Article: The TPO Ban: What It Really Means for Your Gel Nails (Spoiler: You're Fine)
The TPO Ban: What It Really Means for Your Gel Nails (Spoiler: You're Fine)
Ingredient Education • Nail Science
Let’s cut through the noise and explain what’s actually going on with TPO and why your gel manicures are still safe.
Let's Talk About That EU Ban Everyone's Panicking About
If you've been anywhere near nail Instagram lately, you've probably seen the drama. “Is gel polish toxic now?” “Should I throw out all my gels?” “Are my nails going to fall off?”
Deep breath, nail lovers. Let's cut through the hysteria and talk facts about TPO — the ingredient that's causing all this fuss.
What Even Is TPO?
TPO (short for the tongue-twister Diphenyl(2,4,6-trimethylbenzoyl)phosphine oxide) is a photoinitiator. In human speak? It's the ingredient that makes your gel polish actually cure under your lamp.
Think of TPO as the magic that happens when your liquid gel transforms into that rock-hard, glossy finish. Without photoinitiators like TPO, you'd be sitting under that lamp forever, waiting for your polish to dry like it's 1995.
It's been safely used in gel polish for years, at tiny concentrations, doing exactly what it's supposed to do — making your mani bulletproof.
Why Is the EU Banning TPO? (The Plot Twist)
Here's where things get interesting — and by interesting, we mean scientifically questionable.
The EU based their entire ban on animal feeding studies. Yes, you read that right. They fed rats massive amounts of pure TPO. By mouth. Every day. For extended periods.
- You don’t eat your gel polish (we hope)
- The amount of TPO in gel polish is minuscule
- Your polish sits on your nail plate, not in your body
- The doses given to these rats were astronomically higher than any human exposure
At these extreme oral doses, some reproductive effects were observed in the rats. So the EU decided to ban it entirely — a “better safe than sorry” approach that completely ignores how nail products are actually used.
It's like banning cars because drinking a litre of petrol would be harmful. The logic doesn't quite track, does it?
Why TPO Is Still Allowed Literally Everywhere Else
While the EU is having its moment, the rest of the world — including Australia, the US, Canada, the UK, and Asia — continues to allow TPO in cosmetics at safe levels of 5% or less.
Why? Because these countries looked at the actual science:
- Real-world usage: TPO at ≤5% in gel polish is considered completely safe
- Minimal exposure: The gel sits on your nail plate (which is dead cells), not absorbed into your body
- Extensive safety data: Years of industry assessments back the safety of these concentrations
- Proportional response: They assess risk based on actual use, not force-feeding pure chemicals
What This Means for Your Ezmio Gels
The short version: Absolutely nothing changes for you.
- Our products remain fully compliant in Australia and internationally (outside the EU)
- We use TPO at safe, regulated levels (way below 5%)
- We're always monitoring ingredient regulations worldwide
- If any ingredients become restricted here, we'll be ahead of the curve with reformulations
You can continue using your Ezmio gels with complete confidence.
Meet the Expert Who's Calling Out This Ban
Doug Schoon isn't just any industry expert — he's the expert. With over 30 years of experience as one of the most respected scientific researchers and educators in the nail industry, Doug literally wrote the book on nail product chemistry.
He specialises in:
- The science behind nail products
- How ingredients actually work
- How safety testing should be conducted
- How regulations should be applied
Doug is the person the entire industry turns to for breaking down complex science into clear, accurate explanations. And he's not happy about this ban.
Why Leading Scientists Disagree with the EU
In his open letter to the European Commission, Doug Schoon explains why leading experts in the nail field strongly disagree with the EU's decision to completely ban TPO.
- Hazard vs. Risk: The EU looked only at hazard (could this ingredient theoretically cause harm?) without considering risk (what’s the actual chance of harm in real use?)
- Irrelevant testing methods: Feeding rats pure chemicals doesn’t reflect putting polish on your nails
- Ignoring exposure levels: The dose makes the poison — water can kill you if you drink too much
- Disproportionate response: A total ban based on unrealistic scenarios
It's like banning peanut butter because some people have allergies, or banning sunshine because you could theoretically get burned. The approach doesn't match the actual risk.
The Bottom Line: Your Nails Are Safe
- ✔️ TPO has been safely used in gel polish for years
- ✔️ At the concentrations used in nail products (≤5%), it’s considered safe
- ✔️ The EU ban is based on unrealistic testing that doesn’t reflect actual use
- ✔️ Australia and the rest of the world continue to recognise TPO as safe
- ✔️ Your Ezmio gels remain perfectly safe to use
What We're Doing About It
- Continuously monitoring global regulations
- Working with formulators on alternatives (just in case)
- Staying connected with industry experts like Doug Schoon
- Keeping you informed with facts, not fear
The Real Talk
Look, we get it. When you see “banned” and “nail polish” in the same sentence, it's natural to worry. But this isn't a case of discovering something dangerous — it's a case of regulatory overcaution based on irrelevant testing.
Your gel manicures are safe. Your nail health isn't at risk. The only thing that's changed is that EU customers will need different formulations, while the rest of the world continues as normal with the scientifically-backed safety standards.
So go ahead, book that nail appointment. Apply that fresh set. Your Ezmio gels are as safe today as they were yesterday, and they'll be safe tomorrow too.
Because we believe in science, not scaremongering. And science says your nails are absolutely fine.
Want to Dive Deeper?
Doug Schoon's full letter to the European Commission breaks down exactly why this ban doesn't make scientific sense. Stay informed, stay confident, and most importantly — stay polished.
Questions About Ingredients or Safety? We're Here.
Questions about ingredients or safety? We're always here to chat. Because transparency isn't just trendy — it's how we've always done business.
```
