Secret Ingredient: Nail Polish - Health. Polish. We all use it. We all love it. But what exactly is it made of? From tosylamide/formaldehyde resin to stearalkonium bentonite, ingredient names can sound more like a top secret formula for NASA than a recipe for regular old nail polish. Each of these ingredients, however, has a purpose and plays a part in the overall performance of the polish. Polish typically consists of four major types of ingredients: 1. Nitrocellulose — a primary film former; it creates the hard shiny surface of polish but is brittle when used on its own; the polymer comes from cotton or wood chips by way of a chemical reaction of nitric and sulfuric acids.
Tosylamide/Formaldehyde Resin (TSF Resin) — a film former that works with nitrocellulose to reduce brittleness, improve adhesion, and create a more durable polish. 2. Dibutyl Phthalate (DBP) — an ingredient used to make nail polish more flexible, thus increasing its durability. 3. Mica — a natural pigment that gives a shimmery look. 4. Scrangie. Polish Mayhem. Vampy Varnish. Beautopia.