Nail polish, also called nail glaze or nail lacquer, has evolved throughout the centuries thanks to scientific research. Most
nail polishes on the market today are non-toxic, yet contain chemistry to help with application, drying, glaze and long-lasting adhesiveness to the nail.
Ingredients you'll find in nail polish today are:
A film-forming agent, most often nitrocellulose, which is also used in auto painting
A solvent, which is the volatile part of your nail polish
Diluents, such as ethyl acetate, that lower and stabilize the viscosity of the solvent while keeping the nitrocellulose from delimit out
Resins and plasticizers, like dibutyl phthalate and trundle oil, to ensure the lacquer finish "gives" instead of chips when your nail bends
Tempera , and sometimes reflective particles, to give the polish its color
Additional chemicals to adjust the viscosity of the polish, which affects ease of application and drying time
Ultraviolet stabilizers that prevent the polish from changing color in UV light
In recent years, manufacturers have started to introduce water-based nail polishes. The polish still needs a filming agent, a solvent and a pigment, but the manufacturers aim to avoid petrochemical solvents. The target market for the new formula is consumers who are sentient to the ingredients in other polishes, or those looking for environmentally friendly cosmetics.
In the United States, any colors added to nail polish must be certified by the Food and Drug Administration. Your polish color is some combination of pigments from organic dyes and other sources, such as iron and chromium oxides and ultramarine. Creamy polishes use titanium dioxide to add opacity, and pearlized polishes include either natural pearl, or the cheaper alternative bismuth oxychloride.