Do you remember the issue of professional semi-permanent nail polishes, recently banned by the European Union due to the presence of 2 toxic substances? Well, online they continue to be easily sold on second-hand platforms such as Vinted and Facebook Marketplace. The French magazine reported it 60 Millions of consumers, which warns consumers about the risks of exposure to these dangerous products.
TPO, the toxic ingredient
The dangerous substance these products contain is diphenyl trimethylbenzoyl phosphine oxide (TPO), used to quickly harden semi-permanent nail polishes. From 1 September 2025, TPO is banned throughout the EU because it is classified as CMR (carcinogenic, mutagenic or toxic for reproduction).
Second 60 Millionsprofessional nail technicians found themselves with unusable stocks and the most incorrect ones, instead of disposing of them, tried to resell them online, often specifying that the nail polishes were intended “for personal use only” or to create color charts.
According to Régine Ferrère, president of the Confédération Nationale de l’Esthétique et de la Parfumerie (CNEP), it is “shameful” to put dangerous products on sale. Erwan Poivet, scientific consultant of the Fédération des Entreprises de la Beauté (Fébea), recalls that professional stocks must be returned to suppliers and destroyed and that online sales represent a serious risk for those without technical skills.
The reply from Vinted and Facebook
Interviewed by 60 Millions of consumers, Vinted defends itself by claiming to apply common rules to all users, private and professionals, prohibiting the sale of products that violate European legislation on cosmetic substances. When an item containing banned substances is reported, it is quickly removed from the platform.
Facebook Marketplace, however, refers to its general conditions of use: failure to comply with the rules or the law may result in the removal of adverts or other measures. But objectively there is a difficulty in effectively controlling the sales of dangerous cosmetics.
There’s too much confusion
There are two types of semi-permanent nail polishes: professional ones, reserved for nail technicians and which may contain TPO, and those for private individuals, which are safe and free of toxic substances. On platforms like Vinted or Facebook, however, it is not always clear which is on sale, because the distinction between professional products and domestic products is not clearly indicated.
As a result, those who shop online risk mistakenly buying a professional nail polish containing TPO, thinking that it is as safe as those intended for home use. As Erwan Poivet explains, normally the packaging should indicate that it is a cosmetic for professional use, and these nail polishes should never be handled by anyone without specific technical skills.
Experts therefore recommend always asking the seller for detailed information on the composition and use of the product, and requesting additional photos if necessary, before purchasing on these platforms.
