About BuilderGel.app
Why we built this
HEMA (2-Hydroxyethyl Methacrylate) is the most common sensitizer in gel nail products — and most people using builder gels at home have no idea it's there. Once you develop a HEMA allergy, the reaction is permanent: you can no longer safely use gel nails, and may react to dental adhesives, medical devices, and contact lens materials.
We built BuilderGel.app because finding out whether a specific product is safe shouldn't require a chemistry degree. A simple, searchable database with clear safety labels shouldn't be hard to find — but it didn't exist. So we made one.
What the database covers
Our database covers builder gels, BIAB (Builder In A Bottle) products, hard gels, poly-gels, gel polishes, base coats, top coats, and related nail prep products. We screen every product against 13 sensitizing and harmful ingredients including HEMA, Di-HEMA TMHDC, MMA, HPMA, TPO, IBOA, and formaldehyde.
Products are rated on a 1–5 safety scale and labeled with a clear HEMA-free badge where warranted. Each product page shows the full ingredient list, flagged ingredients, and links to verified safer alternatives.
Data sources and confidence
Ingredient data is sourced from brand websites, Amazon product listings, and user submissions. Each product is assigned a data confidence grade (A–D) based on source reliability. Brand website data is graded A; third-party marketplace listings are graded B or C. User submissions start at C and are upgraded after independent verification.
We update ingredient data when formulations change, but we can't guarantee real-time accuracy. Always verify with the physical product label, especially after purchasing a new batch.
How to contribute
The database grows through community contributions. If you know of a product that should be included — or if you've spotted an error in our ingredient data — please submit it via the form below. Your submission will be reviewed and added to the queue.
Not medical advice
BuilderGel.app provides ingredient information for educational purposes only. We are not medical professionals and this is not medical advice. If you have experienced a reaction to nail products, consult a dermatologist or allergist. See our full disclaimer.