NAIL EDUCATION
We at copo NEW YORK have asked the experts for a deeper look into nail health. We removed the toxins without sacrificing quality and are proud to be dermatologist recommended.
WHAT ARE ’10 FREE’ PRODUCTS? WHAT DOES THIS MEAN?
“10 FREE" refers to the 10 most commonly used toxic ingredients in nail polish that are excluded in our formula.
copo polishes are free of the following:
- Formaldehyde
- Toluene
- DBP (Dibutyl Phthalate)
- Formaldehyde resin
- Camphor
- Phthalates
- Xylene
- Parabens
- Fragrances
- Animal ingredients
What are these toxins?
This is sometimes referred to as ‘formalin’ or ‘methylene glycol.’ It is a carbon compound*.
Common Uses:
- Generally used as a nail-hardening agent
- Used to sterilize nail tools
- Preserve dead bodies (yup, we just said that)
Potential Side Effects/Concerns:
- Chronic exposure to its vapors can cause asthma, convulsions, nausea, skin irritations, allergies and even miscarriages! Formaldehyde is known as a human carcinogen, meaning it’s been linked to causing cancer. Continuous exposure can also put you at greater risk of types of leukemia and sinus cancer.
https://www.cancer.org/cancer/cancer-causes/formaldehyde.html
A salt or ester of phthalic acid
Common Uses:
- a group of chemicals used to soften and increase the flexibility of plastic and vinyl
Potential Causes/Concerns:
Phthalates can damage to the liver, kidneys, lungs and affect human reproduction or development.*
http://www.safecosmetics.org/get-the-facts/chemicals-of-concern/phthalates/
An aromatic hydrocarbon, a toxic liquid solution (smell similar to paint thinners)
Common Uses:
- Usually used to dissolve or combine chemical
- Creates the smooth finish of polish that prevents pigments from separating in the bottle
Potential Causes/Concerns:
- Exposure, either by breathing or on our skin, can result in temporary side effects like irritation, headaches, dizziness and cracked skin*; as well as reproductive damage, nervous system issues and respiratory complications. In addition to the serious effects it has on humans, when tested on animals (so sad!), toluene also effects the liver, kidney, lungs and impaired immune function.
http://www.safecosmetics.org/get-the-facts/chemicals-of-concern/toluene/
Sometimes referred to as ‘Xylol’ or ‘dimethylbenzene’ it is a hydrocarbon
Common Uses:
- Widely used as a solvent
- This colorless, sweet-smelling liquid or gas is found in crude wood spirit
Potential Causes/Concerns:
High amounts of exposure may affect the central nervous system, with symptoms such as headache, dizziness, nausea and vomiting. It is also highly irritating to the skin, eyes and respiratory tract.*
https://www.livestrong.com/article/101063-harmful-effects-xylene/
It is an organic compound and commonly used plasticizer
Common Uses:
- A colorless oil that acts as a binder to improve the life of your manicure
- Commonly added to items for flexibility and fluidity (and in a lot of plastics products)
Potential Causes/Concerns:
DBP has been linked to cancer in lab animals and underdeveloped genitals*, as well as other long-term fertility problems in newborn boys. DBP is on the California Proposition 65 list, (which requires businesses to determine if they must provide a warning about exposures to listed chemicals) which are agents that cause birth defects and malformations of an embryo. So, why is this in our polish again?
https://www.organicconsumers.org/news/consumer-alert-beware-toxic-chemical-dbp-nail-polish
a series of parahydroxybenzoates or esters of parahydroxybenzoic acid. Parabens are a group of synthetic compounds
Common Uses:
- Commonly used as preservatives in pharmaceutical, cosmetic and food industry
Potential Causes/Concerns:
Parabens are known to disrupt hormone function, an effect that is linked
to increased risk of breast cancer and reproductive toxicity*
also referred to as ‘Phenolic Reins’ are synthetic polymers
Common uses:
- A polymer used as a nail hardener. It is also used for the production of modeled products such as billiard balls, laboratory countertops and as adhesives and coating.
Potential Causes/Concerns:
- Could contain residual levels of Formaldehyde however the kind of rash* many dermatologist see often - allergic contact dermatitis* is linked to with FR. Allergic reaction is most commonly due to wet nail enamel but some patients may also react to the dried enamel
A mixture of fragrant essential oils or aroma compounds, fixatives and solvents
Common Uses:
- Used to give human body, food, objects etc. a pleasant scent
Potential Causes/Concerns:
- Some react poorly to the chemicals in artificial fragrances, with exposure causing a trigger of migraines, allergy symptoms and asthma, among other health conditions. Additionally, phthalates (see above) are found in many fragrances.*
https://www.huffpost.com/entry/dangerous-beauty-products_n_4168587
It is a terpenoid, a waxy, flammable, transport solid, a volatile crystalline substance
Common Uses:
- An ingredient used to give most polishes their glossy shine
- Acts as a plasticizer, camphor keeps the polish flexible after drying
Potential Causes/Concerns:
While mass manufacturers will argue camphor, in small amounts, is safe, it is also recommended you don't apply it to broke skin because it may poison you. Um, what? Camphor has been shown to trigger severe skin irritation and allergic reaction, and inhaling its fumes can cause dizziness, headaches and nausea*. In large doses, camphor can cause seizures and disorientation. Women who are pregnant or breastfeeding are typically advised not to use products with camphor.
https://www.rd.com/health/beauty/nail-polish-toxic-ingredients/
Animal derived ingredients
Common Uses:
- Guanine is used for its “pearl essence”*. What is Guanine? It comes from fish scales and acids located in animal tissue
- Carmine is also commonly used in beauty products. It is the rich, red shade derived from boiling and crushing beetle
- Oleic acid is a thickening solution made from animal oils and fats.
Potential Causes/Concerns:
The process of deriving these ingredients can kill or torture the animals.
copo products have NO animal ingredients, so WE ARE 100% VEGAN.
This is sometimes referred to as ‘formalin’ or ‘methylene glycol.’ It is a carbon compound*.
Common Uses:
- Generally used as a nail-hardening agent
- Used to sterilize nail tools
- Preserve dead bodies (yup, we just said that)
Potential Side Effects/Concerns:
- Chronic exposure to its vapors can cause asthma, convulsions, nausea, skin irritations, allergies and even miscarriages! Formaldehyde is known as a human carcinogen, meaning it’s been linked to causing cancer. Continuous exposure can also put you at greater risk of types of leukemia and sinus cancer.
https://www.cancer.org/cancer/cancer-causes/formaldehyde.html
An aromatic hydrocarbon, a toxic liquid solution (smell similar to paint thinners)
Common Uses:
- Usually used to dissolve or combine chemical
- Creates the smooth finish of polish that prevents pigments from separating in the bottle
Potential Causes/Concerns:
- Exposure, either by breathing or on our skin, can result in temporary side effects like irritation, headaches, dizziness and cracked skin*; as well as reproductive damage, nervous system issues and respiratory complications. In addition to the serious effects it has on humans, when tested on animals (so sad!), toluene also effects the liver, kidney, lungs and impaired immune function.
http://www.safecosmetics.org/get-the-facts/chemicals-of-concern/toluene/
It is an organic compound and commonly used plasticizer
Common Uses:
- A colorless oil that acts as a binder to improve the life of your manicure
- Commonly added to items for flexibility and fluidity (and in a lot of plastics products)
Potential Causes/Concerns:
DBP has been linked to cancer in lab animals and underdeveloped genitals*, as well as other long-term fertility problems in newborn boys. DBP is on the California Proposition 65 list, (which requires businesses to determine if they must provide a warning about exposures to listed chemicals) which are agents that cause birth defects and malformations of an embryo. So, why is this in our polish again?
https://www.organicconsumers.org/news/consumer-alert-beware-toxic-chemical-dbp-nail-polish
also referred to as ‘Phenolic Reins’ are synthetic polymers
Common uses:
- A polymer used as a nail hardener. It is also used for the production of modeled products such as billiard balls, laboratory countertops and as adhesives and coating.
Potential Causes/Concerns:
- Could contain residual levels of Formaldehyde however the kind of rash* many dermatologist see often - allergic contact dermatitis* is linked to with FR. Allergic reaction is most commonly due to wet nail enamel but some patients may also react to the dried enamel
It is a terpenoid, a waxy, flammable, transport solid, a volatile crystalline substance
Common Uses:
- An ingredient used to give most polishes their glossy shine
- Acts as a plasticizer, camphor keeps the polish flexible after drying
Potential Causes/Concerns:
While mass manufacturers will argue camphor, in small amounts, is safe, it is also recommended you don't apply it to broke skin because it may poison you. Um, what? Camphor has been shown to trigger severe skin irritation and allergic reaction, and inhaling its fumes can cause dizziness, headaches and nausea*. In large doses, camphor can cause seizures and disorientation. Women who are pregnant or breastfeeding are typically advised not to use products with camphor.
https://www.rd.com/health/beauty/nail-polish-toxic-ingredients/
A salt or ester of phthalic acid
Common Uses:
- a group of chemicals used to soften and increase the flexibility of plastic and vinyl
Potential Causes/Concerns:
Phthalates can damage to the liver, kidneys, lungs and affect human reproduction or development.*
http://www.safecosmetics.org/get-the-facts/chemicals-of-concern/phthalates/
Sometimes referred to as ‘Xylol’ or ‘dimethylbenzene’ it is a hydrocarbon
Common Uses:
- Widely used as a solvent
- This colorless, sweet-smelling liquid or gas is found in crude wood spirit
Potential Causes/Concerns:
High amounts of exposure may affect the central nervous system, with symptoms such as headache, dizziness, nausea and vomiting. It is also highly irritating to the skin, eyes and respiratory tract.*
https://www.livestrong.com/article/101063-harmful-effects-xylene/
a series of parahydroxybenzoates or esters of parahydroxybenzoic acid. Parabens are a group of synthetic compounds
Common Uses:
- Commonly used as preservatives in pharmaceutical, cosmetic and food industry
Potential Causes/Concerns:
Parabens are known to disrupt hormone function, an effect that is linked
to increased risk of breast cancer and reproductive toxicity*
A mixture of fragrant essential oils or aroma compounds, fixatives and solvents
Common Uses:
- Used to give human body, food, objects etc. a pleasant scent
Potential Causes/Concerns:
- Some react poorly to the chemicals in artificial fragrances, with exposure causing a trigger of migraines, allergy symptoms and asthma, among other health conditions. Additionally, phthalates (see above) are found in many fragrances.*
https://www.huffpost.com/entry/dangerous-beauty-products_n_4168587
Animal derived ingredients
Common Uses:
- Guanine is used for its “pearl essence”*. What is Guanine? It comes from fish scales and acids located in animal tissue
- Carmine is also commonly used in beauty products. It is the rich, red shade derived from boiling and crushing beetle
- Oleic acid is a thickening solution made from animal oils and fats.
Potential Causes/Concerns:
The process of deriving these ingredients can kill or torture the animals.
copo products have NO animal ingredients, so WE ARE 100% VEGAN.
ARE YOUR NAILS TRYING TO TELL YOU SOMETHING?
The COLOR and TEXTURE of your nails could be telling you more about your health than you think...
Yellow Nails
Yellow, Green or sometimes crumbly if worsening
Indication of a fungal infection. If not treated, this can worsen *
*https://www.healthline.com/health/yellow-nails#possible-causes
Dark Red Nails
- Dark red coloring
Could be signs of possible brain hemorrhage, lung disease, high blood pressure, carbon dioxide poisoning. Another indication of heart disease. If the redness extends to the sides of your nails and cuticles, you may have an autoimmune disease called lupus.*
*https://www.disabled-world.com/health/dermatology/nails/nail-color.php
Dark, Vertical Lines
Dark (almost black), vertical lines from the cuticle to the tip of the nail
- May be a sign of damaged blood vessels or more serious indication of melanoma*, a type of skin cancer.
White Stripes
Medically known as “Mees’ lines,” white discolorations
- Usually indicate an imbalanced diet lacking in protein* or acute systemic stress, such as acute renal failure, heart failure, ulcerative colitis, breast cancer.
“Terry’s Nails”
Condition of a person’s finger or toe nails appear white with a characteristic ‘ground glass’*, appearance without any lunula
- Could be a sign of congestive heart failure, kidney failure, diabetes, or liver problems like hepatitis or cirrhosis.
*https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/adult-health/multimedia/nails/sls-20076131?s=4
Split/Cracked Nails
Exactly as it’s described! Split/Cracked nails, not the more appealing to look at but can also cause major discomfort and some health issues
- Brittle and split nails could be linked to hypothyroidism or Thyroid disease*.
- A combo of this can be due to a fungal infection
*https://share.upmc.com/2018/03/brittle-nails-causes-treatments/
Vertical Ridges
Extend from the cuticles to the tip of your nail
- These are common and typically just a normal sign of aging* (with both the amount and prominence correlating with age). Some say it stems from variations in cell turnover within the nail. If prominent at a young age, could imply a vitamin B12 or magnesium deficiency.
*https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/adult-health/expert-answers/nails/faq-20058541
Spoon Nails
Medically known as ‘koilonychia’*
A soft nail that looks scooped out. The depression is large enough to hold a drop of liquid.
- Often a sign of hemochromatosis or faulty iron metabolism
*https://www.healthline.com/health/spoon-nails-koilonychia#symptoms
Nail Clubbing
An abnormally rounded shape of the nail bed and fingertip enlargement
- Sign of low oxygen in your blood, often caused by lung disease*
Nail Pitting
Little depressions (shallow or deep) in your nails. Can also be referred to as
‘Onycholysis’ and is found to be more common in people over 40 years of age
- May be a sign of nail psoriasis*, or even eczema and dermatitis. Can also signal an early sign of connective tissue disorders like as inflammatory arthritis, a disease that affects your joints.**
Approved by ANA CRISTINA LAUREANO MD, Board Certified Dermatologist