Big change for the rules for salon and at-home products amid health concerns over ingredients08:08, 25 Jul 2026Updated 08:08, 25 Jul 2026New nail gel ban comes into force in August across the UKThe UK cosmetics industry has issued an update as new bans have already come into effect on the use of nail gels in the UK. Millions every week get regular treatments in high streets around the UK, but most don’t realise big changes are coming in with some already in force.‌The first changes were introduced on July 15 and further ingredient bans and concentration limits following on August 15, 2026, Professional Beauty reported.‌The first changes came into force on July 15, 2026, banning the UV filter 4-MBC in newly placed cosmetic products and lowering the threshold at which products containing formaldehyde-releasing preservatives must carry a warning.‌Further rules will take effect on August 15, 2026, including a ban on TPO in newly placed cosmetic products and new maximum concentration limits for the fragrance ingredient Hexyl Salicylate. Scientists have also identified the chemical as a possible cause of skin sensitisation. Therefore, repeatedly exposing your skin to uncured gel products increases your risk of developing an allergy.The beauty publication said: “For most salon owners, therapists and nail technicians, the practical takeaway is to check professional nail stock for TPO, ask suppliers to confirm that products comply with the new rules and keep purchase and batch records for affected products.”The new guidelines are merely a component of new UK Cosmetic Safety Regulations that have changed the process for manufacturers and importers who wish to continue selling certain types of gel nail products in the UK. For most consumers, the changes will occur quietly in the background.‌Danielle Louise, beauty expert at Fresha, said.”If you regularly get gel nails, there’s no reason to cancel your appointments or worry that something has suddenly become unsafe,’ she says. ‘The vast majority of professional salons use trusted brands that keep up to date with cosmetic regulations, and many manufacturers have already introduced reformulated products well ahead of the deadline.”The change was highlighted in a written answer to a question at the House of Lords. Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle asked the government: “What plans they have to ban the use of the chemical trimethylbenzoyl diphenylphosphine oxide in gel nail polish, following the decision of the EU to do so.”It was answerered: “Trimethylbenzoyl diphenylphosphine oxide (TPO) was added to the GB Mandatory Classification List (GB MCL) under the GB Classification, Labelling and Packaging (CLP) Regulation in February 2025. As per the requirements of Article 15 of the UK Cosmetic Regulation, Government is taking steps to prohibit the use of TPO in cosmetic products in Great Britain. Full details of the amendments to the Cosmetic Regulation, including any transitional provisions, will be prepared in due course. The first stage will be to ensure no new cosmetic products containing TPO are placed on the market from August 2026.”‌Changes on July 15, 2026Two changes introduced by SI 2026/23 came into force in Great Britain on July 15.These relate to:the UV filter 4-MBCwarning labels on products containing formaldehyde-releasing preservatives‌The changes primarily affect cosmetic brands, manufacturers, importers and Responsible Persons, but salons should also be aware of them when purchasing and retailing products.The UV filter 3-(4-methylbenzylidene)-camphor, commonly known as 4-MBC or Enzacamene, has been added to the list of substances prohibited in cosmetic products. The Government’s explanatory memorandum says the change follows scientific advice that there is “a potential risk to human health arising from the use of this substance in a cosmetic product”.Changes on August 15A second set of changes takes effect in Great Britain on August 15.‌These include:a ban on 16 substances classified as carcinogenic, mutagenic or toxic for reproduction, including TPOnew concentration limits for Hexyl SalicylateFor beauty professionals, TPO is likely to be the most relevant newly prohibited ingredient because it has been used in some UV- and LED-cured nail products.Article continues belowTPO stands for Trimethylbenzoyl Diphenylphosphine Oxide. It acts as a photoinitiator in some UV- and LED-cured products, helping the formula harden when exposed to a curing lamp. The substances have been classified as category 1B or category 2 carcinogenic, mutagenic or toxic for reproduction, commonly shortened to CMR substances.