• 2 - 5 June 2025
  • Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre

Sustainability and Non-toxic Formulas in Nail Art

By Xiao Qing, 8 January 2025

The transformation of the nail care market reflects a broader trend in the beauty industry—one that champions innovation, sustainability, and ethical practices.
Since the advent of the digital age, the nail care market has expanded rapidly in recent years, with the rise of social media driving demand for nail care services and products. Additionally, the popularity of nail art has a great influence on social media influencers and celebrity endorsements. According to a report by Transparency Market Research, the nail care market is projected to reach US$23.6 billion by 2034, driven by the growth of nail colour and nail treatments (Transparency Market Research, n.d.). In this context, customers are increasingly experimenting with more complex finishes, colours, textures, and designs, pushing the boundaries of creativity in nail art. However, despite the growing diversity and innovation in nail art, nail products are not an invention in recent years. In earlier decades, traditional nail products often contained toxic ingredients and released irritating smells due to their chemical composition, such as nail polishes, removers and glue. These products prioritised performance and durability over safety, leading to the widespread use of harmful substances like toluene, formaldehyde and dibutyl phthalate (DBP), which can pose health risks to users and have negative environmental impacts. These hazardous chemicals not only pose risks to consumers but have also raised significant concerns in recent decades about the health of nail salon workers, who face excessive exposure to known toxicants in nail polish formulations. The high levels of exposure that nail salon employees face at work also cause endocrine disruption, increase the risk of cancer, and damage the reproductive and developmental systems (Berkeley Center for Green Chemistry, 2020).
In response to these challenges, non-toxic formulas are rapidly becoming industry standards, and cosmetic companies have been moving away from the use of petroleum-based solvents, phthalates, and other harmful chemicals in nail polish compositions. As an example, many brands now offer “5-free,” or even “10-free,” formulas that exclude the most common toxic ingredients, which means free of five common harmful chemicals or eliminate ten potentially toxic ingredients in nail art product development. Hence, individuals sensitive to strong chemical odours or low-odour polishes will have a more comfortable application experience. These shifts not only transform the way customers choose products but also comply with worker health enhancement. On the other hand, one innovative example of sustainability in nail art is the use of zein, a protein derived from corn, in nail polish formulations, where it is combined as a film-former with ethanol or isopropanol as a solvent and ATBC as a plasticizer in a zein-based formulation (Berkeley Center for Green Chemistry, 2020). This innovation not only promotes a safer, more environmentally friendly beauty routine, but it also helps to further the industry’s argument for environmentally friendly materials. In short, the transformation of the nail care market reflects a broader trend in the beauty industry—one that champions innovation, sustainability, and ethical practices. As the sector continues to expand, these advancements not only address evolving consumer preferences but also set the stage for a safer and more responsible future in beauty.

Want to Stay Updated on the Latest Beauty Industry Trends?

The International Beauty Expo (IBE) is making its grand return in June 2025 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia! Bringing together exhibitors from around the world, the event will showcase cutting-edge beauty products, technologies, and trends. It’s the perfect platform for industry professionals and beauty enthusiasts to exchange ideas and explore opportunities.

 

Stay tuned for more details on our website: https://ibe.my

Reference:

Transparency Market Research. (n.d.). Nail care market – Global industry analysis, size, share, growth, trends, and forecast 2023-2034. Transparency Market Research. Retrieved December 26, 2024, from https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/nail-care-market.html

 

Berkeley Center for Green Chemistry. (2020). Greener solutions: Safer nail polish alternatives. University of California, Berkeley. Retrieved December 26, 2024, from https://bcgc.berkeley.edu/sites/default/files/copy_of_greener_solutions_nail_polish_final_report.pdf