Make-Up Monday- Seche Vite Quick Dry Top Coat

Last Monday, I went in search of a new top coat. I am usually very loyal to Sally Hansen Insta-Dry Top Coat, but my current bottle had turned into the dreaded bottle-of-goop, so it was time for something new. I was looking for the Sally Hansen Miracle Gel Top Coat, but I couldn't find it at the Rite-Aid that I went to (I later saw a giant display of them at Walgreens, so if you want to try it out, head there). 

While wandering the aisles, I found a product called Seche Vite sitting right next to the nail polish removers. 

I like the look of this packaging. Very clean & simple.

As you can see, my nails were really in need of some R & R,  Also, thanks for photo-bombing, Rook-Rook.

I vaguely remember someone at one point or another talking about this top coat and how amazing it was, so I felt pretty confident in picking it up. And besides, Rite Aid has a money back guaranty on all their make-up, so if I hated it, I could always take it back. 

As soon as I got it home I took some pictures of the product in anticipation of reviewing it here on the blog. While looking at the packaging I realized something. Something that I hadn't seen on a top coat ever before. 

WARNING: This product contains a chemical known to the State of California to cause birth defects or other reproductive harm.

I was immediately nervous. Now, I know most nail polishes have chemicals in them that you shouldn't ingest or, you know, sniff for prolonged periods of time, but I'd never seen a warning on the bottle! I started doing so research, thinking that I would find a quick answer one way or the other, but the answer I found wasn't nearly so cut-and-dry.

It looks like the real chemical in question in Seche Vite is Toluene. 

What is Toluene?

Toluene is a solvent found in common products such as paint, paint thinner, nail polish, nail glue, and adhesives among other things. It is commonly used in nail polish to help it apply smoothly to the nail.

From the CDC:

Toluene enters the environment when you use materials that contain it, such as paints, paint thinners,  adhesives, fingernail polish, and gasoline. As you work with these materials, the toluene evaporates and becomes mixed with the air you breathe.

Why could Toulene be bad for us? 

Inhalation of toluene in low to moderate levels can cause tiredness, confusion, weakness, drunken-type actions, memory loss, nausea, loss of appetite, and hearing and color vision loss. These symptoms usually disappear when exposure is stopped. Inhaling high levels of toluene in a short time may cause light-headedness, nausea, or sleepiness. It can also cause unconsciousness, and even death.

But why is the warning so specific to California? Cosmetics Info shed some light on that.

The California Safe Drinking Water and Toxic Enforcement Act of 1986 requires the Governor of California to maintain a list of chemicals "known to the state" to cause cancer or reproductive toxicity. Toluene is among the ingredients identified by the state of California under Proposition 65 for identification in labeling. The state has established a No Significant Risk Level (NSRL) for Toluene when used in nail products. These NSRLs are sometimes referred to as Proposition 65 “Safe Harbors”. A study and assessment of the risk posed by the use of Toluene in nail products has been conducted under the auspices of state attorney general’s office and they have determined that its use in nail care products is below the NSRL for consumers.

Of course, at the end of the day, all of this is up to you. What do you think about this warning? Do you currently use Seche Vite or another top coat?