When it comes to nails, it's hard not to cover them in colorful polish to show them off. However, it's important to make responsible decisions to ensure that our vanity doesn't have harmful affects on ourselves, those around us or the planet on which we live.

The List

Here are 7 very convincing reasons to choose non-toxic polish every time you paint.

1. Your Health

Nail polish is full of chemicals that have been found to be harmful to people, including Dibutyl Phthalate (DBP) which has been shown to cause cancer & Toluene, a nervous system toxin. Unless you opt for a more natural choice you are unnecessarily exposing yourself to dangerous ingredients.

2. The Environment

The chemicals above are just some of the ingredients that go into nail polish and if they are bad for us there is no question that they are bad for the environment. Consider how polish is made & just how toxic the process must be to the areas surrounding factories that produce it.

3. No Smell

Perhaps the worst part of nail polish is that overpowering aroma, a scent that is so strong using it in an enclosed space is a headache in the making. That smell (& the resulting headache) is from the chemicals it contains. Polish made from natural ingredients is odor (and headache) free.

4. Let the Kids Play

With all of the chemicals in conventional nail polish, it's pretty obvious that children shouldn't be allowed anywhere near them. Sadly, cosmetics are marketed to our youth and most little girls want colorful nails. Our own health aside, children should be given options that don't expose them to danger.

5. Critters Everywhere

Frankly it's pretty amazing what some people will put on their bodies in the name of beauty, but Thumper shouldn't have to test it for them. Chemicals must be tested on animals before people can use them & beauty products are among the worst offenders. There is nothing pretty about something that has caused pain, opt for polishes that don't contain chemicals and lacquer up guilt-free.

6. Hazardous Waste

Did you know that nail polish must be disposed of as hazardous household waste like other types of house paints & solvents? It's true, old polish bottles should never be tossed in the garbage, the ingredients pollute the ground under landfills. Check with your local waste unit to learn how nail polish must be disposed of in your area.

7. Your Nails

With everything you've just learned about nail polish, what do you think your nails would choose to wear? Many of the conventional polishes & treatments may actually dry your nails out & make them brittle with repeated use. You know how your nails go yellow if you don't take a break from polishing? That's probably your nails way of saying, 'stop coating me with poison!'

Convinced Yet?

Given the reasons above & the many natural options out there, it's really a no-brainer. Not choosing your polish responsibly is almost criminal (& really winds up being more work in the end). Choosing more natural cosmetic options helps keep our planet & all it's critters looking pretty too.