Nail polish seems to have an even more toxic recipe, traditionally nail polish has many chemicals in it including (but by no means limited to) toluene (solvent), formaldehyde (preservative and polish strengthener) and Dibutyl Phthalte (DBP) (plasticizer - allows movement and keeps polish adhered to the nail) Toulene effects the central nervous system and is a possible reproductive and developmental toxin (definitely not the best to use if you are pregnant!) Formaldehyde (also called formalin) is the chemical used to preserve dead bodies and may cause allergic reactions in some people and is also a carcinogen (can cause cancer)
As for DBP, studies suggest that phthalates cause birth defects in laboratory animals and recently been shown to cause reproductive organ birth defects in boys particularly and has been banned in Europe after the EU banned it along with many other personal-care product ingredients known or strongly suspected to cause cancer, mutations and birth defects.
Now dont completely freak out, here are two things to consider: one is that nail polish makers are under pressure to reduce or eliminate potentially toxic ingredients and in 2006, several makers agreed to phase them out. Two, these chemicals are found everywhere in everyday mainstream skin care products and I mentioned above.
The good news is that there are alternatives, try and change not just your skincare products but also all your cleaning products to ranges like Ecostore, Baby Bird or alternatively get Wendyl Nissen's book 'A Home Companion' and 'A Domestic Goddess on a Budget' (I'm waiting on tender hooks for her new book on baby care to come out!) or check our her site, Wendyl's Green Goddess and try and make your own, she lists all her recipes on her packaging and on the site, well done Wendyl!
Look for skincare products that are organic or as natural as possible (don't go by what they are called, such as 'Natural Essences') actually check the ingredients and if you dont know what to look for or if you dont understand what an ingredient is, dont buy it until you have checked it out here - if in doubt, check it out! Take control of what you use in your house and on your body, you DO have a choice, especially if you are pregnant - remember everything that you breathe in or use on your skin goes directly to your baby via the umbilical cord.
And at Rejuvenate I only use natural or organic products and that goes for what I clean the room, the sheets and the towels with. My nail polish products SpaRitual are DPB, Toulene and Formaldehyde free and the SpaRitual manicure and pedicure products are made with certified organic ingredients!
