Beauty By Alexis: How To Tuesday: 5-Free is the way to be!

The nail world, it's constantly under a microscope or in the news. Should you breathe acrylic dust? Should you have a gel manicure? Is that implement sterilized? The newest topic up for debate: is that polish "5-free"? What does that even mean?

5-Free is a polish that is completely void of five known toxic ingredients: formaldehyde, dibutyl phthalate, toulene, formaldehyde resin and camphor.

Formaldehyde is a commonly used chemical to preserve and embalm dead animals (and humans). It's vapors are also irritating and can trigger asthma. Formaldehyde is also a known human carcinogen, a factor directly involved in causing cancer.

Dibutyl Phthalate is a commonly used plasticizer and has been linked to cancer. DBP has also been connected to birth defects in studies involving lab animals.

Toluene is a liquid that is used as a solvent and has the familiar smell of paint thinner. You can be exposed to toluene by breathing it in or getting it on your skin, causing irritation. Unfortunately, inhaling high levels of toluene is said to be harmful to your nervous system and can cause light-headedness and nausea. Toluene is a toxin that may also cause birth defects and developmental problems in children of pregnant women who have had extended exposure.

Formaldehyde Resin is a derivative of Formaldehyde, mainly used in production of coatings and adhesives. It is not as toxic as Formaldehyde but can be an allergen.

Camphor is a poison that can cause seizures and disorientation if used in large doses. This chemical acts as a cover on your nails, depriving them of nutrients and causing yellow staining on your nails.

While the odds are slim that polishes containing these ingredients will hurt you (polish sits on top of your nails, which aren't made of living tissue, so it's not likely to be absorbed into your bloodstream), you are still breathing it in. Also it is good to know what exactly is in the products that you're using.

So which brands are 5-free? Here are my top 5 favorite ones: