Why 10-Free Nail Polish Is Important (And What Exactly Does That Mean?)
Posted on September 30 2020
You might’ve heard (or rightfully assumed) that 10-free nail polish is a cleaner, safer, non-toxic, and all-around healthier option than what many mainstream brands offer, but what does the label really mean? And more importantly, why does it matter?
The simple answer: What you put on and in your body can impact your health and well-being. Not only are you breathing in the toxins from your polish when painting your nails, but you're also exposed to them when you rub your eyes or bite your nails. Our nails are very porous—especially when wet—so they tend to absorb what we put on them.
The fact that our nail polish is 10-free means that it doesn’t contain formaldehyde, toluene, DBP, camphor, formaldehyde resin, xylene, parabens, fragrances, phthalates, and animal ingredients. And in true Gabriel fashion, our nail polish is also gluten-free, vegan, and cruelty-free.
Here’s a breakdown of each toxic ingredient and a bit more information on why we formulate without it:
Formaldehyde: Formaldehyde vapors are irritating to our system and can trigger asthma. It is also a known human carcinogen, a factor directly involved in causing cancer.
Toluene: Toluene is toxic to the nervous system, impairs breathing, can cause nausea, developmental damage to the fetus, and is linked to malignant lymphoma. Excessive exposure can result in nervous system impairment and damage to the kidney and liver.
Dibutyl Phthalate (DBP): Dibutyl phthalate is an endocrine disruptor and respiratory irritant that has been linked to cancer. It has also been connected to birth defects in studies involving lab animals and was added to the California Proposition 65 list of suspected teratogens, which are agents that cause malformations of an embryo.
Camphor: Camphor can cause seizures, liver damage, and disorientation if used in large doses. This chemical acts as a cover on your nails, depriving them of nutrients and causing yellow staining on your nails.
Formaldehyde Resin: Formaldehyde Resin is a skin allergen known to cause dermatitis. It can also off-gas formaldehyde and may contain residual levels of formaldehyde.
Xylene: Xylene is irritating to the skin, eyes, and respiratory tract. It can cause systemic toxicity by ingestion or inhalation as well as nervous system depression and headaches.
Parabens: Parabens are a common preservative that have been linked to breast cancer and are a suspected endocrine disruptor.
Fragrances: Synthetic Fragrances have been linked to health impacts ranging from eye and skin irritation to hormone imbalance and increased risk of breast cancer.
Phthalates: Phthalate exposure can occur from breathing in air that contains phthalate vapors or dust contaminated with phthalate particles, and it has been linked to developmental damage to the fetus.
Animal Ingredients: We are vegan and cruelty-free.
Our standard is to provide you with clean, mistake-proof and results driven beauty products that don’t compromise your health—you should be able to trust that your nail polish is safe for you on the inside and beautiful for you on the outside.