Nail polish is a cosmetic product applied to the fingernails or toenails to decorate them, and to protect them from scuffing and chipping. It is usually a mixture of pigments, resins, plasticizers, solvents, and other ingredients. It can be any color, but typically it is a transparent liquid or gel that dries to a smooth coating on the nail plate. It was used by many ancient cultures to mark a sign of wealth and social status, as well as for fun, and is still a popular choice today.
The exact formula for nail polish is a trade secret, but it generally has a few basic ingredients. These include film formers, resins and plasticizers, solvents, and coloring agents. A few of the most common are nitrocellulose, butyl acetate, ethyl acetate, butyl ester, acrylates, and alcohols, as well as polymers such as tosylamide-formaldehyde resin and isopropyl methyl cellulose. Resins and plasticizers add strength and gloss to the finished nail polish, while reducing its brittleness. Some also act as thickeners. Other ingredients include soluble dyes or pigments, which provide the color of the polish.
Solvents make the nail polish easy to apply and allow it to dry quickly, so that smudges can be easily wiped off. The solvents also act as a vehicle for the other ingredients in the polish, allowing them to mix evenly and to produce a consistent product. The pigments in nail polish are primarily water-soluble, but they are also made up of oil-soluble compounds such as urea and glycerol. The FDA maintains lists of acceptable and unacceptable pigments for use in nail polish, and the makeup companies must regularly reformulate their products to change the colors based on new findings about the chemicals.
Whether you are looking to try your very first nail polish or simply want to replace your old go-to, there is a vast array of options on the market. Some brands eliminate a number of concerning chemicals in their formulas, claiming to be 7-free. Others go even further, eliminating additional ingredients that may have long-term health concerns, such as dibutyl phthalate (DBP) and formaldehyde.
As we all know, nail polish is an essential beauty staple that can be worn to complement any outfit and make your nails look sculpted and manicured. There are so many gorgeous colors to choose from and, if you know your skin tone, it’s simple to find the perfect shade to suit you. Whether you’re a fan of brights, metallics, or nudes, we have the best nail polish sets to give you a great manicure every time. Vernis à ongles