The Truth About Free-From Nail Product Marketing & Allergies

As someone deeply embedded in the professional nail and product industry, I saw firsthand how claims from freedom influence purchase decisions without a clear understanding of what they actually mean. In this blog, I would like to break down these claims, the science behind allergens, and why critical thinking is beneficial and transparent when assessing these marketing trends.

Understanding the “freedom” claim in the nail industry

The idea behind the branding of “Free -Frot -Frote” is simple. By excluding certain ingredients that are considered harmful or allergic, companies suggest that their products are safer or healthier. A typical example is:

But the real question is, were these ingredients a real concern for most users, or were they smart marketing?

And don’t overlook the pressures that are applied in reverse to companies to participate in the “formation and marketing claims” and marketing claims that “give people what they want.” It’s a double-edged sword and no one seems to have won.

Allergen Science: Everything is a potential allergen

One of the biggest misconceptions about “Free frot” marketing is the assumption that the product will be safer without certain ingredients. The truth is that All substances can cause an allergic reaction.

for example:

• Lavender oil – Not only are natural ingredients commonly used for “natural” beauty, but also known skin allergens are used.
• nuts – It’s completely natural, but fatal for people with severe allergies.
• water – Even water can cause irritating contact dermatitis (ICD) with overexposure.

However, the brand does not see it selling gel as “free of lavender or nuts.” This selective marketing is based on fear, not fact.

Acrylates are everywhere: household products and daily exposure

Acrylates, especially those that are the villains in nail products, are not unique to the nail industry. Many of these chemicals are found in Daily Home and Industrial Productsbut no one is in a hurry to remove them from those applications.

for example:

• Ethylene Glycol Dimethacrylate (EGDMA) – Used in plastic bottles for soft drinks, dental materials, printing inks, anti-automatic fluids, and engine coolant.
• Methyl methacrylate (MMA) – Although used in medical prosthetics, dental and industrial applications, nails are used in the form of liquid monomers in some countries due to misuse.
• Hydroxypropyl methacrylate (HPMA) – Included in medical grade adhesives, contact lenses and of course nail coatings.
• Tetrahydrofurfuryl methacrylate (THFMA) – Used in dental materials, artificial nails, 3D printing, but flagged due to its potential allergic effects.
• Propylene Glycol Monomethacrylate (PGMA) – Found in adhesives, cosmetics and medical devices, but rarely allergens are discussed despite known.
• Trimethylolpropane triacrylate (TMPTA) – Multifunctional acrylic acid monomers used in UV feeding coatings, adhesives and inks, like other acrylic acid salts, can cause skin sensitization and allergic reactions in some individuals.
• Benzyl Methacrylate – Used in artificial nail products, dental materials and medical devices. It contributes to the durability of polymer formulations, but like other methacrylates, it can cause allergic reactions in sensitive individuals.

This raises an important question. Why does the nail industry respond to trends in all ingredients when these chemicals are safely used in other industries that do not have high hysteria?

Stimulants vs allergens: Know the difference in safety of nail technology

Another important point that is often ignored in these discussions is the difference between allergens and irritants. Not everything about the ingredients in sound is an allergen. If used inappropriate or high concentrations it is simply irritant.

for example:

• Ethyl acetate – A common solvent for nail polish and remoters, classified as irritants rather than allergens.
• acetone – A widely used solvent that is well known for nail products, which can overexpose skin and respiratory irritation but is not classified as an allergen.
• Methacrylic Acid (MAA) – An important organic ingredient used to maximize the adhesion between the nail and the artificial coating. It is highly reactive and can cause skin and respiratory irritation upon direct exposure. It is not considered a strong allergen, but it is certainly a strong irritant.

So where are we drawing the line? Do we choose to remove all potential allergens, regardless of context, and live in fear? Or are we simply waiting for the next ingredient panic to be dictated to us?

Hema controversy: ingredients swapping or real advances?

One of the biggest changes in components we have seen in recent years is the demonization of hema (hydroxyethyl methacrylate). The repulsion against HEMA, which was initially flagged by some users’ allergic reactions, has led to an increase in HEMA-free alternatives using IBOA (isobornyl acrylate) and HPMA (hydroxypropyl methacrylate). But now we are looking at the same cycle. These replacement ingredients are beginning to come into play…

This raises an important point. Are you actually making your product safer, or are you just playing an endless game of ingredients swapping?

The truth is that acrylate or methacrylic acid-based systems pose a potential risk of allergies. The real solution focuses not only on removing materials, but also on proper education, safe applications, and correct handling.

I worked with, processed and discussed the formulation for over 20 years before panic, before quick fix courses, and before constant facial marketing. I’m all looking for growth, knowledge, awareness, but I often wonder: how did you get here? And will we never find a way out?

Critical Thinking: What are nail products? Really free?

Every time I was asked, “What is the best free brand?” My go-to response is: “I can tell you that it’s not free.”

Next, we list random natural allergens (slaves, pollen, nuts) and go home to the point that freedom is less secure. Often this causes a “light bulb moment.” Here, experts understand how flawed this approach is.

All I’ve had is pushback so far from people who belong to brands that sell like 10 copies. They insisted that I could not dismiss anything I didn’t understand. I made it clear I’m not misunderstood. Simply refuse to support misleading marketing designed to manipulate professionals and consumers for the benefit. The silence continued.

Real Conversation: Use and Applications of Safe Nail Products

Instead of fixing it Things that our products don’t haveyou need to shift the conversation to How to use them safely and effectively. In other words,

• Proper ventilation and extraction at the salon.
• Wear gloves.
• Keeps your workspace, equipment and product bottles clean and free of residue.
• Suitable applications to minimize skin contact.
• Educate experts (and clients) on real safety concerns, rather than fear-based marketing.

There should always be a goal Education supported by science rather than chasing the next “bad” element.

reference

1. DERMNET NZ (nd) Acrylic acid allergies. Available at: https://dermnetnz.org/topics/allergy-to-acrylate (Accessed: 04/03/25).
2. Steunebrink, Im, de Groot, A. and Rustemeyer, T. (2024) “Contacting allergies to acrylate-containing nail cosmetics: a retrospective 8-year study,” Please contact dermatitis90 (3), pp. 262–265. Available at: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38093676/ (Accessed: 03/03/25)
3. National Medical Library (nd) Tetrahydrofurfuryl methacrylate – GHS classification. Available at: https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/tetrahydrofurfuryl-methacrylate#section = ghs-classification (Accessed: 04/03/25).
4. British Dermatologists Association (2018) Dermatologists warn about the UK’s artificial nail allergy epidemic. Available at: https://www.bad.org.uk/dermatologists-issue-warning-about-uk- artificial-nail-allergy-epidemic/ (Accessed: 28/02/25).
5. DERMNET NZ (nd) Allergy to propylene glycol. Available at: https://dermnetnz.org/topics/contact-allergy-to-popylene-glycol (Accessed: 28/02/25).
6. Wen, L., Zhang, X., Wang, M., Wang, W., Gao, Y. and Zhang, J. (2017) “The effect of propylene glycol monomethacrylate on human allergic reactions: a systematic review,” Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology140 (2), pp. 500–507. Available at: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28656588/ (Accessed: 07/03/25)
7. New Jersey Department of Health (nd) Right to know about fact sheets of harmful substances: acetone. Available at: https://nj.gov/health/eoh/rtkweb/documents/fs/0841.pdf (Accessed: 05/03/25).
8. Liu, X. Etal. (2023) “Occupational exposure to acrylates and related health risks,” Environmental health perspective. Available at: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/pmc9823182/ (Accessed: 05/03/25).
9. British Government (2022) Acetone: General Information. Available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/acetone-properties-and-incident-management/acetone-general-nformation (Accessed: 04/02/25).
10. Fowler, JF Junior (2006) “Acrylic acid allergy in nail cosmetics,” Dermatitis17(2), pp. 57-60. Available at: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/16596768/ (Accessed: 28/02/25).
11. Toxic Substance Management Department (2024) Methyl methacrylate from nail products. Available at: https://dtsc.ca.gov/wp-content/uploads/sites/31/2024/10/profile_methylate-methacrylate-in-nail-products_final.pdf (Accessed: 05/03/25).
12. National Medical Library (2021) Acrylic acid allergies and occupational exposure. Available at: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/pmc8501444/ (Accessed: 09/03/25).
13. European Chemical Organization (nd) Benzyl Methacrylate – Material Information. Available at: https://echa.europa.eu/substance-nformation/-/substanceinfo/100.017.887#:~:..text=warning! Irtory%20irritation. &Text = This%20Substance%20is%20isistered%20under, Industrial%20sites%20and%20in%20Manufacturing (Accessed: 09/03/25).