Nail polish at Stiftung Warentest: The polish is off - questionable substances in these brands

Stiftung Warentest tests nail polishes and finds that not everything that glitters is gold.

Which brands do not keep what they promise - and which fail in the content check:

• Stiftung Warentest tested 20 nail polishes (more test reports here)

• There are big price differences

• When it comes to ingredients, the transparency leaves a lot to be desired

Anyone who likes to decorate their nails with colorful polishes knows what a good nail polish has to entail: it should dry quickly, last a long time, but above all it should look beautiful.

Stiftung Warentest tested that and what else a good nail polish has to offer – and expressed some concerns, as reported by HEIDELBERG24.

Nail polish at Stiftung Warentest: Big price differences - even with test winners

The nail polishes are tested for their cosmetic properties, i.e. the appearance, the durability on the fingernails and whether the nails are discolored by the polish.

In addition to their application, ingredients and even the packaging and advertising claims of the nail polishes.

By the way, this is how you apply your nail polish correctly to get the best out of it.

Exciting: The test winners could hardly be more different.

The premium brand Dior for a whopping 15.50 euros shares first place with the much cheaper brand Essie, for just 3.70 euros per 5 milliliters.

They are also the most durable nail polishes in the test and still shine after up to five days of work, household and sport.

• Dior Dior Vernis in the color "Rouge 999", grade 2.2 ("good")

• Essie nail polish in the color 60 Really Red, grade 2.2 (“good”)

• Alessandro nail polish in the color Classic Red, grade 2.4 (“good”)

• Anny nail polish in the color Only Red 085, grade 2.4 (“good”)

• Artdeco Quick Dry Nail Lacquer in the color Cranberry Syrup 28, rating 2.4 (“good”)

Nail polish at Stiftung Warentest: bad application and discolored nails

Stiftung Warentest criticizes the durability and application of many paints that score “satisfactory” overall, i.e. how well they can be applied and removed and how long they need to dry.

In the current issue, Stiftung Warentest also tested headphones - here are the results.

In addition, a few brands discolor the fingernails, such as Kia Charlotta or Yves Rocher, which gambles away the "good" grade.

The losers in the test disappoint mainly with questionable ingredients and false promises.

The complete test report on nail polish is available from Stiftung Warentest (for a fee).

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Nail polish at Stiftung Warentest: Questionable substances are not specified

For example, the label of the Benecos brand nail polish advertises the promise “20 Free”.

The testers first have to find out what that means on the brand's website: According to this, 20 specific ingredients may not be contained in the paint.

However, two of the substances, the solvents toluene and acetone, were indeed detectable in the laboratory.

And other nail polishes are also irritating with opaque lists of ingredients.

Solvents such as acetone or xylene are often not listed.

This is despite the fact that they should be declared due to the eye and respiratory irritation and discomfort they can cause.

On many bottles, the list of ingredients is even completely missing.

The test losers:

• Max Factor X Miracle Pure in the color 305 Scarlet Poppy, grade 3.5 (“satisfactory”)

• Benecos Natural Beauty Happy Nails 20-free in the color Vintage Red, grade 3.9 ("sufficient")

Nail polish at Stiftung Warentest: Carcinogenic nitrosamines

In addition, there are points deducted for other ingredients: In some paints, slightly increased nitrosamine levels can be detected, which are above the orientation values ​​​​of the Federal Office for Consumer Protection and Food Safety.

Nitrosamines are considered carcinogenic.

Only the product La Nature does not contain any nitrosamines at all.

However, anyone who has already made a bad purchase and finds that the new nail polish color is beautiful, but takes far too long to dry, can try this hairspray life hack to help with the nail polish.

(paw)

List of rubrics: © IMAGO/Imaginechina/Tuchong