The beauty industry is facing a major shake-up this week, as a controversial EU ban on a widely used chemical in gel nail polish takes effect. The decision has left American consumers wondering why the same isn’t happening on their side of the Atlantic.
As of September 1, the European Union has officially prohibited the use of trimethylbenzoyl diphenylphosphine oxide (TPO), a common ingredient in gel nail polish that helps harden the product under UV or LED light.
The move has caused confusion and debate, not just among salon professionals and importers, but also among consumers now caught between conflicting international safety standards, and the possibility that their beautiful nails could be putting their health in danger.
