In the recent years the nail industry both in the UK and internationally has seen an increase in nail allergies and as the industry tries to comes to terms with the impact it has on the livelihoods of salons and its clients it's only natural that questions are being asked.

Substandard products

What are they?

The phrase substandard manufacturing has become quite common in our sector and often refers to describing a product the quality of which is below a certain standard. What standard the product is being measured against is usually described in the context of the overall conversation.

A high quality, professional grade UV/LED Gel polish line should adhere to the following, basic performance criteria :

• long lasting
• none fading
• none yellowing
• cures properly
• does not have a strong odour

Recently, the conversation around substandard products has been aimed to determine the safety of various products based on their country of origin or various formula characteristics (lack off or presence of certain chemicals).

In accordance with regulations the safety of any product can only be determined by a competent authority such as Trading Standards - based on valid, data driven information.

All retailers currently operating on the EU / UK market are under strict, legally binding responsibility to ensure the safety of their products in accordance with the Cosmetic Regulations. Failure to carry out the due diligence process in accordance with the Cosmetic Regulations means they can be prosecuted.

So to put your mind at rest it is the manufacturer's sole interest and responsibility to ensure their products comply with the safety standards. Everything else you have hear is a matter of a personal opinion.

What can you do to avoid

substandard products?

Now, putting all the assumptions and theories aside, what steps can the NT take to ensure the product's they purchase are being regulated and can be used in a professional setting.

• browse and purchase products from the brand's website or from a licensed retailer specialising in your trade. Check the company's registered address on the website to ensure the company is located in your country.
• avoid mass market channel retailers such as Amazon , Ebay etc . Retailers operating on these platforms are often located overseas and in case of any issues they can not be held accountable by a competent authority such as Trading Standards (UK).
• avoid purchasing second - hand items from Facebook groups etc. Cosmetic products have a strict PAO (period after opening) rules which impacts the product's stability and its sell by date.