Deadly Beauty Products

Most commercial nail polishes are loaded with the holy trinity of toxic chemicals—dibutyl phthalate (DBP), toluene, and formaldehyde, which, in high doses, have been linked to cancer, birth defects, among other problems, can soak right through the nail and into your blood stream. Dr. Farhangrazi, neuroscientist and founder and co-editor of Biotrends, says that while levels of formaldehyde in nail polish are not high enough to be toxic to most wearers, “at small—very small—levels, formaldehyde is toxic” for pregnant women and small children. “Even at very small trace levels, they should not be using it.” The good news is that several nail polish brands, including OPI, Orly, and Sally Hansen, have stopped using these chemicals. The bad news? Plenty of other brands still are, including salon staple Essie.