Quick Read
What the numbers on the bottle really mean.
By Cleo AshgroveFashion & Beauty EditorMay 20, 20261 min read
Nail polish labels love numbers. Here is the translation.
- 3-free: made without the “toxic trio” of formaldehyde, toluene and dibutyl phthalate (DBP).
- 5-free: adds formaldehyde resin and camphor to the list.
- 7-free and up: usually adds ingredients such as xylene, triphenyl phosphate (TPHP) and parabens. There is no official standard, so brands count differently.
- Breathable: formulas designed to let some water vapor pass through to the nail.
Higher numbers are not automatically better. Read the full list, paint in a ventilated room, and give nails a bare week now and then. Choose a cruelty-free brand and you have a manicure that is kinder from bottle to fingertip.
The Cat House Foundation ■ Modeling for a Cause. Photo: Pexels.