breaking down the Nimble nail polish standards
There are a lot of buzz words out there like vegan, cruelty-free, and 10-free nail polish. All the polishes (base, color, and top) in a Nimble Capsule Set are vegan, cruelty free, and 13-free. Below we break down exactly what this means and how it impacts our nail polish.
Vegan: Our polishes are completely free from animal-derived or animal by-products.
Cruelty-Free: None of our nail polishes are tested on animals.
13-Free: Nimble nail polish is 5-free, but it is also free-from an additional 8 ingredients, making it 13-free.
5-Free means Nimble nail polish does not contain:
- Formaldehyde: Often included in beauty products, formaldehyde is used as a preservative and is often used in nail polish to increase strength. However, formaldehyde is a carcinogen and has reportedly caused allergic reactions in some people.
- Formaldehyde Resin: Derived from the same chemical as formaldehyde, formaldehyde resin is also used in nail polish to increase strength, as well as gloss and shine. It has the same carcinogenic characteristics as formaldehyde.
- Toluene: Toluene is often used in nail polish color formulations to create a smooth finish, but it is a chemical that has been associated with headaches, dizziness, and dry/cracked skin, as well as a few more serious side effects like reproductive and respiratory issues.
- Phthalates + Dibutyl phthalate (DBP): Phthalates are used in nail polish to prevent chipping. Phthalates have been found to be endocrine disruptors in animals and can reportedly lead to side effects like hormone and developmental issues, organ damage, and reproductive issues.
- Camphor: Another chemical used to improve the durability and shine of nail polish. When camphor comes in contact with your skin, it can reportedly cause allergic and skin reactions. Inhaling camphor can reportedly cause dizziness, headaches, and nausea. Prolonged exposure Camphor has also reportedly been linked to organ damage.
There are an additional 8 ingredients excluded from Nimble nail polishes, making them 13-free:
- Xylene: Xylene is used to improve the texture of nail polish. It has been reported that in the short-term, xylene can cause eye, nose, and throat irritation. It’s also been reported that in the long-term, it can affect the Central Nervous System.
- Ethyl Tosylamide: Ethyl Tosylamide helps nail polish stick to your nails, therefore making polish last longer. Ethyl Tosylamide has been reported as an allergen that can cause redness and itchiness. It is also reportedly linked to increasing antibiotic resistance.
- Triphenyl Phosphate (TPP): TPP is also used to help nail polish adhere to your nails. Skin allergies (rashes and itching), as well as endocrine and nervous system issues have been reported.
- Animal-derived Ingredients: Our polishes are completely free from animal-derived or animal by-products.
- Styrene: Styrene is reportedly a carcinogen and endocrine disruptor. It’s used in water-based nail polish to help with adhesion to the nail.
- Bisphenol A (BPA): Often used to prevent chipping in nail polish, Bisphenol A is a plasticizer chemical that can reportedly affect hormones, causing reproductive issues. Long-term exposure has been reportedly linked to infertility, premature puberty, asthma, menstrual cycle issues, and breast and prostate cancer.
- E-Series Glycol Ether: Derived from Ethylene Glycols (a flammable gas), it can reportedly cause headaches, dizziness, nausea, drowsiness, breathing problems, and reproductive issues.
- Sulfates: Sulfates are used in nail polish to make them more pigmented, but they can reportedly cause skin and eye irritation.
We are proud that our Nimble Capsule Sets are vegan, cruelty-free, and 13-free, while maintaining a long-lasting, high-gloss finish that will last you up to 7 days.
