Since its launch in 2019, Green Flash™ LED nail polish has revolutionized the gel polish market. But how does it differ from traditional gel polishes? What does it have more of—or rather, what does it leave out? A closer look at an innovative polish formula that eliminated TPO, HEMA and other high-risk substances long before it was required.
What is traditional gel polish?
A polish that had it all going for it
This type of nail 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 form an adhesive, durable film in moments. Thanks to this curing process, semi-permanent nail polish offers longer wear and more shine than regular nail polish. Just the thing for busy customers who don’t want to do their nails every 2 days!
However, over the last few years, gel polish has developed a growing bad reputation. The culprits: harsh removal methods like nail drills or pure acetone that can cause long-term damage to nails. But also (and above all) chemical ingredients classified as risky, which have gradually been banned by European authorities.
Substances banned in Europe
Among these ingredients banned from gel polish formulas are:
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CMR substances (Carcinogenic, Mutagenic or Reprotoxic): toluene, DBP (dibutyl phthalate), formaldehyde, and hydroquinone have long been used in cosmetic formulas for their plasticizing, hardening, or preserving properties. In response to health risks, the EU has introduced increasingly strict regulations on their use, and even banned products containing them. The latest example: starting September 1, 2025, TPO (Trimethylbenzoyl Diphenylphosphine Oxide) is definitively banned in European cosmetics.
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HEMA and DI-HEMA-TMHDC: small molecules in the acrylate or methacrylate chemical family. They help nail polish adhere to the nail, but are also highly reactive, sensitising and volatile. Since September 2021, the sale of semi-permanent nail polishes containing these two molecules to consumers has been banned in European Union countries. Only nail professionals are permitted to use them in salons, subject to certain conditions.
Why is Green Flash™ different?
You may have known about Green Flash™ LED nail polish since its launch in 2019, but the story began much earlier. From the outset, we chose to exclude all controversial molecules and, wherever possible, replace synthetic petrochemical-derived molecules with plant-based ingredients.
Non-sensitising copolymers
No HEMA or DI-HEMA-TMHDC monomers here: you won’t find them in Green Flash™ LED nail polishes. Instead, our formula contains non-sensitising copolymers. They work in 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. They don’t penetrate the skin barrier and therefore don’t cause allergies. Best of all, our copolymers can be removed like regular nail polish, using a gentle acetone-free remover that doesn’t dry out nails. Now that’s a real revolution!
A bio-based nail polish
Another bold choice in developing Green Flash™ nail polish was to replace as many petroleum-derived solvents and plasticisers as possible with plant-based alternatives. That’s how we created a formula that’s up to 84% bio-based. Here are a few examples of how we use ingredients derived from biomass:
- Corn is used to obtain acetyl tributyl citrate, which helps the polish form a smooth, glossy layer.
- Sugar cane provides ethyl acetate, which keeps our polishes fluid and easy to apply.
- Cassava produces butyl acetate, which also keeps the polish fluid and easy to apply.
- Cotton provides nitrocellulose, which gives the polish its durability.
These ingredients aren’t necessarily organically farmed, but they help reduce the product’s carbon footprint, make use of renewable resources and create a biodegradable product with formulations that are gentler on nails.
Your wellbeing is our priority! Green Flash™ is the result of a long development process to replace potentially harmful molecules with alternatives that are safe for your nails. It was a big challenge to create a vegan, bio-based semi-permanent nail polish formula that’s easy to apply and remove, without compromising on shine or wear time. Over the past 5 years, more than 600,000 of you in 30 different countries have chosen Green Flash™: proof that it’s been a resounding success! To try this alternative at home, you can start with a Green Flash™ semi-permanent nail polish kit.