FDA Finds Six Additional Gel Nail Polish Removers Containing Methylene Chloride

This news was updated on May 4.

After recalling Morovan products, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has discovered through testing that six additional cosmetic products marketed as gel nail polish remover contain methylene chloride, a prohibited ingredient in cosmetics.

The testing is part of the FDA’s ongoing surveillance to periodically collect samples of cosmetic products for examination and analysis.

The six additional products found to contain methylene chloride are:

• Nifeishi Nail Polish Gel Remover   
• Born Pretty Magic Gel Remover     
• Candy Lover Gel Polish Remover   
• Eelhoe Magic Remover       
• Morovan Gel Nail Polish Remover 
• Gellen Time To Shine Nail Removal Kit        

Methylene chloride is a volatile, colorless liquid with a sweet odor that is used in various industrial processes, including paint stripping, paint remover manufacturing and metal cleaning and degreasing. FDA regulation prohibits methylene chloride as an ingredient in cosmetics because the chemical has been shown to cause cancer in animals and it can be harmful to human health.

Morovan Recall

Last week, Morovan, along with the FDA, recalled 15ml gel nail polish removers due to the detection of methylene chloride and chloroform in the affected products. According to the recall, both “hazardous substances are strictly prohibited in cosmetic formulations.”

Health Fraud Scams

In early 2026, the US FDA posted information about gel nail polish removers that contain methylene chloride, a prohibited ingredient, on its “Health Fraud Scams” page.

In lab testing, the impacted products contained between 78—94.4%. All were made in China.

Gas chromatography with flame ionization detector was used to determine the weight-by-weight percent of methylene chloride. The results reported are the average of three preparations from the same lot of nail polish remover, according to FDA.