Gorgeous Color Without Common Ingredients?  #nailedit

Fact: Nails are porous and can absorb some chemicals.
Fact: Traditional nail products are often full of ingredients that are drying and damaging.
FACT: At AILA, we provide healthy alternatives to traditional nail products.

AILA nail lacquers are Vegan, Cruelty-free, and Gluten-free.

Typical nail polish contains chemicals that are damaging to nails like:

Parabens: Parabens prevent growth of fungus, yeast, molds and bacteria in cosmetics. They appear in deodorants, antiperspirants and any cosmetic with significant water such as shampoos, conditioners, lotions, facial washes / scrubs and body washes. They are estrogen agonists (meaning they mimic estrogen hormone in the body), and can bind to the cellular estrogen receptor. Estrogen is a hormone that gives information to the cells in our bodies. The cells use this information in development and cellular behavior. If the message is disrupted by the paraben mimicker, the cell may develop improperly or behave in a way the cell should not behave. Breast cancer tumors have been found to have high levels of certain forms of parabens - particularly in the underarm area of the breast. There is no proven link between parabens and breast cancer, but it is certainly concerning.
Sulfates:  Sulfates are surfactants that, when added to cleansing agents, improve their cleaning ability. The major concern with sulfates is that they cause irritation of the skin, which is why they are being removed from many cosmetics, beauty products and cleansing products.
Formaldehyde: Formaldehyde has been commonly used in nail hardeners and nail polish despite being classified as a known carcinogen by the US National Toxicology Program. It is also used as a tissue fixative and an embalming agent.
Formaldehyde Resin: A synthetic polymer used in circuit boards and molded products such as pool balls and coatings and adhesives.
Camphor: Camphor is another chemical used in the embalming process but also has applications as a plasticizer for nitrocellulose and in fireworks. It is highly flammable and toxic even in small doses.
Toluene: An organic solvent with the ability to dissolve paint, rubber, ink, adhesive, lacquers, among other products. It is frequently employed as an octane booster for internal combustion systems.
Dibutyl phthalate (DBP): DBP is a plasticizer and a common additive to adhesives. It is suspected that DBP may disrupt the endocrine system and has been restricted from use in cosmetics by the European Union.
Triphenol phosphate (TPHP): TPHP is a plasticizer and flame retardant. It was given low priority for testing after approval in 1910 because it caused minimal skin irritation and mild irritation to the eyes. It has been used in nail polish to make the product less flammable and improve adherence of the polish to the nail. TPHP is an endocrine disruptor, which means it can disrupt the messaging to your cells, telling them to change or to behave in ways that the body would not normally signal them to behave. It was found to absorb through the nails in statistically significant amounts (reference study here).
Xylene: Xylene is an aromatic hydrocarbon used for tissue processing and staining in histology labs and a solvent in the printing, rubber, paint and leather industries. Toxicity occurs with over exposure to xylene through inhalation, ingestion and eye or skin contact. It can dissolve the natural protective oils of the skin and the nails.
Bismuth oxychloride: Bismuth oxychloride is a naturally occurring mineral used a colorant in cosmetics. It provides an iridescent or shiny effect in nail polishes. Toxicity only arises in the form of skin irritation of certain people. Bismuth oxychloride is sometimes derived from animal sources and therefore not used in AILA products.
Ethyl tosylamide: Ethyl tosylamide is a plasticizer and film-former in nail polish. It has been banned by the EU due to its antimicrobial activity but is not considered unsafe for humans.
Methylisothiazolinone (MIT):  MIT is a chemical preservative similar to parabens that is added to cosmetics to prolong the shelf life. It can cause irritation to skin, eyes and lungs.
Hydroquinone Monomethyl Ether (MEHQ): MEHQ prevents curing of acrylics and detergents in gel polish and can cause skin irritation.
Gluten: Gluten is a wheat derivative that is linked to leaky gut and autoimmune disease like hypo/hyper-thyroid due to a phenomenon called 'molecular mimicry'. Gluten closely resembles the thyroid tissue in the body. As our immune system attacks the gluten molecule it can become confused by 'molecular mimicry' and attack the thyroid tissue instead. A concise article by Dr. Amy Myers, MD is linked here.
Fragrance: All nail polishes produce some sort of odor. AILA does not add additional fragrance to our products. Each fragrance is a chemical or a mixture of multiple chemicals. Cosmetic companies are not required to list the ingredients of fragrances added to their products and are therefore not fully transparent. 
Animal derivatives: We love our animal friends too much to use them in our products!

Feel Beautiful. Stay Healthy. #loveAILA

PRIME Base Coat with Garlic Strengtheners

Why you should use a base coat: 
One of the most frequent mistakes women make when applying nail polish is not using a base coat or primer prior to applying the lacquer. When nail polish is applied directly to the nail, the nail absorbs the pigment in the polish causing yellow staining of the nail plate. These stains are frequently mistaken for nail fungus. Nail primer prevents these stains from developing, helping nails retain their natural color. 'Prime' acts as a kind of double-sided sticky tape, adhering the nail on one side and the lacquer color on the other side. It protects the lacquer color from the natural oils on the skin surrounding the nail, and sustains the length of the manicure.

At AILA Cosmetics, we not only want to protect the nail, but also enhance nail health. Our nail primer is infused with garlic, which has been touted for centuries as having significant nail strengthening and health benefits due to high levels of Allicin, Sulphur, Zinc, Calcium and Selenium. Allicin has anti-fungal properties, which help protect the nail from fungal infestation. Apply ‘Prime’ to your nails prior to lacquer color application to prevent nail yellowing, and protect your nails from fungus. 

3-in-1 Soy-Based Remover with Pure Argan Oil

Why it’s important to use a

plant-based remover:

Nail polish remover is typically classified as acetone or non-acetone, but both of these chemicals can be drying to your nails and its surrounding skin.  These chemicals are commonly used to dissolve varnishes, paints, resins, plastics and glue.  At AILA Cosmetics, we decided that we don’t want those chemicals on our skin, so we developed a natural soy-based nail polish remover enhanced with Argan oil.  Soy oil removes the nail polish without stripping the nail of its natural oils, and Argan oil has been touted as having anti-fungal properties. Combining these two naturally occurring components allows our nail lacquer remover to safely remove the nail lacquer while nourishing the nail.

A Word About Toxins in Nail Products

Because we’re committed to providing the healthiest product possible – while not compromising beauty and function – we are often asked if our products are toxin-free.

As a board-certified Podiatric Surgeon, the founder of AILA Cosmetics and, frankly, as a Mom, it’s infinitely important to me that people understand what AILA is and what AILA is not. 

With that in mind, here’s our official claim regarding the ingredients in (and not in) AILA Cosmetics:

• It’s not possible to make nail polish without chemicals. There is no such thing as chemical-free nail polish. Period. One ingredient that is often in question is Benzophenone. AILA Cosmetics products do NOT contain Benzophenone. AILA Cosmetics products do contain Benzophenone-1 (which is completely different from Benzophenone).  Additionally, per the Cosmetic Ingredient Review (CIR) Expert Panel: “The CIR Expert Panel evaluated the scientific data and concluded that Benzophenone-1, -3, -4, -5, -9 and -11 were safe for use in cosmetics and personal care products. In 2002, the CIR Expert Panel considered available new data on these Benzophenone ingredients and reaffirmed the above conclusion.” Our products do not contain the eight toxic ingredients listed above.

• We have never – and will never – claim to be chemical-free. In addition to being compliant with every beauty industry federal regulation, we have also taken stringent measures to ensure our products' chemical construction is over-and-above federal regulation requirements. This means we have set a standard for AILA that offers you a healthier alternative to traditional nail lacquers, while still providing beauty and function.  

• We went to great lengths to avoid being a water-based polish. Water grows bacteria, fungus, yeast, mold and algae (among many other undesirables). Water-based polishes are loaded with preservatives so bacteria won’t grow in the bottles. If water-based polishes don’t have multiple preservatives, bacteria, fungus, yeast, mold and algae begin to grow in the bottles and spread infection. As well, it’s not possible to know the source of the water in polishes. At AILA, we advocate waterless manicures and pedicures, as the chemicals used to kill bacteria in the water are absorbed through the skin and nails at a much higher rate, and can easily lead to myriad skin and nail problems. As a surgeon, I never use water to treat patients. I use saline.

• While we do not currently have a children’s collection, as a Mom, I am perfectly comfortable with my children wearing our products. Of course, whether or not parents choose to use AILA nail lacquers on their children's nails is solely per the discretion of the parents.

We are so grateful to you for your trust and support as we soldier on in our effort to provide you with healthier products that are still beautiful and functional.