Why Are Some Nail Brands Missing from Pretty Yeppuda?

We regularly get asked why a particular nail brand is not available at Pretty Yeppuda. You have seen the colours, watched the tutorials and saved the latest collection. Naturally, you would love to find those products here too.

So, what is the background?

Believe us, we have spoken to almost all of them. We share your enthusiasm for beautiful nail products, and there are plenty of collections we would love to bring to you. But before a product can become part of our selection, there are questions that need clear answers.

For many of the brands you ask us about, the main obstacle is TPO. For others, it is the information needed to complete the safety assessment required for the European market. Sometimes, both issues apply. In other cases, a brand has simply chosen not to work with Pretty Yeppuda or not to enter the European market at this time.

Let us explain what that means.

TPO, short for Trimethylbenzoyl Diphenylphosphine Oxide, is a photoinitiator used in certain nail gels. It helps start the chemical reaction that allows the gel to cure under a suitable lamp.

Since 1 September 2025, TPO has been prohibited in cosmetic products in the European Union. The change followed its classification as a category 1B substance toxic to reproduction. Cosmetic products containing TPO can no longer be sold or supplied in the EU, and nail professionals cannot use them on clients, including products purchased before the ban took effect. European Commission: TPO questions and answers

For Pretty Yeppuda, that creates a clear requirement: a product containing TPO cannot join our European selection, however beautiful or popular it may be.

You may still see these products on international websites or in social media posts. That can be confusing, especially when a collection appears to be available everywhere except here. However, availability in another country does not establish that a product meets the requirements for sale in the EU.

The next question is understandable: why do the brands not simply change their formulas?

Some are doing exactly that. Others have not yet scheduled the switch, or have not provided a confirmed timeline for the products we would like to offer.

Changing a gel formula takes development work. Replacing a photoinitiator can affect curing behaviour, consistency, colour and performance. A manufacturer needs to establish how the revised formula performs and provide documentation that accurately reflects the finished product.

A reformulated collection may therefore take time to become available. Until there is a suitable formula and sufficient supporting information, we cannot give you a reliable launch date.

We also need to distinguish between a brand announcing a change and the particular products being ready. A statement about future reformulation does not tell us which collections have changed, which formulas are being supplied or when the supporting documents will be available.

That is why we sometimes have to answer “not yet”, even when conversations with a brand are positive.

There is another reason a collection may be missing: the documentation needed to assess its safety is incomplete.

Before a cosmetic product is placed on the EU market, it must undergo a safety assessment supported by relevant information. The resulting Cosmetic Product Safety Report, often called a CPSR, must meet the requirements of the European Cosmetics Regulation, and the assessment must be carried out by a suitably qualified professional. European Cosmetics Regulation, Articles 10 and 11

This requires more than attractive packaging, an ingredient list or a general assurance that the product is safe.

The assessment needs a sound technical basis. Depending on the product, this includes information about the formula and ingredient concentrations, the properties of the ingredients, intended use and exposure, stability, microbiological quality and packaging. The evidence needs to relate to the actual product being offered. European Commission guidance on cosmetic safety reports

Sometimes a manufacturer cannot provide enough information. Documents may be incomplete, contain inconsistencies or relate to an earlier formula. In other cases, the information needed from raw material suppliers is unavailable.

When essential evidence is missing, the safety assessor cannot simply fill the gaps with assumptions.

This does not automatically mean that a product is unsafe. It means that there is insufficient evidence to reach and document the necessary safety conclusion. That distinction matters, and it is why we avoid making broad judgments about brands whose products we do not carry.

It also explains why “TPO-free” is only part of the answer. Removing TPO addresses one ingredient issue. It does not, by itself, establish that the complete formula and its supporting documentation satisfy every applicable requirement.

There are also commercial decisions to consider. A brand may decide not to work with Pretty Yeppuda, or may choose not to enter the European market at this time. Brands set their own priorities for partnerships and international expansion, and we respect those choices. A brand’s absence from our shop does not, by itself, mean that there is a problem with its formulas or safety documentation.

You might wonder why we do not name the brands involved.

Our aim is to explain our selection, while keeping discussions with manufacturers constructive. Formulas change, documents become available and development priorities evolve. A brand that cannot supply a suitable collection today may be able to do so later.

There can also be differences within a single brand. One collection may be ready for the European market while another still needs work. A general statement about an entire brand would overlook those differences.

We know that waiting is disappointing. When you have found the perfect shade or watched a product perform beautifully in a tutorial, regulatory documentation is probably the last thing on your mind.

That is part of the work behind bringing products to you. The visible result is a bottle on a shelf; behind it are questions about the formula, the evidence and whether the product can responsibly be offered in our market.

We want our selection to grow, and we welcome brands that are ready to support that process. Your requests help us understand which collections interest you, and we are happy to hear what you would love to see at Pretty Yeppuda.

So, if a favourite brand is missing, there is often a practical explanation: its products still contain TPO, reformulation has not yet been scheduled or completed, or the information needed for a European safety assessment is not available. Alternatively, the brand may have chosen not to partner with Pretty Yeppuda or not to come to Europe at this time.

We share your excitement about discovering something new. Bringing it to Pretty Yeppuda means making sure the work behind the product is ready too.