You know that pretty nail polish you're dying to paint your toes with this spring? You might want to take a look at the ingredient list -- many polishes contain formaldehyde, a highly debated cosmetic ingredient.

Formaldehyde is a preservative that can be found in a plethora of seemingly-safe items, including the air you breathe. The EPA believes it to be a possible carcinogen, and the use of formaldehyde in cosmetics is regulated in Europe, Canada, and Japan. However, here in the States, the FDA doesn't think it poses enough risk to necessitate regulation in cosmetics (even children's toiletries aren't always formaldehyde free). In nail polish, formaldehyde is used to help harden the nails.

Even if there's no federal regulation in the U.S., you do have a choice in whether you expose yourself to formaldehyde in your nail lacquer. Dr.'s Remedy Enriched Nail Polish, along with a bevy of other beauty brands, are creating formaldehyde-free polishes.

Dr.'s Remedy was created by Dr. William D. Spielfogel (podiatrist) in Brooklyn when his wife became pregnant and he realized there was no "healthy" nail polish. "Women don't know they shouldn't be using this stuff," says Spielfogel, who we met at the Bagtrends Green Arm Candy Party in New York.

Spielfogel created a polish that was formaldehyde free, enriched with vitamins and antifungal ingredients, and allergen friendly.

This is obviously a good choice if you're pregnant or have allergies -- but think also about what polish your children and nieces and nephews are using! And wouldn't you feel better not painting yourself with toxic chemicals? We thought so.