A Guide To Big Three (& Four & Five) Free Polishes

Many people have referred to polishes as three free. What is three free? What does that mean? It means its free of these three chemicals: Dibutyl Phthalate or DBP(a plasticiser commonly used to prevent chips), Formaldehyde (which is kind of a myth because it has never been used in nail polish. It is used occasionally in hardeners but not in polish) and Toluene (a solvent used to ease in the application of polish).

Now I feel the need to say that I am not telling you that your polishes need to be 3 free. I personally think its an irrelevant issue. The chemicals are in such minuscule amounts and are not being ingested. I personally have zero fear of having a non 3 free polish on my nails. But many people do care and I will leave the choice to you. But here is the info for you to make your own mind up!

Here is a list of polishes that I am currently aware are 3 free:

• A-England
• American Apparel
• Bari Cosmetics
• BB Couture
• Butter London
• Calvin Klein
• China Glaze
• Color Club
• Jessica
• e.l.f
• Essie
• Finger Paints
• Hard Candy
• Joradana
• Illamasqua
• L.A. Girl
• Manglaze
• Maybelline Express Finish
• Maybelline Salon Expert
• NailNation3000
• Nicole
• OPI 
• Sally Hansen Salon

Formaldehyde resin makes polishes more strong and resilient. The resin comes from formaldehyde, by the time it becomes the resin it is a completely different chemical and no longer considered to be formaldehyde at all. So formaldehyde resin CAN be present in 3 Free Polishes. 

Here is a list of polishes that I am currently aware are 3 free and formaldehyde resin free:

• Curtsy & Bow
• Inglot
• MAC
• Milani
• N.Y.C. Long Wearing
• Nailtini (except Vodka)
• NARS
• Orly
• Pop Beauty Nail Glam
• Rescue Beauty Lounge
• SpaRitual
• Wet n’ Wild

Camphor is often used in nail polish to help with adhesion. It can also be used as a plasticiser.

Here is a list of polishes that I am currently aware are 3 free, camphor and formaldehyde resin free:

• Catrice
• Chanel
• Dashing Diva
• Dior
• Essence 
• Estee Lauder
• Givenchy
• Julep
• Lancome
• Lippmann
• L’oreal
• Mavala
• Nubar
• NYC 
• Obsessive Compulsive
• Revlon
• RGB
• Rimmel London 60 Seconds
• Sally Hansen Insta-Dri
• Shades by Barielle
• Shu Uemura
• Sinful Colors
• Zoya