butter LONDON: No Toxic Trio Here!

by Gracee Velasquez-Tolentino

Manicure mavens and nail art aficionados, beware: just because the label on your nail polish says “toxin-free” doesn’t necessarily mean that it is. In fact, according to a report released earlier this week, a slew of nail polishes tested by the California Environmental Protection Agency's Department of Toxic Substances Control were found to contain three toxic chemicals (dibutyl phthalate (DBP), toluene and formaldehyde), despite sans-chemical claims. Because of their potentially harmful effects, these three chemicals are commonly referred to as the “toxic trio.”

How Harmful is the Toxic Trio?

Aside from nausea and fatigue, toluene has been shown to cause birth defects and developmental problems in children of pregnant women. DBP, already banned in Europe as a cosmetics ingredient, has been linked to birth defects in studies involving lab animals. Formaldehyde, on the other hand, is known to be a cancer-causing substance. Obviously, there is greater danger if you go to a nail salon on a regular basis, but even if you don’t, your exposure may be just as much when you wear these chemicals on your nails every day.

butter LONDON: Truly Non-Toxic

A pioneer when it comes to safe and healthy nail polish, butter LONDON is one brand whose formulations have never included the toxic three. (And for those of you opposed to parabens in your products, butter LONDON's offerings are free of those as well.) "We feel it's imperative to provide a range of 3-Free products that's not only fashion-forward and unique, but most importantly, safe," said butter LONDON president and CEO Leslie Freytag. And there you have it!

Check out some of our favorite butter LONDON offerings below.