Green Options

Although nail polish is not a necessity, many girls love it and miss it when trying to cut down on toxic exposure.  But most conventional nail polishes contain extremely hazardous chemical ingredients and since nail polish is left on for relatively long periods (unlike soap or shampoo, which are rinsed off immediately) these toxins have a nice long time to soak into our system. 

Listed below are the three main ingredients we look to avoid in nail polish and why*:

1. Dibutyl Phthalate (DBP) – neurotoxin, reproductive/developmental toxin, endocrine disruptor.
2. Formaldehyde –   human carcinogen, developmental/reproductive toxin, neurotoxin.
3. Toluene – developmental/reproductive toxin, neurotoxin.

So what is an eco girl who likes a good mani to do?  That is where Acquarella comes in.  Acquarella water based nail polishes are free of the top three offenders, virtually odorless and come in a variety of gorgeous colors.

When my nails are freshly manicured, it somehow makes me feel more, well, polished. I hate walking out of poorly ventilated shops with a headache though. We all know that the ingredients in traditional polish is not good to inhale on a regular basis, but we slather it on anyway - guilty! I am totally guilty…

Until recently when I discovered the SpaRitual line at a little body shop, called Mountain Body, in Park City, Utah. With flavors like, Strawberry Fields Forever and Paradigm Shift (which I am currently admiring as I type!), you not only feel good about wearing the nail lacquer but empowered.