When using gel polish, including builder gels and acrylic gels, it is always important to be aware of the risk associated with products that contain acrylates.
At Nailster, we work hard to minimise this risk for you as a consumer. At present, it is not possible to make gel polish completely free from acrylates, but we have developed our gel polish with the aim of minimising this risk as much as possible.
Gel polish is a product that has existed for decades, and in recent years it has become more accessible to consumers for at-home use. As a result, legislation has been introduced regarding the use of specific ingredients that may only be used by professionals. This is because the ingredients themselves are not dangerous when used correctly, but consumers do not always have the same skills or precision as professional nail technicians. The risk of developing an allergy arises when uncured products penetrate the skin. Acrylates are not absorbed through the nail bed once cured.
Yes, all our products comply with all Danish and EU legislation. Likewise, our products do not contain any of the ingredients that are only recommended for professional use.
In Denmark, cosmetic products are regulated under EU legislation, specifically through the EU Cosmetics Regulation. We continuously keep up to date with the updates and recommendations issued by the EU, as research into ingredients continues to advance.
All our ingredients are therefore approved by the EU as safe for use in cosmetic products.
In addition to simply complying with legislation, we at Nailster always make an extra effort to reduce the risk of allergy. We do this both through product development and through the information and guides that accompany our products.
First and foremost, we only use substances that have been tested and approved by the EU for use in cosmetic products.
All our products are dermatologically tested to ensure they do not cause irritation.
It should be noted that both the EU tests that have been carried out and the dermatological tests we perform are based on correct use. It is therefore important to pay close attention to how the products are used.
In addition, we carry out ongoing control tests in collaboration with the Danish Technological Institute and Altox to ensure that our products contain the correct concentrations of the substances listed in our ingredient lists and safety data sheets. These tests are extremely important, as studies of the gel polish market have shown that you cannot always rely on what is stated on the packaging. At Nailster, we guarantee that you can.
Acrylates are a broad family of substances that come in many different forms. A key factor in whether an acrylate is safe to use is how bioavailable the acrylate is. The more bioavailable the substance is, the greater the risk of skin irritation and allergic reactions.
Smaller molecules are absorbed more easily through the skin than larger molecules. This is why a substance such as “PEG-15 Trimethylolpropane Triacrylate” is considered safe, while “Trimethylolpropane Triacrylate” is classified as an unsafe substance. Read more about Trimethylolpropane Triacrylate here.
There are several acrylates that are known to be highly allergenic.
- Methylmethacrylate (MMA)
- Hydroxyethylmethacrylate (HEMA)
- Di-Hydroxyethyl Methacrylate (Di-HEMA)
In recent years, the substances listed above have been made illegal and may therefore no longer be sold to private consumers in the EU under the Cosmetics Regulation. We do not use these substances in our products.
In addition, there are some milder acrylates that are used in gel polish instead. For example:
- Hydroxypropyl Methacrylate (HPMA)
- Ethyl Methacrylate (EMA)
- Acryloyl Morpholine (ACMO)
Although these substances are found in many different gel polishes, it is important to pay attention to their concentration in the products, as a higher concentration also creates a higher risk of allergy.
We always use these substances in the lowest possible concentration to reduce the risk of allergy. HPMA, which is the reactive acrylate in our gel polish, is always used in a concentration below 20%.
The main ingredients in our gel polish are “Urethane Acrylate” and “PEG-15 Trimethylolpropane Triacrylate”. Both substances are large molecules with very low bioavailability, which makes them very safe to use in gel polish.
Since allergy most often occurs as a result of uncured reactive acrylates coming into contact with the skin, the most important thing is to make sure you do not get product on your skin.
Of course, this is easier said than done, especially as a beginner. Fortunately, you can find plenty of helpful advice in our guide hub. We especially recommend our video guides, as they allow you to see exactly how our experienced nail technicians apply the products.
We recommend that you have experience applying regular nail polish before you start using gel polish. It helps a great deal to have mastered the basic application technique, so you avoid getting product on your skin.
If you are a beginner or simply unsure about your technique, you can start by applying gel polish on a Practice Hand. This allows you to gain experience with the product before you begin applying gel polish to your own nails.
In addition, it is important to be aware of other factors that can help minimise the risk of allergy. These include curing the product, hygiene, skin care and the condition of your skin.
First and foremost, it should be emphasised that all gel polish on the market contains reactive acrylates. We strongly advise against buying from brands where gel polish is marketed as allergy-friendly. This is purely a marketing trick, which we believe is very wrong and irresponsible to communicate. We believe in informing and guiding our customers about the risk associated with acrylates if they are used incorrectly, so that with this information, they can take the necessary precautions and exercise the right level of care.
