An ingredient in many gel nail polishes has been banned by the EU this month over fears it may be harmful to humans
Gel polishes normally list ingredients on the back of the bottle
If you’ve ever had a gel manicure you might have wondered just what it is that makes them so long lasting. The answer is that it varies and not all gel nail polishes are made with the same ingredients.
While gel manicures are favoured for their durability, one ingredient present in some gel nails might not be around much longer following an EU ban this month. Under new rules, the chemical Trimethylbenzoyl Diphenylphosphine Oxide, often shortened to TPO, has been banned in cosmetic products in the EU including gel nail polishes effective from September 1.
The ban isn’t yet in place in Great Britain but is expected to follow in 2027, according to the Cosmetic, Toiletry and Perfumery Association.
The chemical TPO is a photo initiator meaning it makes it possible for nail polishes to harden under UV/LED light.
However, under EU regulation the chemical has now been classified as “carcinogenic, mutagenic, or toxic to reproduction” after it was found to have reproductive toxicity effects in animal studies.
This means that professionals operating under EU law must stop selling and using any TPO containing products.
This includes products that were already in circulation prior to the ban coming into place.
For UK salons stocking products containing TPO, a potential future ban could mean similar action being taken with salons required to replace TPO-containing products with compliant ones.
At Body Conscious, a beauty salon on Aigburth Road staff have mixed feelings about the potential for a ban in the UK.
Staff member, Erin Young said: “Businesses will 100% lose money. It’s people’s living. But if they’re going to introduce a ban it’s obviously harmful.
“If they’re going to introduce a ban we need to know a date so that people can financially organise themselves and slowly buy new stock instead of having to bulk buy.”
Erin continued: “In years more and more harmful things could come to light. It makes me worried whether there will be a constant turnover of products.”
But while it is common, TPO isn’t the only way to make gel nail polishes effective, and there are brands that are TPO free.
Jenna Nguyen works at Honey Nails, Newington which opened in early 2024. She said: “I heard about the ban online but it won’t affect us as we already buy TPO free products”.