WHAT IS IT? Phthalates, besides being a mouthful to pronounce, are a class of chemicals used to make products or fragrance stick to your skin, hair and nails. These harmful substances are found in synthetic fragrance, hairspray, deodorant and nail polish.

HEALTH RISK: Phthalates are sneaky endocrine disruptors, which means they mimic the body’s hormones, therefore throwing the entire endocrine system off balance. They cause both hormonal and neurological damage, and in the case of pregnant women, may also cause major birth defects. The worst part? You will rarely find the word “phthalates” on a label.

WHAT TO DO: Some products do market themselves as phthalate-free, but what about the other slew of synthetics on our department store’s beauty shelf? You can identify phthalates by their abbreviated chemical components: DBP (di-n-butyl phthalate), DEP (diethyl phthalate), DMP (dimethyl phthalate), DEHP (di-2-ethylhexyl), and BzBP (benzylbutyl phthalate).

NON-TOXIC ALTERNATIVES TO TRY: We adore dressing up our nails with butter LONDON‘s line of non-toxic polish. And when it comes to a  night out on the town, we turn to Intelligent Nutrients to set our mane in place.