Since its launch in 2019, Green Flash™ LED polish has revolutionised the gel polish market. But how is it different from traditional gel polishes? What does it have that they don’t, or rather, what doesn’t it have? A closer look at an innovative polish formula that excluded TPO, HEMA and other risky substances long before it was required.
What is traditional gel polish?
A polish that seemed to have it all
This type of polish emerged around 2011 as an alternative to coloured gels and false nails. It is made by mixing acrylic gel and nail polish and reacts under a UV or LED lamp to create an adhesive, resistant film in just a few moments. Thanks to this curing process, gel polish offers better staying power and shine than a classic nail polish. Ideal for busy people who don’t want to redo their nails every two days!
But in recent years, gel polish has been getting an increasingly bad reputation. The reasons: harsh removal methods such as electric nail drills or acetone, which can cause lasting damage to nails. But also (and above all) chemical ingredients that are classed as hazardous and have gradually been banned by the European authorities.
Substances banned in Europe
Among the ingredients now banned from gel polish formulas are:
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Substances classed as CMR (Carcinogenic, Mutagenic or Reprotoxic): toluene, DBP (dibutyl phthalate), formaldehyde and hydroquinone were long used in cosmetic formulas for their plasticising, hardening or preserving properties. Given the health risks they pose, the EU has introduced increasingly strict regulations on their use, even going as far as banning products that contain them. The most recent example: from 1 September 2025, TPO (Trimethylbenzoyl Diphenylphosphine Oxide) is permanently banned in European cosmetics.
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HEMA and DI-HEMA-TMHDC: small molecules belonging to the acrylate or methacrylate chemical family. They are responsible for the polish adhering to the nail, but they are also highly reactive, sensitising and volatile. Since September 2021, the sale of gel polishes containing these two molecules to consumers has been banned in European Union countries. Only nail professionals are allowed to use them, in salons and under certain conditions.
Why is Green Flash™ different?
You may have known Green Flash™ LED polish since its launch in 2019, but the adventure began much earlier. From the very start of its development, we chose to exclude all controversial molecules and to replace petrochemical synthetic molecules with plant-based ingredients wherever possible.
Non-sensitising copolymers
Say goodbye to HEMA monomers and DI-HEMA-TMHDC: you won’t find them in Green Flash™ LED polishes. In their place, our formula contains non-sensitising copolymers. They work the same way: under UV light, they bond together to form a network and, just like that, your polish is dry!
Larger than HEMA and DI-HEMA-TMHDC molecules, our copolymers are non-sensitising and non-volatile, and they don’t penetrate the skin barrier, so they don’t cause allergies. Above all, our copolymers come off just like a classic nail polish, with a gentle acetone-free remover that doesn’t dry out your nails. And that’s a real revolution!
A bio-based polish
Another bold choice in the design of Green Flash™ polish: replacing petroleum-based solvents and plasticisers with plant-based alternatives as much as possible. That’s how we created a formula that is up to 84% bio-based. Here are a few examples of how we use ingredients derived from biomass:
- Corn is the source of acetyl tributyl citrate, which allows the polish to form a smooth, glossy layer.
- Sugar cane provides ethyl acetate, which helps our polishes glide on smoothly and makes them easy to apply.
- Cassava produces butyl acetate, which also thins the polish and makes it easier to apply.
- Cotton provides nitrocellulose, which gives the polish its strength.
These ingredients don’t necessarily come from organic farming, but they allow us to reduce the product’s carbon footprint, use renewable resources and offer a biodegradable product with formulas that are kinder to your nails.
Your wellbeing is our priority! So naturally, Green Flash™ is the result of a long development process to replace risky molecules with alternatives that are safe for your nails. It was quite a challenge to create a vegan, bio-based gel polish formula that is easy to apply and remove, without compromising on shine or staying power. Over the past five years, more than 600,000 of you in 30 countries have chosen Green Flash™: proof that the gamble has well and truly paid off! To try this alternative at home, you can start with a Green Flash™ gel polish starter kit.
