You’re in the right place if you’re on a quest for the best non-toxic nail polish brands that offer super safe yet chip-free formulas for your next manicure or pedicure. Traditional nail polishes have a bad reputation for their formulations that are heavy in formaldehyde, toluene, and dibutyl phthalate. To add to the ugly concoction of the ‘3 disruptors’, a strong odor, does the job of repelling you away from it. Naturally, the best non-toxic nail polishes are taking over and there’s no reason why you should be missing out. Research shows that the chemicals in nail polishes can seep into the body through the nails and cause dizziness, headaches, dry skin, and in some extreme cases might even mess with reproductive hormones (1). So, when makeup aficionados have been moving over to clean makeup products, it’s time we follow suit too.

Carline Dyer, data reviewer, and laboratory analyst talks about the harsh components in toxic nail paints, “The 3 ingredients are dibutyl phthalate, toluene, and formaldehyde. DBP is a commonly used plasticizer, it makes products more flexible. Well, the problem with that ingredient is that it is an endocrine disruptor which is linked to hormonal changes and diabetes and also thyroid irregularities.”

Thankfully, most nail polishes now mention 3-free or 5-free on their labels — and there has been a growth in the number of brands that have started dropping toxic chemicals from their formulas. So, fret not, you don’t have to sacrifice a thing to get a gorgeous and safe mani-pedi. From shimmery golds to sophisticated nudes, we’ve lined up the best non-toxic nail polishes that will help you nail the perfect nail paints that you can enjoy without worrying about the harm they might cause.

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  Best Summer Shades

  LONDONTOWN Illuminating Nail Concealer

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One of the best shimmer colors for your nails has to be this illuminating formula by LONDONTOWN. The milky luminous shade has been trending on all social media platforms and this shade will let your nails do all the talking. You can either use this as a top coat or two coats of this Kur Top Coat to add a glossy effect to your nails. The buildable shade is perfect for all the boss babes as well as new moms and kids. 

2

Best Plant-based Formula

Sally Hansen Good Kind Pure Vegan Nail Polish - Elderflower Power

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The natural, plant-based formula of Sally Hansen Good Kind Pure Vegan Nail Polish has a 15-free, clean formula designed for beautiful nails. It is a natural nail polish that is absolutely free of the harmful effects of formaldehyde and formaldehyde resin, as well as a host of other harsh chemicals. Even the tapered brush is made of completely natural, plant-based bristles that are ideal for an effortless and streak-free application. You can be sure that your nails will have a rich radiance for days. It contains sustainable bamboo and marine algae that provides nutrients to your nails and keeps them hydrated which boosts growth and strength while keeping them safe from external stressors.

3

Best Nude Shades

Gellen Gel Nail Polish Kit - Gentle Nudes

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You couldn’t ask for more with the Gellen Gel Nail Polish Kit as it comes with 12 gorgeous solid colors, a glossy base coat, and a matte top coat. It also includes AB rhinestones in different shapes, shiny glitter, and a UV LED light 72W nail lamp for almost instant drying. All are packed in a beautiful gift box along with a mask and moisturizing gloves. Treat yourself to a manicure at home with this luxurious gel starter kit. The gentle natural nudes of these non-toxic nail polishes are extremely flattering to your skin tone with their subtle and sophisticated hues. They personify elegance and are suitable for all occasions. With proper application, this gel can last for 2 to 3 weeks.

4

Best for Nail Health

Abitzon Honey Healthy Nail Polish Set - Multicolor

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Pamper your nails with the eco-friendly and non-toxic Abitzon Honey Healthy Nail Polish Set. The 10 rainbow colors of these 3-free nail polishes are ideal for teenagers. Its innovative formula dries in 60 seconds and doesn’t require lamp baking. Its water-based formula makes it extremely easy to remove. Just peel it off neatly after soaking your nails in warm water for a while — don't even bother with nail polish remover. The transparent healthy nail polish of this kit can be used as both a base and top coat.

Tip: Our findings show that for longer-lasting nail polish, wash your hands thoroughly, and apply 2 layers of nail polish. Finish it with a top coat and then wet your nails after 4 hours.

5

Best at-home Holographic Effect

RARJSM Professional Holographic Gel Polish - RAR73

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Packed in a beautiful gift box, RARJSM Professional Holographic Gel Polish gives your nails a holographic effect of an iridescent unicorn. You no longer have to bother about an expensive visit to a nail salon for your nails to look professionally done. All you need to do is change the base color for different holographic colors. This chip-resistant rose gold nail polish is an ideal spring and summer color. Its non-toxic, vegan formula is eco-friendly and low on odor and can give you a very satisfying nail art experience. This long-lasting and safe nail polish is easy to apply. It also includes a nail polish remover and is ideal for beginners.

6

Best Overall

O.P.I Nature Strong Vegan Nail Polish - A Clay in the Life

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Groom your nails with the light pink hue of O.P.I Nature Strong Vegan Nail Polish which promises you professional standards. This is the first of the brand’s nail polishes which are made with natural ingredients. You are guaranteed 7 days of flawless wear and gloss and even longer if you use the Nature Strong Top Coat as well. The subtle light pink shade is crafted with plant and mineral-based ingredients sourced from wheat, sugar cane, manioc, potatoes, soy, and corn. So enjoy the luxury of an effective natural nail polish that doesn’t compromise on it/s ingredients or performance. It’s available in 30 other beautiful shades.

7

Best for Children

Piggy Paint Water-Based Nail Polish - Unicorn Fairy

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Especially crafted for kids, Piggy Paint Water-Based Nail Polish is completely devoid of all chemicals and toxins. We have found from using this product that it’s almost completely odorless as compared to solvent-based nail polishes. This kid-friendly nail polish is also safe for pregnant and nursing women. It comprises 3 mini bottles as well as 3-D nail art of a unicorn fairy so that kids can have all the fun they want. It has a hard and durable finish that is completely chip-resistant. It dries in no time and barely takes a minute if you use a hair dryer. This non-toxic nail polish comes in a rainbow of colors like Happy Hands and Loud and Proud to name a few.

8

Best formula

786 Cosmetics Breathable Nail Polish - Istanbul

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786 Cosmetics Breathable Nail Polish makes the proud claim of being vegan, cruelty-free, and halal. This fast-drying nail polish does not contain any of the top 11 harsh chemicals like formaldehyde and toluene usually found in traditional nail polishes. Its unique formula allows water to permeate through keeping your nails hydrated and healthy and preventing nails from becoming brittle or yellow. This non-toxic nail polish is eco-friendly and safe without compromising on performance or quality. This breathable product is chip-resistant and available in a host of other shades which are inspired by cities around the world from Istanbul to Giza to Granada.

9

Best Pigments

Bontime Beauty Water-Based Healthy Nail Polish - 6 shades

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Crafted with 66 percent water and infused with mineral pigments and polyurethane resin, Bontime Beauty Nail Polish with its 6 shades is pretty remarkable. You can give yourself a professional manicure at home without causing any damage to your nails. Each layer of nail polish takes just 90 seconds to dry and doesn’t require a UV lamp. It lasts for 2 to 3 days and can be just peeled off when you want to change it. The different colors give you the option of changing your nail color as you want. This includes a high-shine base/top coat with a premium application brush that ensures an even coating of your nails. This stain-free healthy nail polish is water soluble and can be washed off easily from clothes.

10

Most Beautiful Shade

Gaoy UV Gel Polish - Milky White

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Enjoy nail art from the comfort of your home and without paying a hefty bill with Gaoy UV Gel Polish. Depending on whether you want a transparent look or a solid opaque one, this milky white non-toxic nail polish can be applied in several layers. Extremely long-lasting, your nails will look manicured for up to 4  weeks especially if you apply a base and top coat. Our team discovered through using this product that it dries in no time and just needs a minute under a UV lamp. It has hardly any odor as it’s free of most chemicals and toxins and its ingredients are SGS-certified and in compliance with FD&C Act.

11

Jodsone Gel Nail Polish Starter Kit - 10 Set 1

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Made of natural resins, healthy minerals, and other non-toxic ingredients, Jodsone Gel Nail Polish Starter Kit includes a classic black-and-white color. Apart from that you can choose between light pink, bright red, and even royal purple. And then you have a choice between a green or a dark blue as well. As these healthy nail polishes are a combination of light and dark hues, they are suitable for all seasons and occasions. All these colors are easy to apply as they have good malleability. These nail polishes have an incredibly glossy shine and last for up to 21 days.

12

Ytd Likomey Gel Nail Polish - Champagne Gold

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An amalgam of fine sequin and crushed diamond glitter, Ytd Likomey Gel Nail Polish is a premium reflective flash glitter gel nail polish. It has a thickish texture and gives out an amazing sparkle in the dark when a light source is reflected on it. It comes in a 15 ml bottle so you can experiment all you want with nail art. It needs to be cured under a UV lamp and should be ideally used with a base and top coat where each stage takes 1 to 2 minutes to dry completely. This non-toxic nail polish has a low odor and lasts longer than most gel polishes.

13

Karma Hues Organic Non-Toxic Nail Polish - Hot Cakes

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Nourish your nails with the vitamin-infused formula of Karma Hues Organic Non-Toxic Nail Polish which is vegan and cruelty-free. Pamper yourself with nail art by using this long-lasting and fast-drying nail polish. The formula of this beautiful light pink nail polish is enriched with coffee extract and calcium which makes it chip-resistant and prevents it from peeling. Free of 7 toxic chemicals like formaldehyde and xylene, it’s safe for children and pregnant women. These safe nail polishes are packed in glass bottles and only soy-based ink is used on them. This product comes in more than 140 other colors like Aabidah, Bilquis, and Nabila to name a few.

14

Three Cheers for Girls Color Changing Nail Polish Set

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Make every manicure an incredible experience with the Three Cheers for Girls Color Changing Nail Polish Set as its innovative formula changes the color of the polish with changes in the temperature. You can play around with the polishes and change their looks in a second. You have a choice of 5 bright and alluring colors which change with heat — teal to light blue, orange to yellow, dark blue to pale blue, dark pink to pale pink, and purple to medium pink. Easy to apply, it has a glossy shine and is long-lasting. You can get the best results by using 2 coats of this healthy nail polish along with a top coat. For quick and effective removal, just use a nail polish remover.

15

Mineral Fusion Nail Lacquer - Coral Reef

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Crafted with natural minerals, Mineral Fusion Nail Lacquer is a healthy option for conventional nail polishes. It includes an extra-thick brush which allows you to apply it flawlessly in 2 strokes. This chip-resistant nail polish is a light pink-orange with a creamy texture. This non-toxic and long-lasting nail polish has a vegan formula and is available in a range of 60 other colors like Rock Candy and Peachside Party. Devoid of harmful chemicals like DBP and formaldehyde, it’s not tested on animals nor does it contain any animal products. Our findings show that this safe nail polish brand works in collaboration with CarbonFund.org to reduce its carbon footprint on the planet.

16

Tophany Honey Healthy Nail Polish - Style 7

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You can have the time of your life with the 6 vibrant nail polishes of Tophany Honey Healthy Nail Polish. This fast-drying nail polish is water-based and takes about 80 seconds to dry without a UV lamp. Its eco-friendly formula is made completely without harsh chemicals like toluene and formaldehyde. It has a mild and pleasant fragrance. This nail polish is easy to peel off after soaking in warm water. It includes stylish and soft shades of pink and a top coat which are great for most skin tones. Crafted with 66 percent water, safe mineral pigments, and polyurethane resin, the low-odor formula of this healthy nail polish is safe for both children and adults.

Now that you are pretty clear about the advantages of using non-toxic nail polish, let’s go through some basic guidelines on what to look for while choosing the best non-toxic nail polish so that you don't go wrong.

Irrespective of the brand and color you may decide on, there are a few factors that certainly should not be ignored while choosing the best non-toxic nail polish.

Ingredients

Whenever you buy nail polish, the most important thing to check is that it’s devoid of formaldehyde, toluene, and dibutyl phthalate. In the last decade, the better brands have already dropped these ingredients, so what you need to look for is a higher number before the word ‘free’. The higher the number (5-free, 7-free, 15-free, etc) the fewer toxins in the formula. 

As there is no clear guideline as to what toxins are included in these numbers, it’s best to check the ingredient list to check which toxins have been dropped from a particular brand. In the case of some nail polishes, the spectrum of toxins is stretched a bit to include animal-derived ingredients, so do read the list carefully. 

Color Range

This is something that is determined by your personal choice. Some brands offer a small curated line with gorgeous colors, while others offer a rainbow selection. The latter is good for those who like to collect different colors. There are still other brands that cater to specific tones like pastels or whites. In case you are looking for a specific color or style, it's always good to know which brands specialize in which colors.

Long-Lasting

Contrary to what you may think, many non-toxic nail polishes are as long-lasting as any traditional nail polish and don't necessarily fade or chip. Natural nail polishes in most cases are as good or bad as any traditional nail polish when it comes to longevity.  Most of the good brands of non-toxic nail polishes last up to 2 weeks.

Ingredients to Avoid

A pretty standard non-toxic nail polish should be at least 10-free as that’s the number of toxic ingredients it doesn’t contain. The ingredients that you can most definitely drop like a hot potato are toluene, dibutyl phthalate, camphor, formaldehyde, and formaldehyde resin. Ideally, the label should also mention ‘cruelty-free and vegan’ which means it hasn’t been tested on animals and doesn’t contain any animal products.

Purchase from Reputed Stores

Unfortunately, counterfeit cosmetics are sold so it’s best to buy non-toxic nail polishes from either a drugstore or bigger reputed stores. That way you know you are getting what’s mentioned on the label.

With the drive towards clean makeup becoming stronger by the day, it’s not surprising that nail polishes which have usually been at the back of the line are finally receiving the attention they deserve. The best non-toxic nail polishes are dropping harsh and toxic chemicals from their formulas and are moving towards natural ingredients.

These are as long-lasting and have as beautiful a finish as any other traditional nail polish. You no longer have to expose yourself to harsh toxins or a strong odor every time you treat yourself to a manicure or pedicure. We sincerely hope our research into these will help you make an informed decision the next time you go out to stock up on nail paints.

Contributor: Carline Dyer, data reviewer, and laboratory analyst