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Last Updated 11/26/2022
Toxic Chemicals May Be Lurking In Your Nail Polish
Nail polish has historically been one of the most toxin-ridden beauty products sold in the United States. Chemicals such as DBP (dibutyl phthalate), Toluene, Camphor, and Formaldehyde can be found in popular nail polish brands. Not only are these chemicals dangerous to inhale, but some have been found to disrupt hormones and cause reproductive issues. Scary, huh?
The good news is times are changing and there are a ton of nail polish brands on the market that don’t include dangerous chemicals in their formulation. Not only that but they are cruelty-free as well (meaning they don’t test their ingredients or finished products on animals).
We’ve rounded up the best nail care brands below – all of which we’ve personally vetted and meet our Clean and Cruelty-Free Standards. Happy polish shopping!
Non-Toxic and Cruelty-Free Nail Polish Brands
TLDR Cheat Sheet
- 100% Pure (Zer0)
- Aila
- Bio Seaweed (great choice for gel!)
- Bkind
- Côte
- Deborah Lippman
- Dimension Nails (vegan + small business!)
- Dr.’s Remedy (medically conscious)
- Ella + Mila
- Honey Bee Gardens (odorless! great for kids!)
- Huella
- Kapa Nui
- Kure Bazaar
- Lauren B.
- Nailberry
- Olive & June
- Pacifica
- Piggy Paint (great for kids!)
- Sienna Byron Bay
- Smith & Cult
- Suncoat (great for kids!)
- Sundays
- Tenoverten
- Yapa
- Zoya
100% Pure (Zer0)
100% Pure, founded by Susie Wang, has a nourishing nail polish line created with fruit-based pigment. 100% Pure nail polish, now labeled Zer0, is formulated without formaldehyde, toluene, DBP, camphor, formaldehyde resin, xylene, parabens, fragrances, phthalates, and animal ingredients.
10-Free | Cruelty-Free
$12.00 USD
Shop Zer0
Aila
Aila polish was developed by Podiatric Surgeon Dr. Cary Gannon. It promotes nail and cuticle health while offering a wide range of colors and long wear. Aila nail polish is formulated without parabens, sulfates, formaldehyde, formaldehyde resin, camphor, dibutyl phthalate, toluene, triphenyl phosphate, xylene, bismuth oxychloride, ethyl tosylamide.
Cruelty-Free | Vegan | Gluten-free
$14.00 USD
Shop Aila
Côte
Côte is a vegan nail polish developed by Mary Lennon and Leah Yari. Côte offers a wide range of colors that are chip-resistant. Côte nail polish is made without formaldehyde, dibutyl phthalate (DBP), toluene, camphor, formaldehyde resin, TPHP, xylene, ethyl tosylamide, parabens, and gluten.
12-Free | Cruelty-Free | Vegan | Gluten-Free
$18.00 USD
Shop Côte
Ella + Mila
Ella+Mila is a luxury brand of non-toxic nail polishes named after the founder’s twin daughters. Their polishes are 7-free, vegan, and cruelty-free and made without Toluene, Dibutyl Phthalate (DBP), Formaldehyde, Formaldehyde Resin, Camphor, TPHP, and Xylene.
17-Free | Cruelty-Free | Vegan
$10.50 USD
Shop Ella + Mila
Honey Bee Gardens
Honey Bee Gardens nail polish is water-based, odorless, and environmentally safe, making it a great choice for kids (or adults). Their polish contains no FD&C colors, toluene, dibutyl phthalate (DBP), xylene, or formaldehyde, camphor, or benzophenone-1.
Cruelty-Free | Vegan | Gluten-free | Odorless
$12.99 USD
Shop Honey Bee Gardens
Lauren B.
Lauren B is a luxury organic nail polish line by west-coast beauty Lauren B, of course! Lauren’s love for nail care and working knowledge of high-end luxury cosmetics led her to the creation of the line. From Lauren herself, “Everything we create is vegan-friendly and free of harsh chemicals like formaldehyde, DBP, toluene, formaldehyde resin and camphor”.
Sustainably Sourced | Cruelty-Free | Vegan | Certified Organic
$16.00 USD
Shop Lauren B.
Nailberry
Nailberry is a non-toxic & vegan nail polish line by Sonia Hully. Their products are vegan, breathable, and Halal certified. Their formula is 12-free and is made without Phthalates, DBP, Toluene, Formaldehyde, Formaldehyde Resin, Camphor, Xylene, Ethyl Tosylamide, Triphenyl Phosphate, Alcohol, Parabens, Animal Derivatives, Gluten.
12-Free | Breathable | Cruelty-Free | Vegan | Gluten-free | Halal Certified
£16.00 | $19.35 USD
Shop Nailberry
Pacifica
Pacifica is a drugstore brand that carries a wide color range of nail polish that is both vegan and cruelty-free. We couldn’t find a list on their website of the exact 7 chemicals their formula is made without, but it’s fair to assume it’s likely the most common ones, such as Toulene, Formaldehyde, Dibutyl Phthalate (DBP), etc. Pacifica polish can be found at Target and Ulta, as well as online.
7-Free | Cruelty-Free | Vegan | Affordable
$9.00 USD
Shop Pacifica
Sienna Byron Bay
Sienna Byron Bay is a luxury non-toxic nail polish brand developed by Australian nail technician Danielle. Her line, which focuses on inclusivity, comes in a large range of shades that are breathable and water-permeable. Although Sienna polish is created in Australia, they have an affordable flat rate shipping charge of $6 USD (to the USA).
7-Free | Cruelty-Free | Vegan | Eco-Friendly | Breathable
$22.00 USD
Shop Sienna Byron Bay
Smith & Cult
Smith & Cult is a luxury nail line with gorgeous gold + glass packaging and an 8-free vegan formula. The shades are fun and sassy; this is definitely not your mom’s polish!
8-Free | Cruelty-Free | Vegan | Trendy/Unique Shades
$18.00 USD
Shop Smith and Cult
Sundays
Sundays nail polish is a 10-free luxury nail polish with a long-lasting, chip-free formula. Their formula strengthens nails and adds a glossy shine. Sundays polish is formulated without dibutyl phthalate, TPHP, toluene, xylene, ethyl tosylamide, camphor, formaldehyde, formaldehyde resin, parabens, and tert-butyl hydroperoxide. If you’re in the NYC area, check out the Sundays salons near Fifth Avenue!
10-Free | Cruelty-Free | Vegan | Moisturizing | Vitamins
$18.00 USD
Shop Sundays
Yapa Beauty
Yapa Beauty is a professional nail polish brand with a non-toxic, high-shine, and fast-drying formula. Their polishes come in a wide range of colors, all long-lasting and chip-resistant. Yapa nail polish is 7-free, and is formulated without Formaldehyde, Formaldehyde Resin, Toulene, Dibutyl Phthalate (DBT), Camphor, Triphenyl Phosphate (TPHP), Xylene, Ethyl Tosylamide/Epoxy Resin, Lead, Hydroquinone Monomethyl Ether (MEHQ/HQ), Methylisothiazolinone(MIT) / Methylchloroisothiazolinone (CMIT), Parabens and Gluten.
PETA Certified Cruelty-Free | Vegan | Gluten-free | Quick Dry
$18.00 USD
Shop Yapa
Zoya
Zoya polish, created by Zoya and Michael Reyzis (Art of Beauty) is a long-lasting non-toxic nail polish formulated without toluene, camphor, formaldehyde, formaldehyde resin, and DBP (dibutyl phthalate).
Cruelty-Free | Vegan | Trendy/Unique Shades | Affordable
$12.00 USD
Shop Zoya.)
This post is not sponsored but may contain affiliate links from which we earn a commission at no additional cost to you. Nothing stated in this article should be used in place of professional medical advice. All opinions are our own.
**Polish prices are subject to change and only reflect the manufacturer’s listed price at the time the article was written.
