You may have seen the term TPO popping up in the news recently, especially in relation to gel polish and nail products. With lots of information flying around, it can be tricky to know what it all actually means. At Mooeys, we believe in keeping our clients fully informed – because your safety, confidence, and trust in us are always our top priority.

So, let’s break it all down. What is TPO? Why is it being banned in some places? And most importantly, how are we at Mooeys making sure your nails stay fabulous and safe?

What is TPO?

TPO is the short name for a photo initiator – an ingredient commonly used in gel polish. Its job is to help your gels cure (or harden) properly when they’re exposed to UV or LED light. Without it, your polish wouldn’t set in the way you know and love, and your nails wouldn’t have that strong, long-lasting finish.

In short, TPO has been one of the behind-the-scenes ingredients that ensures your gel polish looks amazing and lasts for weeks.

Why is TPO in the news?

As of 1st September, TPO has been banned across the EU (though not in the UK). The ban doesn’t mean TPO has suddenly been found to be unsafe in salon use. Instead, it has been reclassified as a CMR 1B substance – which means it’s now officially labelled as carcinogenic, mutagenic, or toxic to reproduction under EU CLP regulations.

Under these rules, any cosmetic product with this classification is automatically prohibited, even if it hasn’t been shown to cause direct harm in its existing use.

It’s more about regulatory caution than proven risk. But understandably, headlines like this can sound a bit scary.

What does this mean for Mooeys clients?

Here’s the good news: you don’t need to worry.

At Mooeys, we only ever use products that are safe, high performing, and fully compliant with the latest regulations. We made the move away from TPO long before this change hit the news, because we’re committed to staying one step ahead when it comes to safety.

We proudly use The GelBottle professional products across our salons. They’ve been preparing for this transition since 2023, reformulating their entire range for the EU market. Their new formulas are completely TPO-free, replacing it with TPO-L – a safe, compliant alternative that works just as effectively.

This means your gels still cure quickly, look flawless, and last beautifully – just without the use of TPO.

Why safety always comes first at Mooeys

For us, this isn’t just about swapping one ingredient for another. It’s about what we stand for as a brand.

When you walk into a Mooeys salon, we want you to feel confident that we’ve thought about everything – from the big changes like this TPO reformulation, right down to the little details like sterilising tools, maintaining strict hygiene standards, and keeping our salons welcoming and safe.

Your wellbeing is at the heart of every decision we make. That’s why we:

  • Constantly review and update the products we use.

  • Work only with brands who share our commitment to safety and quality.

  • Train our teams to the highest standards, so you’re always in safe hands.

  • Stay ahead of regulations so you never have to worry.

We know that beauty should never come at the cost of safety. And at Mooeys, it never will.

The bottom line

The TPO ban may have made headlines, but for Mooeys clients, it’s already old news. Thanks to our trusted partnership with The GelBottle, all our gels are TPO-free and fully compliant.

So, when you sit down for your next appointment, you can simply enjoy the experience – knowing we’ve done the work behind the scenes to keep you safe, stylish, and totally looked after.

Because at Mooeys, it’s not just about great nails. It’s about caring for you, every step of the way.