Pretty for the Holidays, but less toxic with Pritti

I am learning more and more about the world of toxic beauty products. Who would have thought that many of these products should have warning labels on them, and they should since many contain known carcinogens. Not too long ago I went for a manicure and could not stay because the shop smelled so terrible to me. I felt really badly to have to leave, but I felt much worse for the people who worked there and the children that came with their moms-and the shop promoted themselves to moms with kids, even having a play area. This place was so toxic smelling I wonder how anyone could be inside for more than a few minutes.

It does not have to be this way and we don’t have to forego coloring our nails because there are non-toxic, or maybe far less-toxic is more accurate, options out there. Priti NYC is one of these. The idea behind the company was born when its founder Kim D’amato was pregnant and could not find a nail polish that she was comfortable to use. Launched in 2005 “with one simple mission: to support organic farmers and to decrease the amount of chemicals poisoning the earth- and it’s inhabitants-one manicure at a time.”

Priti in Sanskrit means “out of satisfaction, with love, pleasurable sensation, affection, attraction, happy”. Now you can be Priti without all of those chemicals. Priti NYC polishes are all completely non-toxic and made without toluene, dibutyl phthalate (DHB) and formaldehyde – all known carcinogenic ingredients. They even list their ingredients.

You won’t be at a loss for colors either with almost 200 different shades including metallics, mattes, bright neons, rich darks, classic nudes, and everything in between. The polish lasts as long if not longer than other chemical filled nail polishes too.

Priti also makes a not to be believed nail polish remover-it actually smells good! “The luxury remover is soy and corn based (derived from organic farm crops), and is infused with coconut, soybean esters, and essential lemongrass oils.” There is no acetone and no petroleum. I found that I had to leave it on my nails a little bit longer than usual, but that was not a problem for me. My nails felt much better after using it as well…a bit nourished and there was a sweet citrusy scent. Not only is the remover 100 percent biodegradable, non-toxic, and non-carcinogenic, but it also comes in an apothecary style bottle that is completely recyclable.

Priti even has a nail polish recycling program. Did you know that some cities, including Los Angeles, consider nail polish a hazardous waste -and we have been putting that in our systems. Priti works with a company called Chemwise that recycles and disposes of chemicals in an environmentally sane and safe way.

Since this country could use some jobs I think that it’s time to manifest the myriad of opportunities that exist when we start reusing and recycling materials, and living in a new, more aware way. These new businesses will develop and flourish as we move into the 21st century with more intelligence, and more reflection about what kind of future we are creating.

Products from Priti also include an organic sugar scrub and almond cuticle oil. So for those of us that like to paint our nails, or even better have them painted for us, now we can feel good knowing we can do this without harmful chemicals that are known carcinogens; I won’t even get into how they get to be in them in the first place…..that’s another article.

You can order Priti products at Transcendence Design (as well as the Priti web site). Check out Sherri’s other beautiful products and artwork, and please mention SmartLifeways.

If you haven’t seen Annie Leonard’s The Story of Cosmetics you can see it here and learn more about what you might be putting on your body. Please share this important information.