A spotlight on key terms in our polish formulas
At Manucurist, we sometimes use professional terms that can seem a bit opaque: we talk about "INCI lists", "bio-sourced" formulas... What's the difference between a vegan and a cruelty-free product? And what does 12-free actually mean? If you ever feel a little lost, don't panic: we explain everything in this article!
What is an INCI list?
Since day one, Manucurist has championed transparency: that's why we help you decode the INCI lists on our polishes (head over to our Philosophy page to learn more). Saying “INCI list” is actually a slight shortcut: it's more accurate to call it a “list of ingredients according to the INCI nomenclature”.
The term “INCI” stands for “International Nomenclature of Cosmetic Ingredients” (Nomenclature Internationale des Ingrédients Cosmétiques in French). Several cosmetic nomenclatures exist, 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 list their full ingredients on the packaging, in descending order of quantity.
Manucurist is 12-free and free from endocrine disruptors
We often remind you that our Green formulas are 9-free and that Green Flash is 12-free. This means they contain none of the controversial molecules such as acrylate monomers, toluene, camphor, DBP, xylene, formaldehyde, hydroquinone, ethyl tosylamide, triphenyl phosphate, benzophenone, styrene, or phenoxyethanol.
Our formulas are also free from endocrine disruptors: ANSES defines them as substances that disrupt the hormonal system of living organisms and can lead to adverse health effects (growth, reproduction, nervous system…) and harm the environment. A well-known example is bisphenol A (BPA), a recognized endocrine disruptor banned in baby bottles and food containers since 2015.
Green Flash: gel polish reinvented
Wondering why we are so proud of our Green Flash gel polish formula free of sensitizing monomers and hydroquinone? To learn more about these molecules, check out our detailed article on the subject: Green Flash: what makes it so special? You'll discover their role in traditional gel polishes, their harmful health effects, and the alternatives we chose to use in the Green Flash formulation.
Green nail polishes that respect the planet
It can be tricky to grasp the nuance between vegan and cruelty-free: indeed, these two terms are not synonymous. In Europe, a 2013 regulation banned animal testing for cosmetics, meaning that all cosmetics “made in Europe” are cruelty-free.
In addition, Manucurist polishes have received certification from the Vegan Society, guaranteeing the absence of animal-derived ingredients in both the product and its packaging.
To reduce our environmental footprint, we choose to use bio-sourced ingredients whenever possible. This means a significant portion of our formulas comes from plant-based materials, unlike many conventional polishes derived from petrochemicals. These commitments are reflected in our green nail polish.
If you want to learn more about bio-sourced ingredients and how they differ from “natural origin” and “organic” claims, take a look at our dedicated article: What does bio-sourced mean?
We hope everything is clearer for you now. Any questions or need more details? Feel free to reach out via direct message on our Instagram @manucurist.
