75/ 100
C
OverallF57/100
LONDONTOWN Changing of the Guards Gel Polish

Londontown · Nail Polish & Top Coat

LONDONTOWN Changing of the Guards Gel Polish

C · Moderate

Lower concern; gel polish formulations rarely contain PFAS, but Londontown offers no public transparency.

Verdict: BuyGel polish category poses minimal systemic toxicity risk; Londontown's silence on PFAS is typical for category but not reassuring.

Londontown's gel polish is a cosmetic product with no known PFAS-containing additives like water-repellent coating or nonstick coatings. The brand makes no public PFAS claim or disclosure. Gel polishes are not typically formulated with fluorochemicals, making this product lower concern relative to treated textiles or cookware.

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Material

gel polish (acrylate resins, pigments, initiators)

Brand disclosure

Brand is silent on PFAS

Lab data

No public lab test

Why this grade

Category baseline

cosmetics is a category where PFAS exposure is more common.

Hurts the grade

No PFAS disclosure

No public statement about PFAS in this product.

Hurts the grade

Safe base material

Made from a material with no inherent PFAS use (ceramic, mineral, or natural fiber).

Helps the grade

The full breakdown

What it's made of and why it matters

Londontown Changing of the Guards is a gel polish formulation based on oligomeric acrylates, photoinitiators, and pigments that cure under UV/LED light. Gel polishes differ from liquid polishes in that they form a hardened polymer network on the nail and are not absorbed systemically; dermal exposure is minimal because the cured product does not penetrate skin. The pigments and colorants in this shade will determine whether heavy metals (notably cadmium in reds/yellows or lead in some pigment lakes) are present, but no recalls or testing reports specific to this product are on public record.

The brand's record and disclosure

Londontown does not publish ingredient lists, safety data sheets, or PFAS statements accessible to consumers on standard channels. The brand has no known formal certifications (such as 3-Free, 5-Free, or similar toxicity reduction standards) advertised on packaging or website. No recalls, safety controversies, or regulatory actions specific to Londontown gel polishes are documented in FDA, Health Canada, or EU databases as of current public record. This silence does not indicate hazard; it reflects the broader industry norm of limited transparency in nail cosmetics.

How it compares in its category

Gel polishes as a category present lower systemic toxicity risk than liquid polish because cured gel is not inhaled or absorbed. However, gel products are less regulated than liquid cosmetics and rarely carry third-party safety certifications; Londontown is typical in offering no certification. Brands like Ella+Mila, Zoya, and Orly publish ingredient transparency or 5-Free claims; Londontown does not, placing it in the majority of gel-polish makers but behind leaders in voluntary disclosure. Price and opacity are comparable to mass-market gel brands, without premium safety positioning.

If you buy it

Apply in well-ventilated space because acrylate monomers and photoinitiators can irritate respiratory membranes in high concentration. Avoid skin contact with uncured gel; wash hands thoroughly after application. Cure under LED (not UV) lamps when possible to limit radiation exposure, and use nail lamp UV-blocking sleeves for hands. Discontinue use if nail discoloration, brittleness, or persistent irritation occurs; remove gel with acetone soak rather than scraping to prevent nail damage.

Beyond PFAS: other things we checked

Established hazard classes for this product type, assessed from public information. These never change the PFAS grade; a Likely flag caps the Verdict at “Buy with care.”

None known

Heavy metals in pigments (cadmium, lead)

No public testing or recall data exists for this specific product. Red and yellow pigments in nail polish can contain cadmium or lead-based lakes; ingredient opacity prevents verification. Risk is local (nail contact) rather than systemic due to cured barrier, but dermal irritation or allergic sensitization is possible with uncured gel.

Possible

Acrylate monomer irritation and sensitization

Gel polish formulations contain oligomeric and some free acrylate monomers that can trigger contact dermatitis or respiratory irritation during application. No recalls tied to Londontown specifically, but this is an inherent hazard of gel-polish chemistry. Risk increases with frequent, unventilated exposure.

Possible

Photoinitiator and fragrance allergens

UV/LED photoinitiators (camphorquinone, benzoyl peroxide derivatives) and fragrance compounds can cause sensitization or phototoxicity. Londontown does not disclose initiators or fragrance chemicals. Nail technicians and frequent users face cumulative exposure risk.

None known

Formaldehyde releasers or residual solvents

Gel polishes are not formulated with traditional formaldehyde-releasing preservatives like liquid polishes sometimes are, but residual unreacted monomers or carrier solvents can offgas. No specific data for this product exists on public record.

Reported

Nail damage from removal and frequent application

Gel polish removal via acetone soaking or UV curing cycles can cause thinning, dehydration, and peeling of nail plate with repeated use. This is a mechanical/cumulative risk, not toxicological, but relevant to consumer safety and brand durability claims.

What we don’t know

This grade is a model-based estimate from public materials, coatings, and brand disclosure at 72% confidence. It is not a lab result.

No independent PFAS lab test is on record for this exact product. A lab test could move the score in either direction.

The brand has not made a specific, verifiable PFAS-free statement, so part of this score reflects that missing disclosure rather than a confirmed material.

Formulations and coatings change between production runs. Always check the current label before buying.

More nail polish & top coat grades

How we score: every product runs through the same public 0–100 rubric based on materials, coatings, brand disclosure, lab findings, and recalls. See the full methodology → Spotted a mistake? Report an error.