Unfortunately, not all too many of us actually consider what it is we are using when we apply cosmetics to our bodies. The amounts of harmful chemicals that are contained within a single bottle of nail polish are absolutely astounding!

A short list of the worst of the nail polish chemicals out there include:

• Dibutylphthalate (DBP)
• Formaldehyde
• Bisphenol A (BPA)

…and that’s just the start of it!

A lot of these more conventional nail polishes out there are either oil or solvent based, but if you dig deep enough you will be able to find a more natural and healthier substitute – a water based nail polish.

The formulations for water based nail polishes differ a bit from brand to brand. A lot of these water based nail polishes contain water, a film-forming substance, and FDA approved dyes. Some go even further and use only 100% natural coloring products, like iron oxides and other minerals. Most water based nail polishes are odor free and hypoallergenic, and several are safe for even pregnant women and children to use!

So what’s the catch? We all have our favorite conventional nail polish shades. Water based nail polishes may offer you a new sort of consistency of nail polish that you aren’t used to. Here are some of the points you need to be familiar with before you go out and buy this eco-friendly type of polish:

• You may need to apply more coats of the water based nail polish to achieve the same effects you would enjoy with an oil or solvent based polish
• The water based nail polish may not dry as quickly as the more traditional nail polish formulations
• Water based nail polish shades tend to chip away far more easily than their more traditional nail polish counterparts

What you can do to stop the chipping of the nail polish is to apply an anti-chip top coat. These are also water based and quite commonly made up of only natural ingredients. When you’re ready to take that nail polish off of our finger tips, then you can also use a water based nail polish remover. These are acetone free and often made up of natural ingredients that you can find in your home with an alcohol base, such as a corn alcohol base.

You can dig through a drug store to try and find a water based nail polish, or you can buy some shades off of the internet and familiarize yourself with some of the coolest, hippest brands out there. One of the top favorites is the “Go Natural” brand, a truly natural nail polish that boats over 60 non-toxic shades of nail polish. They also have a whole line of complimentary products, such as a primer and a top coat and a nail polish remover that are all water based and natural.

You can also try “Suncoat”, another water based nail polish brand that has won awards for their unique and wonderful nail polish formulations. If you are interested in trying Suncoat water based nail polish, try buying it online as finding it in stores may be downright impossible.