Nail Polish Remover

The name nail polish remover is pretty much self explanatory. However, all polish removers are not the same. The usual types found will be either acetone or ethyl acetate based. More predominately you’ll find ones that are based on acetone as it is a better solvent.

Usually though, all solvents used in nail polish removers will have a dehydrating effect on your nails and skin. They can even cause severe irritation to your skin. It is for this reason that it is so important to limit their exposure to these areas by only using enough remover as necessary and being careful to dab remover only on the nail plate.

Another problem with harsh solvents are the fumes they release. Most fumes from solvents used in polish removers will cause undesired effects such as dizziness, confusion, respiratory irritation etc. Some fumes can even damage your eyes with prolonged exposure! This is why it is necessary to use them only in open, well ventilated areas.

Some companies fortunately, have dedicated themselves to developing nail polish removers that are less harsh on the skin, our bodies and our environment. They do this via several methods such as diluting concentrations, developing different solvents and/or finding more natural ones.

Some companies attempt to make polish removers less harsh by using harsh solvents but only in part. They often mix them with re-hydrating oils, vitamins and minerals to help replace the moisture removed by the harsh solvents. To counteract the strong fumes and give a pleasing in bottle appearance, scents and colorings are also often added.

Other companies, such as HoneyBee Gardens, have taken to developing solvents based on more natural ingredients to alleviate the harshness of the regularly used solvents. Corn and Soya (Soy) based nail polish removers have now entered the market. These removers lack the noxious, chemical fumes and the harsh solvents that can dehydrate and irritate the skin.

Since they are based on natural ingredients they are also biodegradable having the ability to be washed out just about anywhere without causing problems to the environment. The only drawback of these natural removers is that they may take a bit longer to remove polish. One product recommends you let the remover sit on your nails for at least two (2) minutes and then rub until all polish has been removed.

To make application more focused and less messy there have also been a variety of delivery methods developed for the use of polish remover. Delivery methods such as singly packaged swabs doused in a removing mixture and foam inserts you can twist your fingers in have become very popular.

Apart from the irritation and harmful fumes factors, some solvents used in polish remover can even be fatal. Acetonitrile that has been used in the past has even been responsible for a few deaths. Read our page on Acetone, Ethyl Acetate and Acetonitrile for more information on this and other pertinent facts as well.

Product recommendations:

We recommend an acetone-free polish remover such as Honeybee Gardens Odorless Nail Polish Remover . This product will drastically limit the drying out effect experienced with other polish removers since it is created with only natural ingredients. As a matter of fact, all HoneyBee Garden products are made from only natural ingredients!

Link back to the Nail Care Supply page from the Nail Polish Remover page