Green Options » Toluene

Zoya Lends a Hand to Your Beauty Budget with New Polish

Liz Thompson — Wed, 22 Apr 2009 19:42:01 +0000

Just in time for Earth Day, Zoya has launched their exchange program to help eliminate more toxic nail polish and save your beauty dollars. Starting now through June, you can trade in any bottles of polish you may have around the house (any brand other than Zoya) and choose from one of the over 300 color choices at Zoya. Zoya will take your old polishes and dispose of them according to EPA safety guidelines. All Zoya polishes are free from formaldehyde, toluene, camphor and dibutyl phthalate.

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Get Those Tootsies Ready for Spring

Liz Thompson — Fri, 13 Mar 2009 17:30:50 +0000

You have probably had at least one opportunity this month to bare your toes and if, like me, you were rather horrified at the first outdoor glimpse of them this season, you are ready to spring-ify your feet.

Well, Zoya has your piggies covered with Twist, their spring line, which includes peachy-pinky hues as well as a neutral violet, a vibrant plum and, of course, a couple of metallics. Choose from frost –Cassi is a lovely shimmering peach, or cream –Malia is sure to be a favorite this season, and your toes will invoke (tastefully done) Easter eggs.

As always, the latest Zoya polishes are free from dibutyl phthalate, toluene and formaldehyde to provide you with a less toxic (not non-toxic) polish. So choose your color, find those flip flops and head out for a terrific spring.

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Acquarella Water Based Nail Polish For a Healthy Manicure

Liz Thompson — Sat, 24 Jan 2009 17:08:13 +0000

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*:

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

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Piggy Paints: Safer Polish for your Little Girl

Jamie Ervin — Tue, 25 Nov 2008 15:00:37 +0000

“Natural as Mud” is the company logo and while I’m not sure I would lump this into the same category as mud, my girls will be finding this nail polish in their Christmas Stockings.

“Imagine a nail polish that is designed especially for those precious little girls in your life. Piggy Paint was recently founded by Melanie Hurley, a Stay-at-Home Mom with two fancy little girls, who love to have their fingernails painted. This Mom always hated the thought of her children putting their hands in their mouths after she painted their nails with traditional kid polishes. Not only did the ingestion of chemicals worry her, but the smell left her light-headed after painting two sets of fingernails and toenails.” -Piggy Paint Website

The product line is free of formaldehyde, toluene, phthalates, biphenyl A, ethyl acetate and acetone. The ingredients are listed as: Water, water-miscible acrylic and polyurethane film formers and thickeners (well below 100 parts per million), glycol ethers. May contain mica, D&C red lake, ultramarine blue and chromium, iron and titanium oxide pigments.

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