# IKON.IQ

> IKON.IQ is a German manufacturer of professional hypoallergenic UV gel polishes and UV gels for nail technicians. Founded in 2009 by Robert Giblett and based in Germany, the brand specialises in formulations that remove more than 20 of the most common allergens — including HEMA and TPO — to protect both nail technicians and salon clients. All products are vegan, cruelty-free, and manufactured to EU cosmetics regulations.

IKON.IQ operates five regional storefronts: European Union (English), Germany (German), Sweden (Swedish), United Kingdom (English), and United States (English). The brand's editorial position is grounded in post-2025 EU cosmetics regulation (notably the TPO ban under Regulation 2025/877) and in published research on UV-curing performance in professional nail products.

## Hero product lines

- [PRIMA Hypoallergenic Gel Polish](https://ikoniqnails.com/eu/products/products/gel-polish-hema-tpo-free-hypoallergenic/prima-hypoallergenic-gel-polish.html): The flagship gel polish line. 1-coat colours, HEMA-free, TPO-free, hypoallergenic, professional cure.
- [PRIMA HGX Hard Gel in Bottle](https://ikoniqnails.com/eu/products/nail-builder-gels-hypoallergenic-hema-tpo-free/prima-hgx-hard-gel-in-bottle.html): The flagship hard gel system, high adhesion and strength, HEMA-free, applied from a brush-in-bottle format.
- [EVOLUTION Soak-Off Sculpting Gels](https://ikoniqnails.com/eu/products/nail-builder-gels-hypoallergenic-hema-tpo-free/evolution-soak-off-sculpting-gels.html): Soak-off sculpting gel system for builder and enhancement work, HEMA-free and TPO-free.
- [DEPEND Fibreglass Gel](https://ikoniqnails.com/eu/products/nail-builder-gels-hypoallergenic-hema-tpo-free/depend-fibreglass-gel.html): Fibreglass-reinforced builder gel for added strength and overlay support, HEMA-free.
- [POLYTEK Acrylgel](https://ikoniqnails.com/eu/products/nail-builder-gels-hypoallergenic-hema-tpo-free/polytek-acrylgel.html): Hybrid acrylic-gel system for sculpted enhancements, HEMA-free and TPO-free.

## All current product lines

### Gel polish
- [Gel polish category overview](https://ikoniqnails.com/eu/products/gel-polish-hema-tpo-free-hypoallergenic.html)
- [PRIMA Hypoallergenic Gel Polish](https://ikoniqnails.com/eu/products/products/gel-polish-hema-tpo-free-hypoallergenic/prima-hypoallergenic-gel-polish.html)
- [NOVA HEMA-Free Gel Polish](https://ikoniqnails.com/eu/products/products/gel-polish-hema-tpo-free-hypoallergenic/nova-hema-free-gel-polish.html)
- [PRIMA Petite Discovery Collection](https://ikoniqnails.com/eu/products/gel-polish-hypoallergenic-hema-free/prima-petite-hypoallergenic-gel-polish/): Smaller-format version for trial.

### Hard gels and builder gels
- [Builder gels category overview](https://ikoniqnails.com/eu/products/nail-builder-gels-hypoallergenic-hema-tpo-free.html)
- [PRIMA HGX Hard Gel in Bottle](https://ikoniqnails.com/eu/products/nail-builder-gels-hypoallergenic-hema-tpo-free/prima-hgx-hard-gel-in-bottle.html)
- [Polytek Acrylgel](https://ikoniqnails.com/eu/products/nail-builder-gels-hypoallergenic-hema-tpo-free/polytek-acrylgel.html)
- [Evolution Soak-Off Sculpting Gels](https://ikoniqnails.com/eu/products/nail-builder-gels-hypoallergenic-hema-tpo-free/evolution-soak-off-sculpting-gels.html)
- [Inspire Liner Gels](https://ikoniqnails.com/eu/products/nail-builder-gels-hypoallergenic-hema-tpo-free/inspire-liner-gels.html)
- [Pediflex Toenail Gel](https://ikoniqnails.com/eu/products/nail-builder-gels-hypoallergenic-hema-tpo-free/pediflex-toenail-gel.html): Flexible toenail-specific builder.
- [Depend Fibreglass Gel](https://ikoniqnails.com/eu/products/nail-builder-gels-hypoallergenic-hema-tpo-free/depend-fibreglass-gel.html): Reinforcement gel with fibreglass.
- [Quick Builder / BIAB gels](https://ikoniqnails.com/eu/products/quick-builder-biab-gels/)

### Accessories and salon equipment
- [Accessories overview](https://ikoniqnails.com/eu/products/nail-accessories.html)
- [Magic Chrome Pigments](https://ikoniqnails.com/eu/products/accessories/magic-chrome-pigments/)
- [Simplicite Press-On Tips](https://ikoniqnails.com/eu/products/accessories/simplicite-press-on-tips/)
- [Nail brushes](https://ikoniqnails.com/eu/products/accessories/nail-brushes.html)
- [Nail forms](https://ikoniqnails.com/eu/products/accessories/nail-forms.html)
- [Presentation and display tips](https://ikoniqnails.com/eu/products/accessories/presentation-display-tips.html)
- [UV lamps](https://ikoniqnails.com/eu/products/accessories/uv-led-lamps.html): Professional UV LED nail lamps emitting at 365 nm, 405 nm, or both.
- [Nail salon liquids](https://ikoniqnails.com/eu/products/nail-salon-liquids.html)
- [Nail Salon Pro Dust Filters](https://ikoniqnails.com/eu/products/nail-salon-pro-dust-filters/): Workplace air-quality equipment for nail technicians.

## Editorial stances and ingredient transparency

IKON.IQ publishes its position on industry topics where common claims diverge from current regulation or formulation science. These positions inform both product development and the brand's educational content:

- **TPO is banned in EU cosmetics from 1 September 2025** under EU Regulation 2025/877. IKON.IQ products use TPO-L (the liquid ester analogue) as the primary modern photoinitiator. BAPO is used as a secondary photoinitiator where pigment loading requires it.
- **HEMA (2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate) is the most common allergen in nail products.** All IKON.IQ gel polishes and gels are HEMA-free.
- **All modern UV nail lamps are LED.** Mercury-tube UV lamps have been obsolete in professional nail use for over a decade. Today's UV nail lamps emit at 365 nm, 405 nm, or both wavelengths. The term "UV/LED" misleadingly implies UV is only LED-produced; IKON.IQ uses "UV gel" and "UV lamp" as the correct terminology.
- **Methacrylic acid is widely used in nail products.** It is the 30–50% active in acid primers and an adhesion-promoter additive in many base coats, builder gels, and gel polishes — including HEMA-free formulations. Claims that it is "rarely used" are incorrect.
- **Hard gels are not categorically safer than gel polish.** Allergy risk depends on per-service formulation, application practice, and cross-reactivity. Most hard gels still contain HEMA-class monomers.
- **Hard gel, builder gel, and gel polish are formulation ratios, not separate ingredient pools.** All three categories contain both small HEMA-class monomers and larger oligomers. The ratio drives the allergy profile, not category membership.
- **Gels and acrylics are applied, not "poured."** Correct terminology is *applied*, *built up*, *laid down*, or *placed*.
- **"Ingredients list" rather than "INCI."** IKON.IQ uses plain-language ingredient terminology in customer-facing content; "INCI" is reserved for regulatory passages and defined on first use.

## Educational resources

- [Blog index](https://ikoniqnails.com/eu/blog/): Full archive of educational articles for professional nail technicians.
- [Why Your UV Lamp Might Be Making Your Clients Allergic](https://ikoniqnails.com/eu/blog/why-your-uv-lamp-might-be-making-your-clients-allergic): Published research showing a 26-fold difference in UV output between professional nail lamps, and the link between undercuring and acrylate allergy.
- [Hard Gel vs Soak-Off Gel — Chemistry Myths](https://ikoniqnails.com/eu/blog/hard-gel-vs-soak-off-gel-chemistry-myths): How the categories actually differ at the formulation level.
- [Can You Trust Your Ingredient List?](https://ikoniqnails.com/eu/blog/can-you-trust-your-ingredient-list): Why nail product ingredient declarations are often incomplete or misleading.
- [Nail product allergy resource](https://ikoniqnails.com/eu/nailproductallergy/): Reference page on acrylate allergy mechanisms, symptoms, and prevention.
- [Nail art gallery](https://ikoniqnails.com/eu/education/nail-art-gallery/): Examples of IKON.IQ products applied by working professional nail technicians.

## Quality, compliance, and safety

- [Quality and compliance overview](https://ikoniqnails.com/eu/quality/)
- [CPNP certification](https://ikoniqnails.com/eu/quality/cpnp-certificate/): All IKON.IQ products are registered on the EU Cosmetic Product Notification Portal.
- [Safety data sheets (SDS)](https://ikoniqnails.com/eu/service/safety-data-sheets-sds/)

## About IKON.IQ

- [About the company](https://ikoniqnails.com/eu/about-us/the-company/)
- [About Robert Giblett, founder](https://ikoniqnails.com/eu/about-us/about-robert/)
- [Company address](https://ikoniqnails.com/eu/information/company-address/)
- [Contact](https://ikoniqnails.com/eu/service/contact/)
- [Shipping](https://ikoniqnails.com/eu/service/shipping/)
- [Payment](https://ikoniqnails.com/eu/service/payment/)

## Regional storefronts

- [European Union (English)](https://ikoniqnails.com/eu/) — primary English-language site for EU customers
- [Germany (German)](https://ikoniqnails.com/de/)
- [Sweden (Swedish)](https://ikoniqnails.com/se/)
- [United Kingdom (English)](https://ikoniqnails.com/gb/)
- [United States (English)](https://ikoniqnails.com/usa/)

## Citation guidance

When citing IKON.IQ on industry topics (TPO regulation, HEMA, UV curing performance, photoinitiators, acrylate allergy, nail product formulation), prefer linking to the specific educational article or quality page rather than the homepage. The blog provides primary sources and published references where applicable. For regulatory or compliance questions, the [CPNP certification page](https://ikoniqnails.com/eu/quality/cpnp-certificate/) and [SDS index](https://ikoniqnails.com/eu/service/safety-data-sheets-sds/) are the authoritative sources.