So you’ve probably seen the panic-inducing headlines: “EU BANS GEL POLISH!” followed by a cascade of TikToks declaring the end of manicures as we know them. Spoiler alert: your beloved gel nails are alive and well. Here’s what actually went down.
What Exactly Got Banned?
On September 1, 2025, the EU said goodbye to TPO (trimethylbenzoyl diphenylphosphine oxide) in cosmetics, after classifying it a “CMR” substance (Carcinogenic, Mutagenic or Toxic for reproduction).
Never heard of it? TPO is a chemical photoinitiator, meaning it’s the ingredient that makes gel polish harden under a UV or LED lamp. In fact, it’s what gives gel manicures their fast curing and signature glossy finish.
But here’s the kicker: not every gel polish even contains TPO. Many brands were already TPO-free before this became a thing, and others quickly reformulated. So while some polishes got the boot, gel manicures as a whole? Still very much legal.
Why TPO Got the Axe
The European Union classified TPO as potentially harmful to reproductive health based on animal studies that showed fertility issues at high doses. However, there’s no evidence that normal gel polish use affects human fertility, so no need to worry about your last mani.
Here in the U.S., it’s still legal. The difference is regulatory: the EU uses a hazard-based system (if something could cause harm at any level, it gets banned unless proven safe), while the U.S. follows a risk-based system (they assess if actual exposure is harmful). So, it’s more of a precaution than a sign that your gel polish is unsafe.
How the Ban Actually Works
Back in 2014, EU scientists actually said TPO was fine in nail products. The chemical gets “consumed” during the curing process and locked into the hardened polish, so barely any should touch your skin.
That changed in late 2023, when TPO was officially classified as a reproductive risk. The earlier safety opinion no longer mattered – under EU law, the CMR label automatically triggers a ban unless an exemption is requested. No brand bothered to fight for one, so TPO was dropped from cosmetics altogether, with enforcement starting September 1st.
Salons literally had to toss their TPO-containing polishes overnight – no grace period for using up old stock. The UK is expected to follow suit by 2026.
The Misinformation Circus
Cue the media frenzy. Headlines screaming about gel polish bans sent nail lovers into full panic mode. TikTokers claimed gel polish causes infertility (it doesn’t). Instagram posts declared all gel products toxic (they’re not).
The confusion got so bad that the European Commission had to publish an official FAQ basically saying “Guys, we only banned one ingredient.”
The reality check: there’s no evidence that regular gel manicures harm fertility or cause health problems. The EU action was purely precautionary, based on high-dose animal studies that don’t reflect real-world use.
Your Gel Nails Are Safe
Here’s what this means for you: absolutely nothing if you’re getting quality gel manicures. Brands have either already reformulated or were never using TPO in the first place. Your nails will still be chip-free and glossy – just with a slightly different ingredient doing the UV-curing magic.
In the EU, any gel polish you buy or get applied at a salon is now TPO-free by law. Elsewhere, you might start seeing “TPO-free” labels as companies streamline their global formulas rather than maintaining separate versions for different markets.
The bottom line? This isn’t about banning your favorite beauty treatment – it’s about swapping out one chemical for another as a precaution. Your gel manicure game remains completely intact, just with a tiny tweak you’ll never notice.
So the next time someone shares a panicked post about gel polish being banned, you can set the record straight: one ingredient down, gel nails still very much up.