Your Manicure Could Cost You More Than Money

Women go to great lengths to have their nails look “perfect” for weeks at a time—gel polish, acrylics, dip powder. The promise is simple: shiny, chip-free nails that last longer.

But here’s the catch: those chemicals don’t just sit on the surface. They seep into your system. And some of the very ingredients making those manicures so long-lasting are now being exposed for what they really are—dangerous.

What Is TPO?

The culprit currently making headlines is Trimethylbenzoyl Diphenylphosphine Oxide (TPO), a chemical commonly found in gel nail polishes. TPO is a photoinitiator—it reacts to UV light and helps the polish harden into that rock-solid finish.

Sounds harmless, right? Not even close…

What the Research Found

Studies in animals have linked TPO exposure to serious reproductive harm. Here’s what scientists discovered in controlled rodent studies:

• Female reproductive issues: Female rats given high doses of TPO failed to become pregnant and experienced irregular reproductive cycles.

• Male reproductive issues: Male rats exposed to TPO developed shrunken testes and reduced fertility.

• Systemic toxicity: TPO exposure also led to liver dysfunction and even fluid accumulation in the lungs.

These aren’t minor side effects—they’re direct hits to reproductive and detoxification systems.

Why the EU Banned It

The European Union doesn’t wait around to see how many people get hurt. They use a hazard-based approach: if a chemical is inherently toxic, it gets banned. Period.

• CMR classification: In 2025, TPO was reclassified as a Category 1B substance, meaning it’s presumed to cause reproductive toxicity in humans based on animal studies.

• Automatic ban: That reclassification triggered an automatic ban under EU law. Starting September 1, 2025, TPO cannot be used in any cosmetic products—including gel nail polish.

Meanwhile, the U.S. regulators shrug.

TPO in the United States

Here’s the truth:

• No ban: The FDA has not banned TPO. It remains fully legal in gel nail polish.

• Risk-based excuses: The U.S. uses a risk-based model that claims the low exposure from nails isn’t significant, even though the studies have already shown systemic harm.

• State & brand pushback: Some states may move toward bans, and many companies are quietly switching to TPO-free formulas to match EU standards. But federally? Crickets.

So while Europe acts, the U.S. drags its feet.

The Bigger Problem

This isn’t just about nails. This is about a system that allows chemicals to be mass-marketed, normalized, and sold to women with zero regard for long-term health.

It’s shocking how long it takes the U.S. to act.

The Hidden Cost of Beauty

We need to take responsibility for our own health. That means looking deeper than just our nails:

• Shampoo & conditioner

• Soaps & body wash

• Lotions & serums

• Makeup & perfumes

Every day, most of us are layering toxic chemicals onto our skin (the largest organ we have) without a second thought. These compounds don’t just vanish. They get absorbed, they accumulate, and they burden the organ God designed to filter poison: our liver.

And guess what? Your liver is already working overtime to handle processed food, sugar, alcohol, pesticides, plastics, and polluted air. Why add more chaos through “beauty” products?

Your Kids Are Not Guinea Pigs

For the love of God, don’t let your kids use cheap, synthetic, questionable products on their precious hair, skin, and nails. Their hormones are fragile, developing, and under attack. Disrupting their endocrine system today could impact their fertility tomorrow.

Do you not want grandkids? Think long-term. Have discernment. Protect the next generation by refusing to hand them hormone-wrecking chemicals in the name of self-expression.

Take Back Control

We can’t outsource our discernment. We can’t outsource our health. Not to the FDA. Not to the CDC. Not to anyone.

The Bible tells us to be sober-minded and alert. That applies here, too. If we don’t question what we’re putting on and into our bodies, who will?

Clean beauty isn’t just a trend—it’s stewardship. Stewardship of our health, our children, and the generations after us.

So check your labels. Swap out the junk. Give your poor liver a break.

Beauty isn’t worth the price of poisoning ourselves.

Want help? Schedule a complimentary discovery call with me today.