Is there a difference in how nail polishes hold up if they contain the controversial chemical dibutyl phthalate or not? Apparently so, according to an unscientific study conducted by the Post-Gazette.

Post-Gazette reporter Cindi Lash road-tested two polishes for eight days on separate hands, one lacquer that contained the phthalates (Sally Hansen's Advanced Hard As Nails in "Charisma," $2.99) and one that did not (Estee Lauder's Pure Color Cool Nail Lacquer in "Cool Petal," $22).

She applied two coats of each without basecoat or topcoat and then went about her usual routine, which included typing, washing dishes and other housework, and some gardening in canvas gloves. No touch-ups were allowed.

Her findings, in her own words:

"The Estee Lauder went on a bit streaky. Despite two coats, it didn't seem to cover as evenly as the OPI polish I prefer. And I was a bit surprised that the Estee Lauder polish did not hold up as well as the Sally, particularly because it was on my left hand. (She's right-handed.) It chipped almost right away. I had two chips by the end of the first afternoon it was applied, one on the index and one on the ring finger. By the weekend, it was also looking shabby at the tips and along the cuticle -- actually chipped off in a couple of places.

"The Sally went on more evenly and looked nicer longer. But by the end of the week, it looked worn at the nail tips. It was wearing down at the ends and you could see bare nail at all of the ends and in one place on my index finger. It didn't actually chip off, though."

-- LaMont Jones, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette