These Non-Toxic Nail Polish Brands Are Transforming At-Home Manicures
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I love getting a great manicure and pedicure and then looking at my freshly painted nails. But, I am also very careful with what nail color I choose (Yeah, I’m that girl at the nail shop.) I’m also learning how to be more careful with which brands I use, too. The fashion and beauty industry is one of the largest contributors to environmental waste and the amount of landfill all over the world. As a result, non-toxic nail polish brands are becoming more popular and for good reason. So, if you’re looking for a simple way to be kinder to Mother Earth and your body, keep reading.
What is Non-Toxic Nail Polish?
Non-toxic nail polish is any brand of polish that does not contain the “Big Trio” of harmful chemicals: formaldehyde, dibutyl phthalate, and toluene. Experts share that these three chemicals contribute to health risks, such as cancer, damage to the nervous system, and even reproductive issues—so much so that Dibutyl phthalate is banned in Europe for these reasons. These chemicals are especially harmful to the people working in spas and nail salons who are exposed to these chemicals for hours each day.
Along with these long-term health risks from polish being applied to our hands and feet, the chemicals can be harmful to your nail beds and skin. This is important to keep in mind, especially if your skin is already very sensitive.
So, at your next nail appointment, read the nail polish bottle carefully or bring in your own bottle to ensure that you’re using an eco-friendly nail polish without the “Big Trio,” which will not only be safer for you, but also everyone else around you.
Where Can I Buy Non-Toxic Nail Polish?
Major nail polish brands are gradually making the change to remove the “Big Trio” from their products, so they are becoming more widely available at major beauty retailers, such as Ulta and Sephora. Brands continue to offer and expand the range of colors, so you’ll still get to choose from your favorites for every season. The best part is that the quality remains the same, all while ensuring your manicures and pedicures will have a long-lasting color like before.
10 Best Non-Toxic Nail Polish Brands Worth Trying
Price range reference:
$ | Under $10
$$ | $10-15
$$$ | $15+
Kure Bazaar
Kure Bazaar has been around since 2012 and was founded by Swiss supermodel, Kartika Luyet. Their special formula is “10 Free.” This means that the nail polish does not have ten harsh chemicals commonly found in other brands, including the “Big Trio.”
The nail polish also consists of all-natural bamboo and vitamin E extracts to help protect and soothe nail beds. The range of colors has a milky texture, which may come out more translucent than others—a big nail trend in 2022!
Image: The Detox Market
French Rose
Nail Lacquer
Price: $$$
A jelly-like finish in a delicate pink to complete your French manicure at home!
Image: The Detox Market
Beige Milk
Nail Lacquer
Price: $$$
A soft, off-white nail color that will look great any time of the year.
Zoya
Zoya has been around for years; you’ve probably seen them in your local nail shop or on a shopping trip to Ulta. Either way, they are one of the biggest non-toxic nail polish brands around that have also updated their formula to be “5 Free” and completely vegan. They’ve always had a wide spectrum of colors, but consider deeper hues for the cooler weather. For a non-toxic nail polish brand, their prices are also some of the most affordable on this list!
Image: Ulta
Remove+
Nail Polish Remover
Price: $$
A gentle formula that preps and conditions your nail, while safely removing nail polish! A must-have nail product!
Image: Ulta
Courtney
Nail Lacquer
Price: $$
A sultry red that will match well with all skin tones! A nail color to keep in your repertoire!
Image: Ulta
Abby
Nail Lacquer
Price: $$
When you still have “Lavender Haze” on repeat, this is the nail color for you.
Eco-Glaze
China Glaze has extended their brand and created a plant-based collection, Eco Glaze. It is completely plant-based, yet is still long-lasting and dries quickly. This collection offers the whole package by including eco-friendly top and base coats to ensure every layer of your at-home manicure is non-toxic!
Image: Ulta
Willow be Mine
Nail Lacquer
Price: $
A soft brown with a silky finish perfect if you love earthy tones!
Image: Ulta
Image: Ulta
Sally Hansen Pure
Sally Hansen is another major beauty brand that offers a modified formula line and makes them a non-toxic nail polish brand worth trying. Their formula is “16 Free,” which includes not only the “Big Trio,” but also acetone and other parabens, making it one of the highest “Free” polishes on the list! The brand shares, “It is nature in a bottle: natural, plant-based, and 100% vegan.” Even the brush and bristles are 100% plant-based! If you were a fan of Sally Hansen before, you’ll definitely want to try out their pure formula soon.
Image: Ulta
Eco-Rose
Pure Nail Polish
Price: $
A warm rose color that will keep your nails healthy and looking great.
Image: Ulta
Blue Moonstone
Pure Nail Polish
Price: $
A lovely light blue nail shade that is safe, clean, and eco-friendly!
Image: Ulta
Frosted Pink
Pure Nail Polish
Price: $
Perfectly Barbie-inspired for when you want to shine more than you already do.
Butter London
Butter London was the first brand to sell non-toxic, formaldehyde-free nail polish in the United States! They have updated their formula throughout the years, ridding it of the “Big Trio” and many other parabens. Each polish comes in its distinct, yet elegant, square-shaped bottle, making it hard to miss at various retailers. Butter London also sells a full beauty line of products for your lips, skin, and hair.
Image: Amazon
Mums The Word
Nail Lacquer
Price: $$
A rosy nude nail color that is versatile to wear every day of the year.
Image: Amazon
Proper Do
Nail Lacquer
Price: $$
Like your favorite glass of cabernet! This romantic shade is elegant—the fact that it’s non-toxic is just a huge bonus.
Image: Amazon
Trout Pout
Nail Lacquer
Price: $$
A fun coral shade that invites the spring vibes while being kinder to your pretty nail beds.
Abitzon
When you are really looking for a deal on non-toxic nail polish, Abitzon is the brand for you! They only sell their nail polish in sets—featuring a wide range of colors from bright blues to neutrals—so your non-toxic nail polish collection will surely expand quickly. They are also known for their non-irritating, odor-free, eco-friendly, and water-based formula. Of course, each bottle also excludes the “Big Trio,” ensuring it is non-toxic and safer than other brands.
Image: Amazon
Candy Glitter
Peel Off Polish
Price: $
An affordable 6-pack of nail colors to create colorful and non-toxic manicures at home.
Image: Amazon
Pastels & Glitter
Peel Off Polish
Price: $$
If you like the brand and its colors, consider this 12-pack of eco-friendly nail shades, too.
Pacifica Beauty
“Clean, Vegan, and Cruelty-Free.” Pacifica Beauty is a sustainable beauty brand that also offers non-toxic nail polish. Their collection includes 16 vibrant colors from playful pinks to softer natural hues, consisting of only bio-sourced ingredients. Although its formula is all-natural, hundreds of reviews share that it glides on smoothly and is long-lasting. If you’re already a fan of their other eco-friendly makeup and beauty products, then check out their nail polishes, too!
Image: Ulta
Translucent Matte Topper
Top CoaT
Price: $
We love a fresh, healthy, and matte manicure to give your nails a new look.
Image: Ulta
Ojai
Plant Magic Polish
Price: $
A soft chocolate color that is flattering and safe for all skin tones.
Image: Ulta
Abalone
Plant Magic Polish
Price: $
A glittery, bright, and fun nail color for your next tropical spring break destination.
Nails Inc.
Nails Inc is a non-toxic nail polish brand that proudly creates a plant-based formula. Their new line, the Plant Power Collection, is over 70% plant-based and is “21-Free,” which is one of the highest in the entire nail polish industry. They even recently updated their packaging to be more eco-friendly, by changing the plastic caps to wooden ones. They share that this is their “kindest and purest formulation yet, without compromise to quality and color.”
Image: Sephora
Color Changing Nail Polish Duo
Nail Lacquer
Price: $
A fun ‘90s trend that is making a comeback with these color-changing nail colors that are ultra-safe for you and Mother Earth.
Image: Sephora
Gloucester Crescent
Gel Effect
Price: $
A cool gray that doesn’t ever go out of style, especially when it’s eco-friendly.
Tophany
One of the non-toxic nail polish brands on the list with the lowest prices, Tophany is another brand that is produced with a water-based formula. This toxic-free polish is fast-drying and known for its easy application and removal without damaging your nails. You don’t even need to use acetone! The formula is also low-odor, making it more pleasant to use than other nail polishes.
Image: Amazon
Honey Polish Set
Water Based Nail Polish
Price: $
Ten fun colors that are versatile, easy to apply, and also safe to remove when you’re testing out other non-toxic nail shades!
Olive & June
Olive & June has everything you want in a nail polish. Their non-toxic formula is long-lasting (say goodbye to easy chipping!), has a large variety of colors, and is odor-free. Another plus? The round brush makes the polish easier to use on each nail, especially for those at-home manicures and pedicures. Although they have a wide range of other colors, Olive & June is known for their pastel collection, which is perfect for the spring and summer seasons. Keep your nails bright as you!
Image: Target
Blue - BP
Nail Lacquer
Price: $
A pastel blue that you can wear starting in the winter into bright spring.
Image: Target
Pink - GH
Nail Lacquer
Price: $
Maybe blue isn’t your color? The soft pink is an effortlessly flattering color for anyone.
Image: Target
Greatest Hits Set
Nail Lacquer
Price: $$
Their best-selling non-toxic nail shades are in perfect travel-sized bottles to keep your nails fresh anywhere you go.
So, the next time you decide to get a manicure or pedicure, choose one of these non-toxic nail polish brands. Bringing in your own bottle will not only save some time, but also offer a little extra assistance to the estheticians working at your local nail shop. Also, your nails, skin, nose, and Mother Earth will thank you later for using a safer, kinder formula!