A focus on the terms specific to our polish formulas
At Manucurist, we sometimes use professional terms that can be a bit unclear: we talk about “INCI lists,” “bio-sourced”... What is the difference between a vegan product and cruelty-free? And 12-free, what does that mean? If you sometimes feel a bit lost, don’t worry: we explain everything in this article!
What is an INCI list?
Since its creation, Manucurist has advocated transparency: that’s why we help you decipher the INCI lists of our polishes (visit our Philosophy page to learn more). When we say “INCI list,” it’s a misuse of language: it would be more accurate to say “ingredient list in INCI nomenclature.”
The term “INCI” is the abbreviation for “International Nomenclature of Cosmetic Ingredients” (Nomenclature Internationale des Ingrédients Cosmétiques, in French). There are several cosmetic nomenclatures, but in Europe, the INCI nomenclature is used: it has even been mandatory for cosmetics since 1998. This means that all cosmetics sold on the European market must provide the full list of ingredients on their packaging, in descending order of quantity.
Manucurist is 12-free and free of endocrine disruptors
We often tell you that our Green formulas are 9-free or that Green Flash™ is 12-free. This means they contain none of the controversial molecules such as acrylate monomer, toluene, camphor, DBP, xylene, formaldehyde, hydroquinone, ethyl tosylamide, triphenyl phosphate, benzophenone, styrene, phenoxyethanol.
Our formulas are also free of endocrine disruptors: the ANSES defines them as substances that disrupt the hormonal functioning of living organisms and can thus cause harmful effects on health (growth, reproduction, nervous system…) and the environment. Notably, bisphenol A or BPA is a proven endocrine disruptor that has been banned since 2015 in baby bottles and other food containers.
Green Flash™: the reinvented semi-permanent
You might wonder why we are so proud of our Green Flash™ semi-permanent polish formula without sensitizing monomer or hydroquinone... To learn more about these molecules, you can read our detailed article on the subject: Green Flash™: what makes it different from the others? There you will discover their role in traditional semi-permanents, their harmful effects on health, and the alternatives we chose to use in the Green Flash™ formulation.
Green polishes that respect the planet
It’s hard to grasp the difference between vegan and cruelty-free: indeed, these two terms are not synonymous. In Europe, a law dating from 2013 bans cosmetic testing on animals, which means that “made in Europe” cosmetics are all cruelty-free.
Moreover, Manucurist polishes have received certification from the Vegan Society, which guarantees the absence of animal-derived ingredients in the product and its packaging.
To reduce our ecological footprint, we choose to use bio-sourced ingredients whenever possible. This means that a significant part of our formulas comes from plant-based material, unlike many other conventional polishes which come from petrochemicals. These commitments are reflected in our green nail polishes.
If you want to learn more about bio-sourced and the difference with the terms “natural origin” and “organic,” we invite you to read our dedicated article: What is bio-sourced?
We hope everything is clearer for you now. Questions, need more details? Feel free to send us your requests via private message on our Instagram @manucurist.
