn’t necessarily mean it is harmful.
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Just to add another update to the thread that won’t quit…
Ref an earlier post from Anonymous on March 5th 2008
Toluene is not banned in the EU, rather it’s use is restricted – but it is still allowed in Nail Polish in concentrations up to 25%. So please don’t assume that European polishes are Toluene free. Models Own, a UK brand, for example contains Toluene.
My allergy to toluene formaldehyde resin is severe – I turn into an Elephant Man look-alike, can hardly breathe, with headache, swollen lips and tongue, a body rash etc. It was years before a clever consultant tested all my beauty products and pin-pointed what it was. I can use clinique nail polish, but as they don’t manufacture it any more, I’m wondering if anything else is safe. I’d rather have naked toes than go through all that pain again.
Hello. I found your site after glancing at the back of my bottle of Ruby Kisses nail polish. It contains all three. Unfortunately, it is also the best polish I’ve ever used! My thought is, whatever you put on your body somehow gets in your body, so I’ll have to find an alternative
. Thanks for the info.
What about Essie? On the Ulta website it states that Essie is free of all three but on the Essie website they don’t state that. Thanks for your help!
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I’m curious about Essie too, has anyone found out?
Hi Sherie! This post is from three years ago. Since then I’ve done updates to the list of polishes that are 3 Free and linked to them in this post. Essie has switched to a 3-Free formula since this post was originally written. Essies with blue lettering on the bottle are with the new formula
I’ve heard that Motives Nail Polish is totally AWESOME. Have you heard about that one? I know it’s free from the three! They have beautiful colors also
Thanks so much this is going to help me with my homework!!!!
check out Butter London.
I was wondering if there were any nail polish thinners that you would recommend. I bought a random brandless one from a distributer and it smells really toxic whenever I use it. Are there any chemicals in thinners that should raise a red flag? Also are there any brands that make “safe” thinners or should I just resort to buying a new bottle?
So basically Rimmel has even the resin one not in it so this has every thing removed so isn’t this the best one ?
D x
Revlon is another safe one as well (:
Wow, what an interesting thread. It is my understanding all nail (external) polish, enamels, lacquers, resins etc. are toxic. The big 3 is just 3 of many toxins. Maybe the beginning of a long list that needs to be regulated. For example butyl acetate and derivatives are toxic. You shouldn’t take it internal. Anything that is thinned out and then hardens has to be toxic. Look at the plastics like the thin plastic food wrap and it’s toxicity rating. The thing with polish is the fumes and whatever seeps in through your nails, skin, eyes, nostrils and even the chips and wear-off that gets into food prep etc. Fomulations of polish are going to be different for cremes as opposed to frost or glitter. Hardeners and quick drying formulas will surely have some different chemicals. One salon may be aware and more protective and another may buy old stock prior to a formulation change. So you van still buy unknowingly a color in 2011 which was made with an old formula unless you read the label. I have a ton of nail polish and love the whole manicured look. If I was pregnant or had a little girl who wanted her nails polished I would want to buy the least toxic nail polish out there. As for now, I am reading labels and am trying to phase out the polishes that concern me.
Look online and pop into a whole foods or plum Mkt to see what’s out there. I hope we can all be healthy and have pretty nails too!
Blurgh! This is so frustrating. I was going to start adding acrylic paint to my nail art but this article says there’s toluene in that as well (even though the paints state that they are non-toxic). So I guess it’s safe to assume that acrylic paint is no safer than any polishes that still contain toluene?
any individual else absolutely adore loreal as considerably as me?
My fav colour which I stocked for a long time was a Loreal that had a lovely turquoise shade. I´ve tried to look for them to restock, but I haven´t found THAT shade.
Anyone know about the brand Pure Ice? I am trying to find the ingredients online and not having much luck. Is it Big 3 free??? Help?
Many thanks to the author, and the replies, for the info on what nail polish is free of the Big 3.