In response to the banned product“micronized silver (powder)” CI77820
, which must be removed from salons by May 1, I came across this post by Doug Schoon
, an independent American scientist specializing in nail products

He writes:

"Silver has recently been classified as toxic to reproduction based on industry data. Once this happens, EU legislation requires regulators to either restrict or ban the ingredient, unless a very specific exemption is granted."

And that’s exactly the point. Only certain uses were deemed acceptable and allowed to remain. This is NOT just about nail polish. Silver pigment is used in many types of nail products, including:

• traditional nail polish

• UV and LED gel polish

• acrylic powders

• dipping systems

• builder gels and hard gels with a metallic finish

• chrome powders and nail art pigments

• decorative nail polishes

Here's the problem: lipstick and eyeshadow can continue to use this ingredient, but nail products are not included.
How logical is that?

If scientific data show that safe use is possible in lip products—which come into direct contact with the mouth—and in products for the eye area, then that same data should certainly support their use on the nail plate. Nail coatings are applied to a hard layer of keratin and involve a completely different type of exposure. Isn’t that obvious?

There is no clear biological reason why use on the nail would pose a greater risk. This decision was not based on risks in the salon, but on how the safety data was applied. As far as we can tell, the data supporting safety came from a supplier that focuses on skincare products, not nail products. That is not a criticism of that company: they were defending their own markets. But that is where the EU system falls short.

If the scientific data were robust enough to demonstrate safe use on the lips and around the eyes, they should also have been sufficient to support its use in nail products. Yet that same data was applied only very limitedly, and nail products were excluded from consideration.

This leads to a conclusion that science does NOT seem to support. If an ingredient is considered safe in situations involving greater exposure, there should be a clear explanation as to why it would not be safe for nail products. That explanation is currently lacking.

And this isn’t just about one ingredient. We’re seeing this happen again with other substances used in nail products. Everyone in this industry should be concerned about this. 

In response to the posts I shared about the issue surrounding silver pigment, someone asked what nail technicians can do about this ongoing problem—and that’s a very valid question. Nail technicians can’t directly change EU regulations, but they can make their voices heard in ways that matter.

The key people or organizations to contact are:

• Your country's cosmetics regulatory authority (the body responsible for enforcing EU cosmetics regulations)
• Your Member of the European Parliament (MEP)
• The European Commission via its public feedback system

You don't need to write a complicated letter. Just say something like:

“Why weren’t nail products included in the safety assessment for this ingredient, even though it is still permitted in lipstick and eye products?”

If enough professionals ask the same question, regulators will have to respond. The reality is this: if the nail industry remains silent, decisions will be made without its input. But when many professionals speak out clearly and consistently, it gets noticed.

"So yes, there's definitely something you can do. Start by asking the right questions of the right people."

According to Doug Schoon
(if you'd like to read more of his articles, check out Doug Schoon's Brain or Facebook)

Would you like to know what this means for you as a Bio Sculpture Nail Stylist?
Read more here ..