Nail polish is a cosmetic product that is used to color and decorate nails. It is made up of several ingredients, including film-forming agents, resins, plasticizers, solvents, and coloring agents. Here are some details about nail polish ingredients:

Film-forming agents: These agents help nail polish dry hard and shiny. Nitrocellulose and cellulose acetate butyrate are commonly used film-forming agents.

Resins: Resins improve adhesion, hardening, and gloss. Tosylamide/formaldehyde resin, tosylamide/epoxy resin, formalin, methylene glycol, and tolunesulfonamide/formaldehyde resin are some of the resins used in nail polish.

Plasticizers: These provide flexibility and adhesion to the nail polish. Triphenyl phosphate, trimethyl pentanyl diisobutyrate, camphor, and dibutyl phthalate are some of the plasticizers used in nail polish.

Solvents: Solvents are the carriers of the other ingredients and help the nail polish flow smoothly. Ethyl acetate, isopropyl alcohol, butyl acetate, and toluene are some of the solvents used in nail polish.

Coloring agents: These provide color to the nail polish. Iron oxides, color lakes, mica, and other FDA-approved colorants are some of the coloring agents used in nail polish.

Some nail polish brands are marketed as "free-from" or "non-toxic" and omit specific ingredients. For example, "5-free" polishes exclude formaldehyde resin and camphor, while "9-free" and "15-free" polishes exclude even more ingredients. However, it is important to note that nail polish ingredients have undergone review by the Cosmetic Ingredient Review, which uses peer-reviewed scientific literature to determine safety.

Positive aspects of nail polish include the ability to express oneself through color and design, and the convenience of being able to do it at home or at a salon. Negative aspects include the potential exposure to harmful chemicals, especially for nail technicians who work with nail polish on a daily basis.