What nail polish should a pregnant woman choose?

Which nail polish to choose for a pregnant woman?

Is it possible to wear nail polish while pregnant? The answer is yes, it is absolutely possible to wear nail polish during pregnancy. However, you shouldn't use just any kind. So, which nail polish should a pregnant woman choose? Follow the guide!

Avoid nail polishes with undesirable ingredients

Clever Beauty natural nail polishes safe for pregnant women

First of all, let's look at the nail polishes you should absolutely avoid.

Most traditional nail polishes contain toxic substances, such as endocrine disruptors, phthalates, toluene, formaldehyde, and other products suspected of being both harmful to the (future) mother and a risk to the future baby.

What exactly is the problem? The nails, but also the skin, do not block these substances, which penetrate the body, the bloodstream, and therefore also the placenta. Although the placenta acts as a filter, it cannot prevent all substances from passing through. Thus, there is always a risk for the baby.

Let's go into a little more detail. Regarding endocrine disruptors, their structure is similar to the hormones produced by the body, so they can interfere with their function.

As for phthalates, it is likely that they increase the risk of prematurity, influence the baby's weight (it is lower at birth), or, in the long term, be responsible for early puberty in girls and genital malformations in boys.

Toluene, for its part, increases the risk of miscarriage, can cause skeletal malformations, and lead to nervous system dysfunction.

And there is also formaldehyde, often used as a hardener, which has been recognized as a carcinogen.

As for other substances, they are perceived as potentially harmful, but their use is authorized or regulated up to a certain percentage in the composition.

In short, nothing very joyful...

So, which substances in nail polishes should pregnant women avoid?

For a green manicure, avoid:

  • formaldehyde (formol);
  • formaldehyde;
  • toluene;
  • colophony;
  • styrene;
  • xylene;
  • dibutyl phthalate;
  • paraben;
  • camphor;
  • and benzophenone.

However, you will realize that by sorting through your bathroom or looking in stores, the choice quickly becomes limited, because unfortunately many nail polishes contain these types of components...

Please note that you will not find nail polishes specifically for pregnant women, but natural nail polishes are perfectly suitable and safe for baby!

Prioritize natural nail polishes

Natural Nail Polish #11 Confident, safe for pregnant women

During pregnancy, "natural" nail polishes will be your allies. But what is special about them?

Well, they don't contain these problematic substances. You'll also notice this with the mention "3 free," "5 free," or "10 free" (in fact, all our nail polishes are "10 free").

Let's take the example of Clever Beauty nail polishes, which are particularly recommended if you are pregnant.

They are composed of:

  • bio-sourced solvents derived from natural raw materials such as cotton, corn, cassava, sugarcane, or even potato;
  • other ingredients that provide particular properties to the nail polishes (durian to strengthen nail keratin; red fruits for better nail resistance to aggressions; green tea to purify and soften the skin; or avocado to nourish cuticles).

These green nail polishes therefore contain none of the elements listed above, but their little extra is that they are also anti-waste! They have a glass bottle and a cap designed to recover the bottom of the container and limit product loss. This allows you to gain 20% more product compared to most other nail polishes. You need to apply a small pressure on the top of the anti-waste cap - the Click & Finish - when it is unscrewed, in order to extend the brush and collect the remaining nail polish.

Other important information: the nail polishes are made in France and are vegan (they contain no animal-derived substances and have not been tested on animals).

Note that you can just as well wear nail polish during and after pregnancy, but, of course, natural nail polish!

Choose nail polishes adapted to your needs

During pregnancy, your nails may become soft and brittle.

Therefore, depending on your needs, you can opt for:

Don't hesitate to check out other nail polishes whose colors and properties might match your desires and expectations to take care of your nails even during your pregnancy.

A quick note: also keep in mind that diet plays a big part. Make sure it provides beneficial components for your nails, even if it means taking food supplements (brewer's yeast, vitamin B, etc.), but always on the recommendation of your gynecologist.

Opt for a good nail polish remover

👉 The best: Clever Beauty natural nail polish remover

And don't neglect nail polish removers either!

Because these products are also not exempt from toxic substances, especially acetone. Given that this compound is very volatile, it is impossible not to breathe its fumes - even if the room is very well ventilated - and its molecules can then reach the placenta. However, these have a harmful impact on the nervous system of adults as well as on that of babies.

We advise you to opt for a natural nail polish remover enriched with castor oil and without acetone to avoid drying out the cuticles.

Take precautions

We also wanted to give you other tips, because choosing the right nail polish isn't everything. Using nail polish during pregnancy, yes, but you still need to take a few precautions.

Space out the frequency with which you apply nail polish; ideally, it should remain occasional. And don't leave your nail polish on for too long (one or two days ideally). Plus, remember that you can have a beautiful manicure without necessarily going through the step of applying nail polish.

Always ventilate the room, even several minutes after applying the nail polish. You can even wear a mask.

Avoid beauty salons that use too many chemicals to protect yourself from inhaling toxic products and from being exposed to UV lamps. But if you insist, ask to see the products they use. You can find a list of our partner salons near you who have chosen to use healthier products.

Remove your nail polish before any operation during your pregnancy or before childbirth. Why? Because during anesthesia (epidural, C-section, or in case of general anesthesia), sensors are placed on the tip of each finger. However, the thickness of the nail polish can alter their proper functioning, and they then send false data about your heart rate, blood pressure, or oxygen saturation.

If you are a breastfeeding mother, note that the first three tips are also recommended after the baby arrives.

We hope this guide for safely varnishing your nails has been valuable and will make your pregnancy more serene! :)

And you? Do you continue or did you continue to apply nail polish while pregnant? What other cosmetics do you pay attention to?

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