While our nails are hard and feel almost impenetrable, “our bodies can still absorb toxic ingredients from the products you place on your nails,” Johanna Congleton, a senior scientist with the EWG relayed.
Our monthly manicure rituals frequently expose us to some of the most toxic ingredients in the personal care industry. For example: most polishes contain formaldehyde, a carcinogen that the EPA actively works to prevent any exposure. Other common toxic polish ingredients include dibutyl phthalate, toluene, camphor, ethyl tosylamide, and xylene. The good news is there have been many recent product developments that enable consumers to avoid these common ingredients.
‘Free’ Brands
‘3-Free’ products are made without dibutyl phthalate, toluene, and formaldehyde, while ‘5-’ and ‘7-Free’ products go as far as removing camphor, ethyl tosylamide, and xylene among others. Brands, like Spa Ritual, are leading the pack with their ‘13-free’ lines, which are among the cleanest options available for nails.
We believe in keeping our spas as natural and clean as possible, for the wellness and well-being of our clients, but also for the well-being and safety of our employees. In many spas and salons, nail technicians are often exposed to those unsafe chemicals for extended periods on a daily basis. Over time, these ingredients can become extremely harmful, creating long-term health and wellness issues.
We love using brands like SpaRitual in tandem with our own all-natural milk + honey products. SpaRitual’s Traditional line is 5-free, their Gold line is 9-free, and their Nourishing line is 13-free. We believe nature has provided many botanical alternatives that do not sacrifice efficacy. You should leave the spa feeling refreshed and renewed – not worried about the chemicals used on your body. SpaRitual is available for use in all milk + honey nail services as well as to purchase.
We don’t stop there. Even when it comes to the design of our spaces, we strive to use the cleanest, most organic and natural materials and processes we can find. For example, we:
- use zero-VOC paint on our walls
- don’t use the typical pedicure chair/foot tubs, which recirculate water and are never truly sanitary
- use LED lights instead of UV lamps
- follow strict health department code with regards to sterilization, making sure our tools, services, and spaces are as clean as possible
- treat our employees right with fair wages, health benefits, continuing education, and respect in the workplace
More mani/pedi-related questions? Ask us in the comments below.
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