Beauty & Hair
Fewer chemicalsDuke researchers found a polish chemical’s marker rose nearly 7-fold in urine 10 to 14 hours after a manicure.
Our pick
Sally Hansen Good.Kind.Pure. polish, 0.33 fl oz (Crystal Blue)
We earn a commission if you buy.
Polishes labelled free of TPHP leave that plasticizer out, along with formaldehyde, toluene and DBP. You keep the colour and shine without the chemical the Duke study tracked.
Duke researchers found the plasticizer triphenyl phosphate (TPHP) in 8 of 10 nail polishes, including two that didn’t list it. It’s absorbed mainly through the skin, and what that means for health isn’t settled.
General information, not medical advice. Ask your doctor, especially if you’re pregnant, nursing or have a health condition.
Look for ‘TPHP’ or ‘triphenyl phosphate’ on the free-from list; basic ‘5-free’ labels usually don’t cover it. Every polish, these included, dries to a thin polymer film. There’s no polymer-free polish yet.
Health and safety facts on this page come from this source. What a pick is made of comes from its maker's listing or website, as stated on the date we checked.
TPHP is triphenyl phosphate, a plasticizer. Duke researchers found it in 8 of 10 polishes, and a urine marker rose about 7-fold after painting.
Usually not: ‘5-free’ doesn’t mean TPHP-free. Look for ‘TPHP’ or ‘triphenyl phosphate’ on the free-from list.
Beauty & Hair
Many shampoos list just “fragrance”, which can stand in for ingredients the label never names. A fragrance-free shampoo skips it.
Our pick
Vanicream Free & Clear shampoo, 12 fl oz
Beauty & Hair
A makeup wipe can leave its preservatives, and sometimes fragrance, on your face with no rinse. Washable cotton rounds let you choose what touches your skin.
Our pick
ASPACES reusable bamboo-cotton rounds, 20-pk
