When I started researching this topic, I expected the result to be a quick, one-part summary of the health effects of common chemicals in nail polish. I did not expect the wealth of information I found on public health concerns related to nail salons, especially the racial equity issues faced by workers who commonly experience a range of health problems related to occupational hazards.
As someone who uses very few beauty products, I never expected to focus on them in a blog post. However, access to nail salons and habits at home have changed during the pandemic, raising questions about long-term trends. And the examination of those things also brought to light questions of health – both for people who wear nail polish and people who work in salons.
I have a love-hate relationship with the sun. On one hand, I have seasonal depression and crave sunlight, but on the other hand, I burn easily, even while taking the most careful precautions. To make matters worse, common sunscreen ingredients are harmful to humans and the ecosystem in general. I’ve been planning this post for a while, but a recent sunscreen recall moved it up in priority.