Have you ever seen or heard us say that our products are “21 free” but didn’t really understand what we were talking about? Today we’re going to be taking a deep dive into what it means to be 21 free.

Our polish is absolutely free of Animal Derivatives, Toluene, Benzene, Xylene, Formaldehyde Releaser, Formaldehyde Resin, Phthalates, Cyclic Silicones, Camphor, Methyl Ethyl Ketone, Glycol Ethers of Series E, Hydroquinone, 4-Methoxyphenol, Triphenyl Phosphate, Nonylphenol Ethoxylates, Tert-Butyl Hydroperoxide, Chromium Oxide Greens, Bismuth Oxychloride, Carcinogenic Mutagenic Reprotoxic Substances, Synthetic Fragrances, and Ethyl Tosylamide. It can be pretty intimidating to read these names, so we’ll break them down for you below so you can understand why they’re harmful and why we choose to not include them in our products.

Toluene is typically found in nail polish remover and polish because it helps polish dry quickly. It has been known to decrease brain function, cause hearing loss, nausea, and mess with the immune, kidney, reproductive systems, and liver. Recently it has been outlawed in personal care products by the European Union and on California’s Prop 65 list of harmful chemicals.

Formaldehyde is probably the most recognizable name on this list. It’s known for being used to to embalm dead bodies and to harden nail polish while preventing bacteria growth. Breathing in formaldehyde can cause asthma, abnormal fetal development, cancer, convulsions, nausea and miscarriages.

Formaldehyde Resin is a byproduct of formaldehyde. It’s typically used to harden polish and the risks are similar to the risks of breathing in formaldehyde.

Camphor comes from the camphor tree, but a lot of it today is synthetic. It’s included in most nail products because it gives nails a glossy finish and helps the polish attach to the nail. When inhaled it has been proven to cause skin irritations, headaches, nausea, and liver dysfunction.

Xylene is used to thin nail polish, but when exposed with the air it can cause central nervous system depression, headaches, nausea, dizziness, and skin irritation.
Ethyl Tosylamide is used in nail polish to adhere polish to the nail surface and increase longevity of the polish. It’s actually banned in the European Union due to research that it causes developmental and reproductive toxicity.

Triphenyl Phosphate (TPHP) is in most nail products, but most polish companies fail to disclose that its actually in their products. It is typically known for being a fire retardant and plasticizer. The main concerns for using products with TPHP in them are how it affects your hormones’ functioning.
Synthetic Fragrances are known for having bad chemicals in them which are hormone disruptors.
Carcinogenic Mutagenic Reprotoxic Substance can cause cancer, genetic mutations, and have harmful effects on the reproductive system. The EU has banned its use in cosmetics.
Bismuth Oxychloride is a synthetically-created powder that typically causes allergic reactions and even cystic acne.
Animal Derivatives are any animal by-products. Since our products do not include these they are all vegan.
Benzene is a chemical compound that has been found to cause leukemia in humans by The Department of Health and Human Services.
Phthalates are chemical compounds stereotypically used in plastic products. Side affects of using products with phthalates include increased prenatal mortality, reduced growth, asthma, attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder, breast cancer, type II diabetes, low IQ, and neurodevelopmental issues.

Cyclic Silicones contain consist of cyclotetrasiloxane (D4), cyclopentasiloxane (D5), cyclohexasiloxane (D6), and cyclomethicone. Many have banned this due to it causing reproductive, developmental, and endocrine disruptions.
Methyl Ethyl Ketone is a flammable liquid. It causes nose, throat, skin, and eye irritation, but when breathed in it can be more deadly.
Glycol Ethers of Series E can result in narcosis, pulmonary edema, and severe liver and kidney damage.
Hydroquinone is a chemical that is typically used to lighten skin tone. It can cause irritation with the skin and in bad cases ochronosis.
4-Methoxyphenol is a phenol used in dermatology and organic chemistry. Side effects of exposure include severe skin and eye irritation, burns, seizures, coma, and death.
Nonylphenol Ethoxylates is a toxic compound that is an endocrine disrupter.
Tert-Butyl Hydroperoxide is an organic compound and side effects of exposure include headaches, nausea, vomiting, lack of muscle coordination, and dizziness.
Chromium Oxide Greens is a bright powder, but when it comes into contact with eyes and skin it immediately causes irritation.

Now that you know what “21 free” means and how harmful these are you can be a more informed shopper. When shopping at K. Ferrara Color you never have to worry about looking for these, because our products are ten free and we make choosing healthier nail care products elegant and simple. In addition our polish is vegan-friendly, lasts up to 10 days, cruelty free, and is safe for pregnant women and children.

What Does 21 Free Mean?