Nail Product Ingredient Scanner

What 3-free, 5-free, 10-free and HEMA-free actually mean

3-free means no toluene, no formaldehyde and no dibutyl phthalate. 5-free adds formaldehyde resin and camphor. 7-free removes ethyl tosylamide and xylene, 10-free typically adds triphenyl phosphate, animal-derived ingredients and parabens. None of these labels are regulated by the FDA — they are marketing claims, so the ingredient list is the only real evidence.

For gel users the more important label is HEMA-free. HEMA is the monomer behind most gel allergies: itching, lifting and eventually permanent sensitisation. It is safe when fully cured and kept off the skin, which is exactly what home application usually gets wrong.

This scanner is an educational tool built on published cosmetic-chemistry consensus, not a medical or regulatory verdict. If a product makes your cuticles itch or your nails lift, stop using it and see a dermatologist — patch testing is the only way to confirm an allergy.

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