📌 FDA & Cosmetics Safety Hub: browse all 7 guides »
No. A missing ingredient name does not rule out methylene chloride. FDA found it in several products marketed as gel nail polish remover and reports frequent label omission. Read FDA’s warning.
Two sources, different purposes
| General nail-care guidance | Specific remover warning |
|---|---|
| Follow label directions and warnings; use good ventilation. FDA nail-care guidance. | Methylene chloride is prohibited in cosmetics at any level. FDA substance warning. |
Editorial distinction: handling precautions do not establish a bottle’s composition.
Names and evidence limits
FDA also names dichloromethane and methyl bichloride. FDA’s naming explanation. Their absence is not a clearance test. Label gaps are not unique to removers — temporary-tattoo labels raise the same question about what is actually declared: see Temporary Tattoo Labels: Comparing Decals, Henna, and Black Henna Without Assuming Safety.
The supplied warning excerpt references tested products but omits the table entries. It cannot identify your bottle or lot, nor establish that all removers contain the substance.
Before choosing a remover, consult the official warning; keep unresolved product identity unresolved rather than declaring safety. Reading the list itself has its own limits — position does not give you a percentage: see U.S. Cosmetic Ingredient Order: Why Position Is Not an Exact Percentage.
Source check date: October 24, 2026, using supplied FDA captures—not a live availability check. Changes to the warning, product table, naming or general guidance require a refresh.
