Poor acetone. It’s a nail product that people love to hate. Whether it’s a nail tech who gets burned by the flammable liquid (don’t put acetone in the microwave, people!) or a client who feels the polish remover is drying out her nails (a little cuticle oil generally perks the nail back up), the essential beauty ingredient is beleaguered by a controversial rap sheet.

And it’s controversy that’s been stirred up at Woonsocket, R.I.-based pharmacy chain CVS this month — as the drugstore made headlines for requiring customers to show ID when buying acetone-based nail polish remover, plus set a per person limit on the amount OK to purchase. WPRI reported the justification in the form of a sign in a Southern New England store that said, “CVS/Pharmacy is helping to protect our community from the illegal making and use of methamphetamine because acetone can be used in the process.”

Poor, poor acetone. Now it’s being incriminated by association. But what about all of us beauty junkies who desperately need our fix — and for the very legitimate reason of removing our so-last-week nail color?

Well, I’m happy to report that, according to its Facebook page, the pharmacy giant has reconsidered … mostly. 

“We want to thank all of our fans who have shared their thoughts on our policies for the sale of nail polish removers that contain acetone, which is an ingredient used in the illegal manufacture of methamphetamine. After a thorough review, we are revising our policy to ensure customer convenience while appropriately complying with regulations in our business,” CVS stated via a status update. “Purchases of products containing acetone, including nail polish remover, will no longer require an ID, except in the state of Hawaii. We will also continue to require ID for the purchase of iodine products in California, Hawaii, and West Virginia. These revised policies, designed to comply with certain regulations requiring retailers to record sales of methamphetamine precursor ingredients, will take effect before the end of this week."

On the plus side, if you’re a nail tech who’s facing the acetone-ID law in Hawaii: If clients can’t remove their polish at home anymore, that’s one more reason for them to come into the salon.

—Sree