is gel polish banned in Europe?
Half the headlines said gel polish was banned. One ingredient was. What TPO did in the bottle, why the EU took it out, and how to read any ingredient list yourself.
No, gel polish is not banned in Europe. One ingredient is: TPO, a photoinitiator that many formulas used to cure under the lamp, banned in EU cosmetics since 1 September 2025. Gel polish without TPO is fully legal, and that’s what miure makes. Here’s what TPO was, why it left, and what’s in the bottle instead of promises.
why people think gel polish is banned in Europe
In September 2025 the EU banned TPO in cosmetics, and half the headlines rounded that up to “gel polish banned”. What actually happened: TPO was reclassified under EU rules as potentially toxic to reproduction, based on animal studies with high doses, and ingredients in that category are automatically banned from cosmetics. A precaution, applied strictly, the European way. Brands with TPO in their formulas had to reformulate overnight. Gel polish colours without TPO were never touched.
the ban removed an ingredient, not a manicure
TPO in gel polish
what TPO was doing in your gel polish
TPO was a photoinitiator: the ingredient that reacts to the lamp’s light and starts the curing, turning liquid colour into a manicure. It was popular because it cured fast and kept whites bright. It was never the only way to do that job. Modern formulas cure in 30 seconds without it, which is exactly what the miure set does.
HEMA, di-HEMA & TPO free by design
No TPO, in line with EU regulation. No HEMA and no di-HEMA either, including every HEMA derivative, the most common causes of gel polish allergies. That combination isn’t a claim, it’s the ingredient list. Strong doesn’t need to be harsh.
all tpo free
frequently asked questions
Is gel polish banned in Europe?
No. The EU banned one ingredient, TPO, from cosmetics on 1 September 2025. Gel polish formulated without TPO is fully legal and always was. The ban removed an ingredient, not a manicure.
What is TPO in gel polish?
TPO is a photoinitiator: it reacts to the light of the lamp and starts the curing process. The EU banned it after it was classified as potentially toxic to reproduction, a classification based on animal studies with high doses. Formulas without TPO cure the same way, with different initiators.
Does miure gel polish contain TPO?
No. miure gel polish does not contain TPO. You’ll find “HEMA, di-HEMA & TPO free” on every product page, next to the ingredient list.
What is HEMA free gel polish?
HEMA and di-HEMA are among the most common causes of gel polish allergies. HEMA free means the formula works without them. miure goes further: free from HEMA, di-HEMA and all other HEMA derivatives. Strong doesn’t need to be harsh.
How do I know if a gel polish is TPO free?
Read the ingredient list. TPO appears there as trimethylbenzoyl diphenylphosphine oxide. If a brand is TPO free, it usually says so, and the list proves it. At miure the full ingredient list is on every product page.
