This week, the European Union has banned a popular ingredient used in gel nail polishes, which, as a result, makes many of your favorite salon formulas inaccessible to buy. The UK and U.S., however, has yet to be affected. Here's everything you need to know, including when the ban will reach other countries.
Starting September 1, the EU has forbidden the use of TPO (trimethylbenzoyl diphenylphosphine oxide)—a photoinitiator used for quick-dry, glossy, long-lasting gel manicures—due to its classification as a CMR category 1B substance, meaning it may be carcinogenic, mutagenic, or toxic to reproduction. Salons across Europe must now withdraw TPO‑based products and even dispose of older stock, while manufacturers are working quickly to reformulate with safer photoinitiators like TPO‑L or BAPO.
Some brands are starting to respond. For those using The GelBottle products, the company has reassured customers by stating that “this is not a product recall–current products remain safe to use,” emphasizing the regulatory nature of the change rather than any immediate safety threat.
“For our EU customers: We are pleased to confirm that 100 percent of The GelBottle products sold in the EU are now fully TPO-free and compliant with the September 2025 regulation,” the brand said in a statement.
But what does it mean for the US and UK? “For our UK/U.S. customers: We are actively transitioning all products to new TPO-free formulations, with reformulated versions already rolling out. We expect the entire range to be fully TPO-free ahead of the UK regulatory deadline (Sept. 2026).”
Meanwhile, in the UK and U.S., change hasn’t arrived yet. Industry guidance indicates other countries are likely to align with this ban in late 2026, giving salons and consumers more time to adapt.
In the meantime, don’t fret—gel manicures aren’t going anywhere. Phew! They’re simply evolving toward TPO‑free formulations, ensuring you can keep flaunting those tips safely.
Lia Mappoura (she/her) is the Beauty Writer at Cosmopolitan UK. Covering everything from viral celebrity hair and makeup news to the latest trend predictions, she’s an expert in recognising the season’s next big beauty look (before it ends up all over your social media feeds). You’ll usually find her putting TikTok’s recent beauty hacks to the Hype Test, challenging the gender-makeup binary and social stereotypes, or fangirling over the time Kourtney Kardashian viewed her Instagram Story (yes, it’s true). Find her also on LinkedIn.
