New EU Regulations on TPO: GELCARE’s Next Steps
In recent years, increasing attention has been directed toward the safety of cosmetics industry ingredients. This is especially true in Europe, where regulations are at the forefront of efforts to better protect consumer health and the environment. In the nail industry, and more specifically within the nail gel polish category, one ingredient in particular has drawn significant attention: Trimethylbenzoyl Diphenylphosphine Oxide, commonly referred to as TPO.
Recent studies have raised concerns about the use of TPO, leading the European Union to ban its use from September 1, 2025.
Why Is TPO Used In The Gel Industry?
TPO (Trimethylbenzoyl Diphenylphosphine Oxide) belongs to the family of photoinitiators, ingredients that enable a product to cure, transforming from liquid to solid when exposed to the appropriate light spectrum.
TPO is therefore considered an essential ingredient in gel polishes. Fortunately, other ingredients with similar functions can replace TPO in formulations. Among them, TPO-L (Ethyl (2,4,6-trimethylbenzoyl)phenylphosphinate) is frequently used by manufacturers as it is considered compliant with the current health and regulatory requirements of the European Union. Despite their similar names, these two molecules are, in fact, distinct.
How To Identify If My Gel Has TPO In It?
To verify if your colour is TPO-free, search for TPO or Trimethylbenzoyl Diphenylphosphine Oxide in the list of ingredients on the bottle, whether it is a GELCARE product or another brand.
Fortunately, many GELCARE gel shades have already been formulated with alternatives to TPO while preserving the same performance.
TPO Free
While most of our shades are already formulated without TPO, our team is working closely with our laboratories to reformulate all of our products to meet the new European standards. We are confident that GELCARE production will be entirely TPO-free by 2026.
To make the shopping experience as seamless and enjoyable as possible for our European customers, we have decided to remove TPO-containing shades from our EU site. These products will return very soon, once their formulations have been updated to comply with European requirements.
Transparency and safety are at the heart of everything we do. We will continue to update our customers as GELCARE products evolve to meet the latest standards, ensuring you can enjoy your gel polish with confidence.