HEMA-FREE

The Pink Gellac range is largely HEMA-Free. On this page, you will find all the information about the ingredients HEMA and Di-Hema, and we are happy to share with you what exactly HEMA-Free means.

Safe and Quality Products
Pink Gellac stands out for the quality of its products. All our gel polishes are made from high-quality ingredients and comply with all the required laws and regulations in the EU. It is no coincidence that we have already welcomed over 700,000 customers and that our rating on Trustpilot is consistently high with a score of 4.6 out of a 5-point scale (based on 25,000 reviews).

Ingredients Di-HEMA and HEMA
Gel nail polish is a technology that was developed decades ago, initially mainly for nail salons. The products used often contained the ingredients Di-HEMA and HEMA (hydroxyethyl methacrylate) for strong adhesion to the nail. For manufacturers within the European Union, the allowed concentrations have been maximized over the past decades. Products from outside the EU often enter the Netherlands containing concentrations that are many times higher than permitted here.
The disadvantage of adding these ingredients to gel polish is that frequent contact with the skin can lead to an allergy to HEMA. Naturally, the risk of developing this allergy is greater when polishes with higher concentrations of HEMA and Di-HEMA are used.
With proper use of gel polish on the nail, the skin is not touched, and thus there is also no chance of developing an allergy. For a beginner without experience or training, it can be difficult not to touch the cuticles.

Pink Gellac and the choice for HEMA-Free
Pink Gellac started selling HEMA-free gel polish in 2021; this formula contains no HEMA and Di-HEMA. An additional benefit of our HEMA-free formula is that it is also vegan, and the polish is faster to remove - soaking off in 8-10 minutes instead of 12-15 minutes.
By now, the vast majority of our range is free of HEMA, and our starter sets are also completely free of HEMA acrylates.
We expect all our products to be completely free of (di-)HEMA by the course of 2024.

Pink Gellac PRO
The Pink Gellac products that still contain HEMA are without exception products from our PRO line. It concerns a limited number of colors and some base and top coats. These products can be recognized by the ‘PRO’ on the front of the label. These products are safe to use provided you prevent contact with the skin – for this reason, we advise only letting professionals trained in gel polish application use our PRO range as skin contact with these products must be avoided.
Of course, the concentrations of HEMA and Di-HEMA in these products are well within the permitted amounts as prescribed by the European Cosmetics Regulation (1223/2009/EC).

FAQ

Is Pink Gellac gel polish safe?
All our products are safe with normal use and comply with all laws and regulations. Of course, it is important to check the ingredients of products when you know that you are sensitive or allergic to specific ingredients. If you do not have an allergy to one of the ingredients, the use of our gel polish is safe. However, it is important to prevent skin contact – try to keep your cuticles clear by maintaining a 1mm distance and remove the polish immediately if you touch the skin, for example with a wooden cuticle pusher or a cleaner wipe. We advise that our PRO range be used only by professionals who have undergone nail training because skin contact with these products must be avoided.

What are PRO products?
Pink Gellac has a PRO line – these are products that contain HEMA. It is a limited number of colors, and a few base and top coats. You can recognize these products by the 'Pro' on the label at the front. These products are safe to use as long as you avoid contact with the skin because frequent contact with the skin can lead to an allergic reaction. For this reason, we recommend these products only to customers who are very skilled in polishing. Have you completed training or are you a professional polisher? Then you can safely use these products. Are you a beginner and have not (yet) completed training? Then we advise against using the PRO line.

I have heard reports in the media about severe allergic reactions, does this also apply to Pink Gellac?
We have read these reports as well. The severe reactions that are talked about are usually caused by products with extremely high concentrations of HEMA from countries where the processing of components is not regulated. Of course, manufacturers in the EU (like Pink Gellac) must comply with this. We therefore advise consumers to avoid these products because the safety of these products cannot be guaranteed. If you buy your products from a reliable European brand that complies with the European Cosmetics Regulation (1223/2009/EC), you can trust that the products are safe to use. It is, however, important that you use the products as prescribed – polish only your nails and try to avoid contact with the skin. Also always use the LED or UV lamp recommended with the product so that all acrylates in the gel polish cure properly and do not later reach your skin.

How do I know if a product complies with laws and regulations?
Acrylic paints and other acrylic nail products are best bought from a manufacturer, importer, or distributor based in Europe to ensure they comply with European legislation. The brand should be able to tell you whether they comply with the European Cosmetics Regulation (1223/2009/EC); this is often also stated on the product's website. At Pink Gellac, all our products, of course, comply with this legislation.

I suspect I have an allergy, how do I find out?
In case of a contact allergy, the gel polish coming into contact with the skin can cause unpleasant symptoms such as redness, swelling, and itching. If these symptoms arise, it's crucial to remove the gel polish as quickly as possible; if the gel polish is the cause, the symptoms should quickly subside. If the use of gel polish continues without stopping, the symptoms may worsen.
Only a dermatologist can diagnose a contact allergy. Therefore, if you suspect an allergy to acrylates in gel polish or other cosmetics, always consult your general practitioner for a referral. The same acrylates can also be used in medical and dental applications, such as dental fillings or artificial knees. It's essential that an allergy is professionally diagnosed and documented in the patient's medical records.
Typically, the allergy is related to HEMA-Acrylates. If an allergy to HEMA-Acrylates is confirmed, you may likely be able to use Pink Gellac's HEMA-free range. However, testing is necessary, and it's important to follow the user instructions while avoiding skin contact.

I'm going to a nail salon – how do I ensure that the products used are safe?
We advise customers who have their gel nails done at a nail salon to inquire about which products are used and verify that the used products comply with European laws and regulations (European Cosmetics Regulation (1223/2009/EC)). The salon employee should be able to tell you this. If you have a sensitivity to HEMA or want to exclude a possible future HEMA allergy, we advise you to request a HEMA-free treatment. If you choose a salon where Pink Gellac is used, you can assume that all products comply with European laws and regulations. And of course, we also offer our entire HEMA-Free range to salons to provide a HEMA-Free treatment in their salons as well.

I have Pink Gellac products at home, how do I know if these are HEMA-free?
If Di-HEMA and HEMA (hydroxyethyl methacrylate) are not mentioned in the ingredients on the packaging, they are free of HEMA. If you can no longer read the ingredients or the ingredients declaration is no longer present with the product, please contact our customer service; they can tell you whether or not this product is HEMA-Free.

I am a nail stylist - how can I prevent an acrylic allergy?
As a nail stylist, you spend hours per day in your salon, and there is a risk that your skin comes into frequent contact with acrylates. We advise nail stylists to wear nitrile gloves for each treatment - PVC, latex, or polyethylene gloves are not recommended as they can allow acrylates to pass through. Adequate ventilation in the workspace with air extraction through a grille in the work surface is also required.