Should I worry about TPO in Gel Nails?

The European Union has announced a new rule banning the use of TPO (trimethylbenzoyl diphenylphosphine oxide) in gel nail products. From September 1, 2025, gel polishes sold in the EU can no longer contain TPO. Understandably, this has raised questions, including from some of our own gel wrap clients who’ve asked whether they should be worried.

Here’s the short answer: Gelly semi-cured gel nail wraps are already TPO-free. Instead, we use Isopropylthioxanthone (ITX), a photoinitiator that cures just as effectively and is fully approved for cosmetic use.

If you use gel polish or just want the full story behind TPO, here’s the longer answer...

What is TPO, and why was it used in gels?

TPO is a photoinitiator. Translation: it’s the ingredient that helps gel polishes harden under UV or LED light, giving you that long-lasting, shiny finish.

For years, TPO was the gel industry’s go-to because it worked well and was inexpensive. But recently, the EU reclassified it as a possible health risk. This decision was based on animal studies where high amounts of TPO were fed to rats. 

Those levels of exposure are far above anything which you could expect from a “typical” gel polish treatment. However the reclassification meant it had to be banned under EU cosmetic laws.

Why did the EU ban it?

The EU often takes a “better safe than sorry” approach. Even without evidence of harm in humans, if an ingredient raises red flags in studies, it is usually restricted.

To be clear: no health problems in humans have ever been linked to TPO in nail products.

Other countries, like the U.S. which seems unlikely to ban TPO, focus more on real-world use instead of lab rats with mega-doses. Europe’s approach is different which is why many brands now need to reformulate.

What does this mean for nail products?

• Some salons in the EU will have to ditch older stock.
• Brands wanting to sell in Europe that still rely on TPO will need to find alternatives.
• You may start seeing a lot of “TPO-free!” labels popping up on polish bottles 

💡 For Gelly customers, though? Nothing changes. Our gel wraps are already TPO-free.

Our semi-cured gel uses a different ingredient (Isopropylthioxanthone) which does the curing job perfectly well.

Should I worry if my polish has TPO in it?

This isn’t medical advice, but we wouldn’t lose sleep over it.

Unless you’re drinking your gel polish (please don’t), cured gel hardens into a solid layer. That layer sticks to the Keratin of your nail which makes the chance of getting exposed to the active chemicals in any meaningful way, very small. This ban is about caution, not proven harm.

Still, if you’d rather avoid TPO altogether, choosing Gelly semi-cured wraps means you’ve already solved the problem before it was one.

So while the headlines may sound scary, your mani doesn’t have to be.

Gelly wraps remain safe, stylish, and blissfully TPO-free.