Strengthening varnish without formaldehyde. The effect of gel and polish on nail health

A new direction has been outlined in the nail industry - focusing on naturalness. Every master strives to make manicures using the most health-safe materials. Fortunately, with the advent of new generation products, there is no need to sacrifice aesthetics for the sake of this. However, many girls are always interested in whether there is formaldehyde in nail polish and how much harm it causes. Let's try to figure out what the fear of this substance is connected with.

Why are formaldehydes dangerous for nail plates?

Until recently, few people thought that polish or gel polish could harm nails, until an unfamiliar and intriguing word appeared in discussions - formaldehyde. Masters, showing their example, strongly recommend that clients read the composition of the coating they are purchasing. If it contains formaldehyde, refuse to purchase.

If we omit all the features of making nail coatings, we can conclude that formaldehyde is added to cosmetics to increase its shelf life. This substance is an excellent preservative, but that’s where its advantages end.

But the range of shortcomings is very extensive. Let's look at the key points that determine how harmful gel nail polish is:

Formaldehyde is used very widely in the chemical industry. It is an important component of foam and plastics. The substance also has antiseptic properties, which allows it to be used for the preservation of body parts in museums. Can such a component be safe for a living organism?
Formaldehyde is present in many cosmetics. However, it poses the greatest danger when used in nail coatings. The fact is that 80% of all substances that fall on the nails penetrate into the blood and, accordingly, internal organs. Shellac or regular varnish stay on the plates for a long time. Therefore, everything that is placed on them during this period gradually saturates the blood flow.
The effect of formaldehyde is cumulative. Being a preservative, it gradually affects all organs and tissues. As a result, irreversible changes begin to occur in the body. In particular, the nails themselves deteriorate. They become dry, crack, yellowness appears - and this is just the beginning. Therefore, the harm of nail polish with formaldehyde is obvious.

In Russia there are no laws regulating the level of preservative content in nail coatings. In the West, this is strictly monitored, so in European cosmetics the maximum concentration of formaldehyde does not exceed 0.2%.

Important! Girls expecting a baby should understand that even in low concentrations, using gel polish during pregnancy will be harmful. It’s better to find a safer, albeit more expensive, alternative.

5 myths about the dangers of modern gel polishes

Even advanced scientists find it difficult to assess the supposed harm of gel nail polish or other similar coatings. Therefore, one should not judge that decorative processing of plates is definitely dangerous. For decades, women have been using decorative cosmetics without harming your health, and over time its quality only gets better.

Nowadays, lines of products have been developed for use during pregnancy and even during childhood and adolescence. Despite the development of the nail industry and constant improvements in materials and tools, myths about some properties of coatings remain relevant. In this section we will debunk the 5 most common misconceptions:

The fact that false nails are no safer than extended nails is supported by the fact that formaldehyde, which is harmful to health, is added to the glue used for the one-day lengthening procedure. But modeling with gel or shellac coating has many advantages: wide color palette, possibility of applying any design, duration of wearing.

Methods for restoring nails after artificial coating

All of the above confirms that simple and gel polish is relatively harmful to nails. Therefore, everyone who is used to decorating their plates in this way needs to know the basic recommendations on how to cosmetic care. Baths, compresses and salon treatments will allow you to restore your nails to health and pristine beauty even after unsuccessful extensions.

Considering the possible harm to nails from formaldehyde in the coating complex, cosmetic manufacturers are developing unique series of preparations containing nutrients. These include hot manicure compositions, paraffin baths and masks.

One of the most sought after procedures in the beauty industry is sealing. This technique involves applying a special composition to the nails, which hardens under the influence of heat rays. As a result, the plate receives everything it needs to recover for at least two weeks. Thanks to this procedure, you don’t have to worry at all about whether the gel or nail polish is harmful.

IN home care It is recommended to do a manicure with herbal decoctions and infusions of medicinal plants, compresses, masks and wraps. Here is the simplest mask recipe for those who are worried about the harm of gel polishes, and it will help your nails stay healthy and strong so that no influences affect them:

Combine olive oil with lemon juice in equal proportions.
Add a few drops of natural fir flavorings, tea tree, sea buckthorn and almonds.
Heat the mixture to 40 degrees in a steam bath.
Dip cleaned nails into it and leave until cool.
Remove excess oil with a napkin and do not wash off the residue for at least another half hour.

If you make such a mask every day, you won’t have to think about whether gel polish or other nail coating is harmful or not at all. Your plates will be able to remain strong and recover on their own even after a poor-quality manicure.

Now you know a lot about both the benefits and harms of shellac for nails. In any case, the choice is yours: whether to apply a long-term coating. If in doubt, consult a specialist. He will evaluate the condition of your plates and recommend good restoration procedures if necessary. A lot of effective ways can be found on the forums. Share your nail care secrets in the comments, they will definitely be useful to our readers.

If earlier girls, when purchasing nail polish, looked only at its color, now many have already begun to look at the composition of the nail polish. And this is understandable, because nail polish most often contains one of the most dangerous and harmful substances - formaldehyde. If you don’t know what is harmful about this substance, then read our article today.

Features of the substance

In nail polishes, formaldehyde acts as a preservative to extend shelf life. Of course, many people believe that since it is a preservative, then there is nothing wrong with such varnish, but not everything is so simple. After all, a preservative is a poison that, although it extends the shelf life of cosmetics, is harmful to our health.

There are many different preservatives. Some of them are very harmful, while others are less capable of harming a person. The percentage of harmfulness of any cosmetic product directly depends on the concentration of the toxic substance. Even the slightest excess of standards can lead to serious consequences. Many irresponsible manufacturers who are trying to save on production use this particular substance because of its low cost. Although European companies take this preservative very seriously, according to the standards, this substance in varnish should not exceed 0.2%. Unfortunately, in Russia these standards are not adhered to; moreover, the attitude of manufacturers towards this dangerous substance is extremely indifferent.

Of course, this preservative is also found in foreign-made cosmetics; it is usually added to shampoos in a concentration not exceeding 0.1%. But this percentage of concentration is allowed, besides, the shampoo has very little contact with the scalp, and the preservative itself has weak resistance and in water it gradually decreases in concentration. But even with all this, foreign experts consider these shampoos dangerous to human health.

In Russia, formaldehyde is more often found in nail polish or other nail care products. This also means that this preservative is in close contact with your nails for a long time, since the varnish, unlike hair wash products, is not washed off with water.

Effect on health

By covering your nails with such varnish, you can’t even imagine how much harm you are doing to your health. After about 12 hours, the concentration of this poison in the blood reaches its highest point, because almost 80% of everything that is applied to the nails enters the blood. In addition, formaldehyde has the property of absorption under nail plate, from which it is impossible to get rid of in the future. This substance also contributes to the accumulation of mutagens contained in the same varnish, which are also harmful to human health.

Formaldehyde is a slow-acting poison that accumulates in the body and gradually poisons it. There is a version that this substance causes a mutation in the fetus, so under no circumstances should pregnant or nursing mothers use nail polish containing this preservative.

In its pure form, formaldehyde is used in many areas of the chemical industry. It is added in the production of plastics and foam, and raw materials are also obtained from it for the production of explosives and plasticizers. In addition, this substance is a strong antiseptic, therefore in the field of anatomy it is used to preserve human body parts and organs. Think for yourself, how can such a substance not be harmful to the body of a living person?

In fact, varnish with such a substance is not only harmful to health, but also spoils the nails themselves, making them yellow, thin and brittle. But, despite this, the same unscrupulous manufacturers use this for their own purposes and sell products and varnishes to improve the structure and growth of nails, which contain formaldehyde resin. Yes, such varnishes make your nails stronger, but this only happens because they are preserved, as it were, but the body suffers from this many times more, because the concentration of formaldehyde in such varnish is also higher.

If your health is dear to you, then before you buy any nail polish, look into the composition and, if you see this dangerous substance there, do not buy these polishes under any circumstances, no matter how much you need them.

What do you look for when buying nail polish? Many will answer that the choice falls on color scheme offered products. However, if there are expectant mothers among our readers, they will say that their choice is based on the safety of varnishes. In particular, such buyers are interested in the question of whether nail polish contains formaldehyde. After all, it is this component that can harm a woman’s health. We will tell you more about how dangerous formaldehyde is in nail polish below.

Is it really that scary?

Formaldehyde in nail polish plays the role of a preservative, extending the shelf life of the product. It would seem that what’s wrong with preservatives? But these substances are different. Formaldehyde is a poison that, in addition to extending the shelf life of cosmetics, also has a negative impact on our health. Therefore, it is considered very harmful. The percentage of danger of nail polish depends on the concentration of this substance. Even a slight excess of its norm can lead to serious consequences.

Why is this preservative so attractive to manufacturers? Cheap, of course! Therefore, products of dubious quality can be recognized only by the presence of formaldehyde in them. It is not without reason that leading companies involved in the production and sale of nail polishes have abandoned the use of this preservative in their products.

Let us note that in Europe the attitude towards formaldehyde is quite serious. The permissible level of this preservative in nail polish should not exceed 0.2%. Unfortunately, Russian manufacturers do not adhere to these rules, so on the shelves of our stores you can find a huge number of varnishes, shampoos and other cosmetics with a formaldehyde concentration of 0.5 and even 1.0%. Moreover, in the case of detergents the use of this preservative is acceptable, because shampoo does not come into contact with human skin for long, and formaldehyde itself in an aqueous solution gradually reduces its concentration. However, in nail products, exceeding the permissible dosage of this toxin threatens the development of various pathologies for people. After all, the poison remains in prolonged contact with the nails for a very long time and is not washed off with ordinary water.

How does it work?

When applying varnish to your nails, you may not even realize what danger you are exposing your health to. After about 12 hours, formaldehyde absorption reaches its peak. From 10 to 80% of the poison enters the human blood. Moreover, this substance tends to be absorbed under the nail plate, so it is very difficult to get rid of it in the future. And if we take into account the fact that most domestically produced nail polishes exceed the permissible concentration of formaldehyde tens of times, the consequences for human health can be disastrous.

It should be noted that the main reason for the delamination of the nail plates, their thinning and discoloration is the use of varnish, which contains the preservative in question. Despite this, some unscrupulous manufacturers sell products for restoring damaged nails based on the same formaldehyde. That is why experts recommend that all women study the composition of cosmetics before purchasing any hand care products.

Is there an alternative?

Today, a large number of nail polish manufacturers have abandoned the use of formaldehyde and replaced it with useful ingredients that are no worse than a preservative for storing cosmetic products. For example, alternative option palm acid, which is of natural origin, became. So you can safely buy and use nail polishes with such a preservative even during pregnancy.

Choosing a safe varnish

In fact, such varnishes exist; they can be recognized by the “5-free” mark on the label. This means that these products do not contain formaldehyde, formaldehyde resins, toluene, camphor and dibutyl phthalate - quite dangerous toxins. Another category of safe varnishes is marked “3-free”. You will also not find formaldehyde, toluene or dibutyl phthalate in their composition. If you are really concerned about your health, then it is better to pay a little more and purchase these safe analogues. By the way, such varnishes stay on the nails longer than cheap ones.

Now you know what formaldehyde is, so you can make a decision for yourself: continue to use varnishes containing it or give preference to more expensive, but completely safe analogues that will highlight the beauty of your nails and protect your health.

So, I purchased Eveline 8in1 recovery formula at Ruble Boom for about 90-100 rubles.

Volume: 12 ml.

Best before date: 12 months from start of use.

Manufacturer: Poland.

What does the manufacturer promise?

Eveline 8in1 nail polish will solve the following problems: weakened nails, dullness, brittleness, flaking, softness, dullness and unevenness.

Sounds serious!

How to use Eveline 8in1 varnish?

Note!!!

***************************************************************************************************************************

About Me: owner brittle nails, peeling nails. Never in my life have I had long nails. And I wanted it so bad((

Here are my nails before using Eveline polish. As you can see, I have absolutely nothing to brag about ((

And here are my nails a month later:

The difference is simply colossal! To be honest, I never thought I would ever grow my nails. I used the product strictly according to the instructions.

Py.Sy. It turned out to be unusual with nails, so I shorten them on my big fingers))

***************************************************************************************************************************

Why did I call this remedy wonderful, but dangerous? Beautiful- because I finally grew nails that don’t bend in different directions and don’t peel off. Dangerous- because this varnish contains 2% formaldehyde!

Let's look at the composition:

What is formaldehyde?

Formaldehyde is a preservative that prevents varnish from deteriorating and improves its consistency.
In nail polish, the permissible formaldehyde concentration should not exceed 0.2%.

Why is formaldehyde dangerous?

Formaldehyde tends to be absorbed under the nail plate, which, in turn, does not give a person any opportunity to get rid of it in the future. In addition, this substance contributes to the accumulation of mutagens in cosmetics, which are also dangerous to health.

Formaldehyde in nail polish not only harms your health, but also damages the nails themselves. They become overdried, brittle, and begin to flake.

***************************************************************************************************************************

Conclusion: Despite the formaldehyde content in Eveline 8in1 nail polish, I am happy with it, because thanks to it I have long nails. I recommend this product for purchase, but only to those for whom no other products help!

It would seem that living by the sea, my nails should grow by leaps and bounds, but no. At first, of course, everything grew and was wonderful, but after the “winter” the nails became weak, brittle and began to peel. I didn’t do any special strengthening procedures with them. I just cut it off at the root, didn’t bother too much, and blamed it on my hormones that were out of whack. But I still wanted long nails like before :)

Sveta brought me Eveline product from Russia “ Healthy nails» 8 in 1, which I use myself and am happy with it. I don’t really believe in such remedies, because I believe that the body should be influenced from the inside, and not from the outside. I started using it without much enthusiasm.

I didn’t expect any special results, so I didn’t even take a photo of what my nails looked like at the very beginning. They were cut off at the root and looked sad. I took this photo a week later, after applying the product. I always applied the varnish in one thin layer.

In 2 weeks. They are growing! They don’t break, they don’t flake, it’s even amazing!

In 3 weeks. Perfect length for me :)

In 4 weeks. I haven't had such long nails in a long time! And they continue to grow, not as fast as at the beginning, but still! But I still plan to cut it down to length “in 3 weeks.” The most comfortable for me personally :)

And now about the bad. The nails look beautiful, they are strong, don’t peel, don’t bend, I just love them! Everything is great, but...

Now I don’t really know whether the varnish helped me or my own body. Because it was this month that my hormones showed the ideal result of health. But okay, let's say it's varnish. And this is where a lot of questions arise for me...

I needed a title photo for this post, without my hands, just with nail polish. It was already dark outside, and I didn’t want to take a photo under artificial light, so I decided to take a picture from Google Images. While I was looking beautiful picture, I came across a review about this varnish, then another, a third... And I found out that this varnish contains formaldehyde, as much as 2% and it is not at all advisable to use it! I found it in time, of course:))) In general, I learned a lot about nail polishes and formaldehyde in them. It turns out that this is a long-standing topic and very much discussed. This is what it means to not be interested in cosmetics at all!

Formaldehyde is a preservative that prevents nail polish from deteriorating quickly and improves its consistency and durability. Formaldehyde is common in nail polishes, and it is especially common in medicinal varnishes. Indeed, formaldehyde has some effect. Nails begin to grow well and thicken. This happens because the body allegedly strives to get rid of harmful formaldehyde as quickly as possible, so the nails grow well and thicken so that the chemicals do not penetrate the body. But there is no accurate, scientifically based version.

By the way, this preservative is used not only in nail polishes, but also in other cosmetics. For example, in shampoos. But unlike varnishes, in shampoos, due to the strong aqueous solution, formaldehyde somewhat loses its harmful properties, and besides, contact with the skin is not long.

In nail polish, the permissible formaldehyde concentration should not exceed 0.2%.

Now they have already found an alternative to formaldehyde in conventional colored varnishes - palm acid. It has similar properties, but is of natural origin. Spider venom is also of “natural origin,” but there is little benefit to humans. But an alternative to formaldehyde in medicinal varnishes has not yet been found. But since manufacturers are aware of customer hysteria about formaldehyde, they often disguise it under other words. You have to be a chemist to understand all the intricacies in the names of substances!

But, in principle, in our modern world So many chemicals that maybe formaldehyde in nail polish isn't the worst thing? :)