Exact ingredient to look for on gel nail bottles to see if YOUR salon is using TPO ahead of ban

THIS is the exact ingredient to look out for to know if your nail salon is using banned polish. Nail varnishes that contain a certain chemical are set to be outlawed over health fears. A ban on a certain nail polish chemical is set to be brought in Credit: valentinrussanov It’s easy to see if a nail polish contains the chemical by checking the ingredients list Credit: Getty It’s been confirmed that the phased ban on the use and sale of the potentially hazardous ingredient will begin on August 15. As of this date, manufacturers and importers will no longer be able to sell products containing TPO within the UK market. Sign up for the Fabulous newsletter Thank you! Then, as of February 14 2027, nail salons across England, Scotland and Wales will be banned from buying polishes containing it. It’s easy to see if a certain polish contains TPO by looking at the ingredients list on the bottle. TPO stands for Trimethylbenzoyl Diphenylphosphine Oxide, so this is the banned ingredient to keep an eye out for on packaging. TPO is a chemical that is commonly used in gel nail products. It allows gel nail polish to cure under a UV light lamp, making it go hard and shiny. The upcoming UK TPO ban comes after the EU banned it in September 2025, in light of studies that suggest it could be harmful to reproductive health and may be linked to long-term fertility issues. The EU ban was brought in to exhibit “extreme caution” surrounding TPO’s potential dangers. Most read in Fabulous Speaking on “reproductive toxin”, Caroline Rainsford, director of science at The CTPA, said: “The reason why TPO has been banned in cosmetic products is based on its hazardous properties, meaning how a substance might behave under a ‘worst-case’ situation, when our bodies are exposed to a very large amount.” It is important to note that while the ban on the sale and distribution of TPO products begins in August, nail salons are permitted to use it until next year. While the stuff must be banished from salons by February 14 2027, UK salons are permitted to use TPO products they already own until then. This means your local salon could still be using TPO on your nails. If you are keen to avoid TPO polishes before they must officially be gone from salons, checking the ingredients is key. There are various formulas that don’t contain the chemical on the market, as the EU ban prompted some brands to reformulate products. Companies like OPI, GellifiQue, Glossify and Mylee all offer TPO-free formulas. Comment now