10 Top Non-Toxic Nail Polish Brands for Healthy, Beautiful Nails
You might not think much about your nail polish, beyond choosing a color you’ll love. But the varnish that makes your tips and toes pop is actually made up of chemical ingredients and solvents that can irritate skin, cause allergic reactions, and even lead to headaches, hormone disruptions, and certain types of cancer. That’s why finding a non-toxic nail polish you love is vital to your health.
It’s scary but true: Multiple studies have shown that even polish labeled “non-toxic” can contain endocrine-disrupting plasticizers, and one 2015 study by researchers at Duke University found evidence of triphenyl phosphate (TPHP) — a chemical that interferes with normal hormone functioning and is found in furniture fire retardant — in the bodies of every person who painted their nails for the study. Eek!
If this all sounds frightening, fear not. You don’t need to swear off manicures and pedicures forever. There are plenty of non-toxic nail polish brands that are free of most of these commonly found toxic chemicals, so you can protect your nails — as well as your overall health — during your next DIY or salon polish session.
How do you know if a nail polish is truly non-toxic?
As research has evolved over the past decade, it’s no surprise that many savvy beauty lovers are looking for non-toxic nail polishes to minimize exposure to harsh or potentially harmful toxins.
At a minimum, you’ll want to make sure your polish of choice is labeled “5-free,” which refers to polishes that are not made of the following five ingredients: formaldehyde (a carcinogen and skin irritant that makes polish shine and chip resistant), toluene (a potentially neurotoxic nail polish solvent), dibutyl phthalate (a plasticizer), formaldehyde resin, and camphor (an ingredient that gives polishes their shine but has been linked to skin irritation, allergies, nausea, dizziness, and headaches).
These days, the gold standard for clean nail polish are 10-free, 14-free, and even 16-free, which means they contain no formaldehyde, toluene, DBP, formaldehyde resin, camphor, ethyl tosylamide, xylene, parabens, acetone, TPHP, TBHP, and they’re also free of gluten, vegan-friendly, and cruelty-free. We dug a bit deeper and found the best non-toxic polish brands out there — all of which are at least 8-free. Keep reading to shop Woman’s World’s picks for healthy, non-toxic nail polish brands you’ll love.
Sally Hansen Good. Kind. Pure. Nail Color
Where to buy: $8.99, Ulta
What we like:
- 100% vegan and cruelty-free
- Plant-based brush for easy application
- Wide range of shades
The beloved drugstore brand recently launched a line of “16-free” polishes, a collection of nearly 30 plant-based, 100% vegan polish shades that keep your nails radiant and protected — without a host of potentially dangerous toxins including formaldehyde, formaldehyde resin, toluene, xylene, acetone, phthalates (including DBP), camphor, parabens, ethyl tosylamide, triphenyl phosphate (TPP), styrene, bisphenol A, glycol ether of series E, nonylphenol ethoxylate, sulfates, and any animal-derived ingredients.
Buyer review: “I just bought a bottle of the crystal blue nail polish and I LOVE IT. The formula dries quickly and flawlessly and it’s stayed on super nicely. I make art and garden a lot and it’s withstood everything. Super pleased and glad it’s vegan.”
Zoya Nail Lacquer
Where to buy: $10.50, Ulta
What we like:
- Among the first major brands to go toxin-free
- Widely used in spas and salons
- Wide collection of colors
Zoya was one of the first mainstream polish brands to go 3-free, and now, the brand’s 400 shades (yes, really!) are all 10-free, making them vegan-friendly and made without formaldehyde, formaldehyde resin, toluene, dibutyl phthalate, camphor, ethyl tosylamide, TPHP, xylene parabens, or lead. The vast collection of high-quality, long-wearing polish can be found in salons and spas across the country, as well as online for at-home mani lovers.
Buyer review: “Zoya nail polishes are excellent. They are the only brand I have ever tried that doesn’t have any harmful ingredients that actually lasts on my nails. The color selection is always lovely, and goes on smoothly and evenly.”
JINsoon
Where to buy: $18, JINsoon
What we like:
- Female-founded brand with high fashion and style in mind
- Used by top fashion brands for runway shows and campaigns
- Bold, beautiful colors
Famed manicurist Jin Soon Choi has worked her magic on the nails of some of the most famous models around the world, and her namesake line brings all that bold beauty to life in a slew of chip-free, fast-drying formulas, all of which are vegan-friendly and 9- or 10-free.
You can buy single polishes or combine your favorites to make a set, and she also has a collection of fast-drying top coats to enhance shine, and base coats to keep nails strong and healthy.
Kure Bazaar
Where to buy: From $18, Amazon
What we like:
- Classic, beautiful shades
- Swaps harsh chemicals and toxins for natural ingredients
- 10-free formula
This French beauty brand serves up stunning and chic polish shades that will make heads turn anywhere you go. Not only does each bottle contain the brand’s fast-drying, long-lasting wear formula with endless shine, each polish 10-free, swapping the most common irritants and chemicals for 85% natural ingredients, including wood pulp, wheat, cotton, potatoes, and corn. It sounds too good to be true, but trust us when we say these polishes have that certain je ne sais quoi — while also being gentle and healthy for your tips and toes.
butter LONDON
Where to buy: $18, Amazon
What we like:
- Wears for up to 10 days
- Chip- and fade-resistant shades
- Beloved by Courteney Cox, Amy Adams, Rihanna, and more
This collection of luxe lacquers is a celeb favorite, counting Courteney Cox, Hilary Swank, Amy Adams, and Rihanna among its famous fans, offering up a 10-free collection of glossy, London-inspired shades with kitschy names like Tea With the Queen and Mum’s the Word.
Buyer review: “This color is stunning and the nail polish goes on easily and smoothly. No lines or streaks. Just two coats and you’re done. Dries quicker than Essie or OPI as well! I’ll definitely be ordering more colors!!”
AILA Nail Lacquer
Where to buy: From $14, Amazon
What we like:
- Created by a podiatrist
- Shades ranging from neutrals to neons
- Vegan-friendly, cruelty-free, and gluten-free
Founded by a board-certified podiatrist who hoped to create polishes without compromising on nail care and health, Aila polishes are vegan, cruelty-free, and gluten-free, offering up a non-toxic manicure or pedicure in a stunning range of shades from neutrals to neons and everything in between — without the use of toxins and irritants like parabens, sulfates, formaldehyde, formaldehyde resin, camphor, dibutyl phthalate, toluene, triphenyl phosphate, xylene, bismuth oxychloride, ethyl tosylamide, methylisothiazolinone, hydroquinone monomethyl ether, and plant derivatives.
Buyer review: “AILA is hands down my favorite natural nail polish. ‘The New Black’ is the perfect color for any season! I almost always have this color on! To maximize your manicure when doing it yourself, apply one coat of polish, a clear top coat then repeat those steps again.“
Nails INC NailPure
Where to buy: $15, Nails INC
What we like:
- Long-lasting, breathable 10-free formula
- Bold shades designed for intricate nail art
- Formula instead nourishes nails to keep them healthy and strong
British brand Nails Inc.’s NailPure Line boasts plenty of benefits, including a 10-free formula that is vegan, cruelty-free, and Halal-friendly. The bold, beautiful shades are designed for intricate nail art, but look just as good for eye-catching nails without the ‘ickiness’ that plenty of traditional polish formulas.
Buyer review: “It has good coverage and texture. I have repeatedly purchased it. The ingredients are very important due to an allergy. Often get compliments!”
sundays
Where to buy: $10.95, Amazon
What we like:
- Female-founded brand
- Formulated without 10 potentially health-harming chemicals
- Stunning salon-quality shades
Founder Amy Lin Ling worked for a year with a chemist to create her line of bright, brilliant shades, which boast a formula free of 10 potentially health-harming chemicals like TPHP, dibutyl phthalate, toluene, xylene, ethyl tosylamide, camphor, formaldehyde, formaldehyde resin, parabens, and tertbutyl hydroperoxide.
Ling aimed to create her polishes with the health of salon staffers and patrons in mind, and each formula is also 100 percent free of animal byproducts. The end result is a chic collection of colors with a comfy-grip bottle and lid for achy wrists and fingers, leading to perfectly precise applications every single time.
Buyer review: “This brand is one of the best I have found in a long time! Great color and goes on very nicely.”
Londontown
Where to buy: $16, Londontown
What we like:
- Nourishing blend of antioxidant-rich botanical extracts and oils
- Classic, elegant shades
- A 9-free formula that eliminates the most common chemicals, irritants, and toxins
This 9-free non-toxic nail polish line began its origin story from botanical extracts grown in a family garden in Radlett, England in the 1940s. All these decades later, beauty lovers are treated to a line of soft, stunning shades infused with the brand’s antioxidant-rich formula of natural botanicals like vitamin E, evening primrose oil, and rapeseed oil to nourish and replenish nails.
Buyer review: “Since I received a nail color kit from my niece, this has been my go-to for natural, environmentally friendly nail color. I love this brand’s colors and service. Items arrive as shown on the website and colors are beautiful. Most colors I’ve used go on smooth and can be used with just one coat if wanted. Color stays for up to 10 days with no chipping.”
Smith & Cult
Where to buy: $18, Smith & Cult
What we like:
- Nourishing blend of antioxidant-rich botanical extracts and oils
- Classic, elegant shades
- A 9-free formula that eliminates the most common chemicals, irritants, and toxins
This trendy beauty brand features an extensive line of chip-resistant, super shiny nail polish shades that will look just as gorgeous on your nails as the bottle will sitting pretty on your shelves. The bold shades not only have cheeky names (fan favorites include Cool Your Jets and Palace in Wonderland) but a vegan-friendly, cruelty-free, 8-free formula, made without dibutyl phthalate, toluene, formaldehyde, formaldehyde resin, camphor, xylene, ethyl tosylamide, and triphenyl phosphate.
Buyer review: “I have been a wearer of Smith & Cult nail polishes for many years. I have always been impressed by their long wear, chip resistance, and that they are cruelty-free. I was looking for a light color for summer that wouldn’t require a lot of maintenance if I got lazy and this one is a beauty! As an older woman, I think it is perfect for me. Highly recommended!”
