Can You Ship Nail Polish (Domestically or Internationally)?
When most people hear the words “hazardous chemicals”, they probably think of toxic substances that they rarely, if ever, come into contact with. However, you probably have items in your home that contain such chemicals, such as nail polish. Such items, no matter how innocuous they might seem to you, may be subject to shipping restrictions. Can you ship nail polish, domestically or internationally?
Most modern nail polishes contain highly volatile organic solvents such as butyl acetate or ethyl acetate. Because of this, they are flammable, which means nail polish is restricted domestically and prohibited internationally. As a result, shipping nail polish is definitely a bit trickier than shipping most other cosmetic products.
For example, the United States Postal Service (USPS) classifies nail polish as a flammable/combustible liquid. As such, it is prohibited for international shipping and domestic air shipping. However, it is acceptable for domestic ground shipping as a consumer commodity, as long as you ship small quantities of nail polish and take all necessary precautions.
To comply with USPS regulations, you need to know the flash point of your nail polish, which is the lowest temperature at which its vapors will ignite if there is a spark or flame nearby. For most nail polish, the flash point is around 90°F to 105°F (about 32°C to 40°C), depending on the ingredients, which means it is flammable even at room temperature. This means it must be properly packaged and labeled.
Proper packaging of nail polish is key to ensuring that the package is accepted by the carrier and arrives safely at its destination. To ship nail polish, you will need a sturdy corrugated cardboard box large enough to hold the bottles and some extra padding, but not too large; bubble wrap and other cushioning materials such as packing peanuts; sealable plastic bags; and strong tape.
Start by making sure the bottles are sealed tightly. Wrap each bottle individually in bubble wrap and secure it with tape. Place the bottles in a sealed plastic bag that will contain any leaks if the bottles are damaged during shipping.
Line the bottom of the shipping box with a layer of bubble wrap or packing peanuts. Place the bottles in the box, making sure they are upright, and fill the remaining space with more packing material. Close the box and shake it gently to make sure there is no movement inside; add more cushioning if necessary. Seal the box with heavy-duty packing tape.
USPS regulations require that all packages containing hazardous materials be properly labeled. Prior to 2021, nail polish was labeled as ORM-D (other regulated materials - for domestic transportation only). However, this label is now obsolete; instead, you should use the Limited Quantity label (a diamond-shaped symbol with the top and bottom elements in black and the center element in white).
The warning label must be placed on the address side of the package, next to the shipping label. It is also a good idea to add stickers such as “This Side Up” and “Fragile” to ensure your package is handled with care.
UPS also allows to ship nail polish domestically via ground, but to do this you will need to sign an agreement with them as a shipper of hazardous materials, and, of course, properly package and label your shipments containing nail polish.
As for shipping nail polish internationally, it is theoretically possible, but only for licensed companies that know all the ins and outs of the process and have all necessary permits. If you try to ship nail polish internationally as an individual, your package will be rejected by the carrier if you honestly disclose its contents, or confiscated if you don’t.