While I’m not much of a girly-girl, I confess to preferring my toenails polished over au naturale. My daughter, however, is far more fascinated by polished nails and asks me all the time to paint hers for her. There was a time when I would reluctantly give in and paint her nails with one coat of very light pink but after I found out how toxic nail polish actually is, I had to stop painting her fingernails and my toenails. Fortunately, there are now alternatives to conventional nail polish that are free of dibutyl phthalate (DBP), formaldehyde and toluene. According to the Breast Cancer Fund web site:
All three chemicals are on California’s Prop. 65 list of chemicals known to cause cancer or reproductive toxicity. Studies have linked DBP to underdeveloped genitals and other reproductive system problems in newborn boys. DBP is banned from cosmetics products in the European Union but the FDA has taken no such action in the United States.
In addition, the U.S. National Toxicology Program says formaldehyde is “reasonably anticipated†to be a human carcinogen. The EPA, meanwhile, restricts toluene in drinking water because it can cause nervous system disorders and damage the liver and kidneys. The FDA does not require that cosmetics products be tested for safety before they are sold.
After reading the above, I’m just damned glad I wasn’t painting my nails when I was pregnant with my son. I’m also glad somebody took the initiative to create Suncoat, an award-winning, quick-drying. water-based nail polish that doesn’t contain phthalates (DBP), toluene, formaldehyde, acetates or FD&C dyes. And? It’s manufactured right here in North America. When I get my next pedicure, you can bet I’ll be bringing my Suncoat with me.
Find It Here: Suncoat