Gelish Review, Is Gelish Non-Toxic?
PFAS Authority is a scoring system, not a laboratory. We do not test products ourselves. Grades are model-based, built from published ingredients, materials, certifications, brand disclosures and third-party lab results where they exist. See the rubric.
Across 3 graded products, Gelish averages Poor (48/100). On disclosure, the brand says nothing publicly about PFAS. None of its products grade Good or better yet. Grades are model-based estimates, not lab results.
Graded and flagged Poor and Bad, we’d swap these
Gelish
Gelish Gel
gel polish (resin/polymer blend)
Residual acrylate monomers (HEMA, methacrylates)
Gel polish formulations commonly leave 1-5% uncrosslinked monomers even after curing.…
Photoinitiator sensitization (aromatic ketones, benzoyl peroxide, or camphorquinone)
UV/LED cured gels require photoinitiators to harden. These compounds, though present in…
Lead
Pigmented gel polishes may contain legacy synthetic dyes or inorganic pigments with…
Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) during application
Gel polish application releases acrylic monomers, solvents, and other VOCs into salon…
Skip until transparency improves; no PFAS standards for gel polish.
⚠Risky category by default
Gelish
Glamour Queen Soak-Off Gel Polish
proprietary gel polish formulation
Uncrosslinked acrylate monomers and oligomers
Gel polishes by design may not achieve 100% crosslinking during UV/LED cure. Residual…
Contact sensitization and allergic dermatitis
Photoinitiators (commonly benzophenone and camphorquinone) in gel polishes are documented…
Acetone exposure during removal
Soak-off removal requires 10-15 minutes of acetone immersion. Repeated exposure is…
Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and solvent emissions
Gel polish bottles contain monomers and solvents that volatilize, particularly if caps…
Skip until brand discloses ingredients or testing confirms safety.
⚠Undisclosed proprietary coating
Gelish
Gel Polish
gel polymer resin (acrylate-based coating)
Acrylate monomer sensitization and contact irritation
Unpolymerized acrylate monomers in liquid gel polish are documented skin and respiratory…
Incomplete curing and sticky layer residue
If gel is undercured or the protective 'inhibition layer' is not fully wiped off…
Occupational inhalation exposure in salon environments
Gel polish application releases volatile organic compounds and acrylate vapors; nail…
Pigment and colorant identity opaque
Gelish shades use undisclosed pigments and dyes; no safety data sheets are available to…
Insufficient disclosure; gel polish chemistry opaque to consumers.
⚠Undisclosed proprietary coating
Every grade uses the same public rubric. How grades work →