The EU banned gel nail polish. Here are 3 things to know #shorts

Europe just banned gel nail polish.

The highly popular product is worshipped for its ability to create a long-lasting, no-chip manicure. It boasted a market value of nearly $6 billion in 2024.

But the EU banned one of its key ingredients, trimethylbenzoyl diphenylphosphine oxide (or TPO), after it was classified as “carcinogenic, mutagenic, or toxic-to-reproduction" substance.

The EU cited studies that found animals experienced fertility and reproductive health issues after ingesting high levels of TPO.

But people getting a gel manicure don’t ingest TPO, putting them at minimal risk of harmful effects, experts told PBS News.

Why isn’t this banned in the U.S.? EU standards take a hazard-based approach, looking at the intrinsic harm of a chemical or product in isolation. The U.S. takes a risk-based approach, taking into account both the risk and exposure, experts said.

What does this mean for you? Michelle Wong, a chemistry P.h.D and science communicator at Lab Muffin Beauty Science, told PBS News that 1% of TPO is left after curing and if you go into the sun afterwards, the TPO is going to be gone altogether.

But there are risks with at-home gel nail kits, including painting outside of your nails or not curing the paint correctly.

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