TPO-Free Gel
TPO-free gel refers to UV/LED nail gels and gel-polish coatings reformulated without trimethylbenzoyl diphenylphosphine oxide (TPO), a photoinitiator reclassified as a CMR category 1B reproductive toxicant. For press-on manufacturing it signals a cured coating that meets current EU cosmetics rules by using alternative initiators such as TPO-L or BAPO.
Trend context
Key fact
The EU banned TPO in all cosmetics from 1 September 2025 under Regulation (EU) 2025/877 with no sell-through period, and the UK has notified a proposed market-placement ban from 15 July 2026, driving industry-wide reformulation to alternatives such as TPO-L and BAPO.