Now, I don’t know about you, but nothing feels better than looking down at your freshly painted nails, after meticulously picking out your chosen colour and admiring how lovely they look. But have you considered what goes into your favourite nail polish? Where does that shine come from?
Regular nail polish is one of the largest offenders for toxicity. More often than not, these polishes contain animal products, such as crushed up beetles, fish scales and oyster shells to give that high shine and glossy finish. The use of chemicals was seen to be the quickest method to ensure a smooth and long-lasting finish. But, there is another way! After all, vegan and non-toxic nail polish has been in existence for longer than you think…
The history of natural nail polish
Dating back to 3000BC, during the Ming dynasty, nail paint was created using all natural ingredients such as beeswax, egg whites, gelatine, and vegetable dyes. In 1916, inspired by the invention of the car, companies were taking similar properties that went into automobile paint which led to the production of more chemical filled nail polishes.
What is the toxic trio?
The toxic trio, well known in the industry as the three most common toxins found in nail polish, is a type of formaldehyde. A substance that’s commonly used in building materials and many household products.
But they aren’t the only ones, Triphenyl Phosphate and Camphor are chemicals that when inhaled, can lead to dizziness, nausea and skin irritations.
That glamorous manicure isn’t sounding all that glamorous now, is it?
A vegan, non-toxic and cruelty-free way
For those unsure how a nail polish can be vegan, a vegan polish doesn’t contain any nasty animal contents. Ingredients such as Guanine, otherwise known as pearl essence, found in fish scales and acids located in animal tissue. It also includes ingredients such as Carmine, the red hue that comes from boiling and crushing beetles and Oleic Acid, derived from animal fat which is used for thickening.
Whilst some sceptics say that the durability and longevity of a vegan and non-toxic nail polish doesn’t measure up to it’s more ‘classic’ counterpart; the truth is that they are just as durable, giving the same high shine look, without the harsh chemicals. Not only are they environmentally friendly, but they won’t leave your nails brittle or your skin dry. Making them a healthy, safe and smart choice for your nails.
Try and use cruelty-free polish too! But don’t get this confused with vegan. Cruelty-free means that the products are not tested on animals.
Lamia stands for using ingredients that are all ethically sourced. That means – no animal substances, no chemicals and no animal testing! Join us on our journey for a more sustainable and guilt-free glamour!
A signature Rita Hayworth red nail can now be guilt-free every day! What’s your signature colour? Check out our colour range today!