There are many things in our lives that are easier to switch to green alternatives than others. Switching our houses makes sense, it effects the health of your entire family in a positive way.
When it comes to things that we use as women we are usually last to think of those. I think every Mom thinks that way. We put the lives of our families ahead of our own and I am sure it will continue to be that way until the end of time.
There are some things that we need to consider though when thinking of yourself. Your health is so important to your family. I remember a day a few years ago while I was driving my daughter home from school and I mentioned I just was not feeling well. My daughter said please Mom do not get sick I do not want to eat peanut butter and jelly again like the last time you got sick! Yes, our health is important to everyone in our family.
I have found it easy to switch my makeup easily to non toxic alternatives but one thing I really did not want to think about was my nail polish. Being a work at home Mom the look of beauty is not always there:) I am busy at times working answering IMs, helping a child with homework and making dinner at the same time. I know you have seen yourself in a very similar scenario. Some days my pretty nail polish is all I have!
Research over the last 10 years have concluded more and more how dangerous cosmetics are for our bodies. Chemicals like formaldehyde (linked directly with asthma in adults and children and many cancers) are popping up in places we could not even imagine. Even in trusted baby wash that we have used for years thinking it was safe. Nail polish is included in those studies and I am sure we can all admit by the smell of the nail polish it's not good for us or anyone around us.
I started doing some research to see what the dangers of nail polish really were I wanted to find out if I should I expose myself to these products. Here are the results of what I found:
DBP
- Nail polish contains an array of chemicals but, the most dangerous is dibutyl phthalate (DBP). DBP is a member of a group of substances known as phthalates.
- Phthalates are chemicals added to plastics to soften them and make them more malleable.
- DBP has the potential to disrupt hormone levels in the human body and potentially cause birth defects, cancer in humans and childhood asthma.
- DBP is so serious Europe has banned the use of this chemical in any cosmetics.
- As seen with many toxins the FDA has not moved as quickly and it can still be used in the United States.
- Both are thought to cause organ damage and potentially cancer
There are some other alternatives too. I found many companies that produce non toxic nail polish and non toxic nail polish remover as well. You want to look for a water based polish vs a patrolium based polish. Here are some brands that have been around for a while and have a good reputation for quality. They hold up the same as the nail polish you are used to. These will typically only last about a week on your nails but I usually have plenty of chips in my regular nail polish after a week that it needs to be changed anyway. Many also offer a peel off version of the polish so that no nail polish remover is even needed.
Here are a few examples:
- Priti -Also has some salon locations check your state on their website.
- Piggy Paint - A children's line of natural nail polish.
- Honey Bee Gardens
- Organic Pharmacy
Many of these brands can also be found on sites such as Amazon or Ebay at a discount since many have a wholesale buying option.
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