Plus: Not only does buying eco-friendly nail polish save you money, it reduces your exposure to harmful chemicals. A recent study by The National Healthy Nail Salon Alliance reports 74% of popular nail care companies no longer use the "toxic trio" of toluene, formaldehyde and dibutyl phthalate, dangerous compounds linked to health problems such as asthma, cancer, and reproductive problems.
The good news is that you will likely find your favorite drug store brand among the 18 options that are "three free." L'Oreal, Orly, Revlon, and Sally Hansen all have eliminated these harmful chemicals from their ingredients. Where does the cost savings come into play? The safer, widely available brands retail for an average of about $5 per bottle. The five brands that were not yet "three free" or did not respond to the survey, including Essie and Yves Saint Laurent, average closer to $9 per bottle.
While exposure to toxins in nail polish may vary, it is both safer and more environmentally friendly to avoid products containing these harmful chemicals. In fact, many companies are already producing organic and phthalate free cosmetics. If safer options exist AND are more wallet-friendly, why buy the harmful brands?
For those of you who have already joined our One in a Million campaign, add nail polish to your list of products to look for. Interested in becoming involved? Sign up today
Don't stop there - contact Essie and Creative Nail Design and ask them why in the world they're still producing toxic nail polishes when they are aware of the harm they're potentially causing their consumers.
For more green living tips, visit the Big Green Purse website and blog. Better yet, get your own copy of Big Green Purse: Use Your Spending Power to Create a Cleaner, Greener World.
