My love for nail polishes is endless. I feel they add a dose of sass to my outfits and represent not only my personality but also my mood. But, I choose to stay aloof from polishes that hamper my nail quality and turn them yellow. Thus, I set myself out on a mission and enlisted the best vegan nail polishes. These nail polishes are the boon I was looking for to take due care of my nail plates and cuticles. They are completely free from harsh chemicals and safe for the environment. 

Talking about the ordinary, non-vegan nail polishes — carmine, found in bright red shades, are made from crushed beetles while guanine is derived from fish scales. Likewise, there are plenty of animal-based ingredients that are found in traditional nail polishes. Honestly, they are a big NO-NO if you wish to protect your nails as well as the animal ecosystem! Hence, vegan nail polishes are my go-tos!

Well, there is so much more that I can share so that you can add the best of the best vegan, cruelty-free, and non-toxic nail polishes to your arsenal. But first, let me tell you what exactly a vegan nail polish is —

A vegan nail polish doesn’t contain animal-derived ingredients or their by-products. Resultantly, it doesn’t have any nasty side effects. They are plant-derived or plant-based nail polishes that are enriched with natural ingredients and botanical extracts like green tea, jojoba oil, sunflower, soy amino acids, citric acid, cotton, and sugarcane seed oil. These ingredients improve your nail health, quality, and overall appearance and do not cause harm to your cuticles or nail plate like the non-vegan ones. Besides, natural compounds keep your nails hydrated and breathable. So, adding vegan polishes to your collection is actually a smart move! 

Without further ado, scroll down! I have rounded up some astounding vegan and cruelty-free nail polish brands that you should think of investing in.

• 1
  Best Overall

  butter LONDON PATENT SHINE 10X NAIL LACQUER

  Buy on Amazon

Give your nails a makeover with butter LONDON's Patent Shine 10X Nail Lacquer in the gorgeous shade "Her Majesty's Red." It has a gel-like formula that boasts a glossy finish and up to 10 days of chip-resistant wear – this is all thanks to the innovative shock-resistance polymer technology. It also has a cruelty-free and 10-free formula, making it a safe formula that contains no harmful chemicals – you can get your glam game on without any guilt. Plus, the unique brush applicator delivers flawless color in just one swipe while the polish dies down very quickly.

2

Most Nourishing

SPARITUAL NOURISHING VEGAN COLOR - Moon Salutation

Buy on Amazon

Indulge in the sheer luxury of SPARITUAL's Nourishing Vegan Nail Color and let your nails dazzle with the enchanting shade "Moon Salutation". This mesmerizing nail polish will soon become your favorite guilt-free beauty ritual – it is both cruelty-free and vegan! Additionally, the glossy finish looks oh-so-sophisticated and luxurious. It's also pocket-sized and travel-friendly, so you can treat your nails to the goodness of nature-inspired ingredients and ethical beauty while you're on the go.

3

Best Non-toxic

ILNP Boutique Nail Polish - Birthday Suit

BUY ON AMAZON

My very first recommendation is ILNP’s Boutique nail polish that comes in a gorgeous cashmere pink nude shade called ‘birthday suit’. It is a holographic, non-toxic vegan nail polish that is completely free from toluene, Triphenyl phosphate, paraben, formaldehyde, and xylene. What I mean to say is that it is 100% safe for your nails and cuticles. In addition, the glossy shimmery finish is something that makes me gravitate toward it all over again.

4

Best for Nail Care

Poderm Nail Polish - Powder Pink

BUY ON AMAZON

The next one that left me awestruck is Poderm nail polish that is enriched with the goodness of tea tree, biotin, and essential oils. It is specially formulated and designed to protect your nails from any kind of breakage and damage. Hence, you need not worry about additional manicure or nail care sessions. Simply, apply this nail polish and keep your nails looking and feeling healthy and strong. Let me also tell you — this vegan and cruelty-free nail polish prevents the yellowing of nails and requires no base coat!

5

Best Fast-drying Nail Polish

786 Cosmetics Breathable Nail Polish - Blue

BUY ON AMAZON

While researching for the best non-toxic vegan nail polish, I came across this one from the brand named 786 Cosmetics. Its three thousand-plus ratings on Amazon is what triggered me to analyze its features and spend a few of my savings to personally test its efficacy. What I love the most is the nail polish’s quick-drying formula that is crafted without any harsh toxins or chemicals. In addition, it's breathable, and the brand claims that they have designed this beauty to keep nails healthy and hydrated. So, a big thumbs up from my end!

6

Most Long-lasting

Cirque Colors Creme Nail Polish - Beatnik

BUY ON AMAZON

Cirque Colors brings to you fabulous creme nail polish in a pickle green color called ‘beatnik’. For someone who is a fan of such earthy and distinctive colors, this one’s an excellent choice. Secondly, the vegan nail polish is backed with a high-grade 10-free formula that makes the application process smooth and mess-free. Well, what left me spellbound is the fact that it is handmade and crafted in small batches! Hence, it’s a polish that you must try!

7

Best Chip-resistant

Londontown Lakur Nail Polish - Berry Nude

BUY ON AMAZON

With a unique blend of moisturizing and strengthening botanicals, minerals, and vitamins, Londontown’s plant-based nail polish managed to win my heart within seconds. Additionally, I highly appreciate its intense pigmentation and gel-like consistency that leaves my nails looking all jazzed up. Also, while glancing through the endless comments and reviews on Amazon, I figured out that nail art enthusiasts like me loved its chip-resistant texture and wide range of colors to suit all occasions.

8

Best Metallic Finish

VIVRE Cosmetics Nail Polish - Always on Taupe

BUY ON AMAZONB08Q

Based on my intensive research and findings, Vivre Cosmetics ‘Always on Taupe’ has managed to garner too much attention for its splendid metallic finish. So, for all those who wish to flaunt metallic nails, this one has to be your ideal choice. Moreover, it is a fast-drying vegan nail polish that is breathable and formulated to keep your nails looking and feeling strong and healthy.  The most impressive part — it comes with a premium quality applicator brush that glides easily on your nails, thereby preventing air bubbles!

9

Best High-shine Finish

OPI Nature Strong Vegan Nail Polish - Kind of a Twig Deal

BUY ON AMAZON

I glanced through the features of this cruelty-free nail polish from OPI and was stoked to see that its ‘Kind of a Twig Deal’ color is swoon-worthy in actual sense. It can complement all of your outfits and make your nails look as pretty as possible. To note more, it is a long-lasting and high-shine finish polish that you just can’t resist drooling over. Plus, you need not worry about its formula — it is crafted from plant-based ingredients sourced from nature.

10

Most Cost-effective

Jolie Vegan Nail Polish - Never Apologize

BUY ON AMAZON

Jolie’s vegan nail polish is yet another PETA-certified nail paint that you must get your hands on. This one called ‘Never apologize’ comes in a bright white shade that lends your nails a dose of casualness. Secondly, it is completely free from 10 top harsh ingredients that ordinary nail polishes are loaded with. Hence, if you are on a quest to buy a long-lasting and good-quality nail polish, do consider this one. It is highly pigmented and also safe on your cuticles!

11

Best for French Manicure

ZOYA Nail Polish - Snow White

BUY ON AMAZON

For anyone who loves French nails or French-style manicures a little too much, think of splurging on Zoya’s vegan non-toxic nail polish that comes in a pure, bright, and clean color called ‘Snow White’. It is completely safe for your nails and does not cause any harm to your cuticles or nail plate. Last but not least, it has a fabulous staying power that never asks you for any kind of touch-ups. Plus, it is free from formaldehyde and doesn’t have any nasty side-effects.

12

Best Sheer Finish

Manucurist Green Natural Nail Color - Hortencia

BUY ON AMAZON

While on my quest to find the best cruelty-free nail polish for you, Manucurist Green Natural Nail Color got my attention for a few reasons. First, its delicate and sheer pinkish color called ‘Hortencia’ makes my nails look like pearls. Secondly, it is completely free from harsh ingredients and crafted from renewable plant-derived raw materials. Topping it all off, with sugarcane, corn, cotton extracts, bamboo sap, and sunflower seed oil extracts, it takes due care of my nails.

13

Cote Nail Polish - Laguna

BUY ON AMAZON

Why buy just one nail polish when you can buy three in one go? Check out Cote’s Laguna vegan nail polish set that will help you find your perfect pick for all occasions. The three nail polishes are also travel-friendly so that you can elevate your nail game while on the go. That glossy finish and quick dry formula bowled me over and I just can’t stop admiring these beauties. Furthermore, they are chip-resistant and easy to apply. Besides, it is one of the most trusted brands that nail technicians and salons love to restock.

14

Mersi Cosmetics Breathable Nail Polish

BUY ON AMAZON

It’s non-toxic, vegan, and cruelty-free, what else can a nail art enthusiast ask for? The brand, Mersi Cosmetics, very well understands how to live up to the expectations of every fashionista who wants to ace her nail game like a pro. Having said that, this breathable vegan nail polish leaves no stone unturned in helping females achieve gorgeous-looking nails. It allows water as well as oxygen to permeate through it, thus keeping your nails healthy and hydrated. Trust me, it's worth every penny!

15

SOPHi Nail Polish - Pop-arazzi

BUY ON AMAZON

Lastly, I recommend SOPHi nail polish that comes in a bright color called ‘Pop-arazzi’. This nail polish is odorless and primarily free of all harsh chemicals and toxins. Since it does not contain formaldehyde, toluene, and dibutyl phthalate, the brand claims that this vegan nail polish is also fully safe for pregnant women and nursing moms. Believe me, it is a good vegan nail polish to rely on if you have a couple of parties and special events on your list to attend.

That was my comprehensive list of the best vegan nail polish brands. Now, let me run you through a detailed buying guide.

Here are a few aspects that you should consider before splurging on the best vegan nail polish -

Ingredients: Make sure you analyze the list of ingredients mentioned on every vegan polish’s packaging. Pick one that is enriched with botanical, plant-derived, and clean ingredients like jojoba oils, sunflower seed extract, green tea, etc. as such ingredients take due care of your nails. Avoid investing in nail polishes that are tested on animals and loaded with animal ingredients, and harsh and toxic chemicals like formaldehyde, toluene, dibutyl phthalate, ethyl tosylamide, mineral oils, etc. 

Applicator: For smooth, effortless, and mess-free application, ensure that you get your hands on a cruelty-free nail polish that comes with a high-grade brush or applicator. An applicator that is wide and features closely-knit bristles will pave the way for even and less gooey applications. 

Formula: The next important aspect is the formula of the cruelty-free vegan nail polish that you are planning to invest in. It should possess a safe, hypoallergenic, and natural formula that is suitable not only for adults but also for kids. Secondly, it should be highly pigmented for full coverage and chip-resistant. I recommend investing in nail polishes introduced by vegan brands that possess non-toxic formulas as well as long-wear formulas and don’t carry out animal testing.

Texture: Whenever you are on a quest to pick a pure vegan nail polish, make sure you check the texture first. Avoid snagging up nail polishes that possess a thick or runny texture as it may make your nails look streaky or opaque. Pick one that has a smooth, easy-to-glide texture, and facilitates quick and smooth application with no possibility of air bubbles popping up.

Type of Nail Polish: There are a variety of cruelty-free nail polishes available on the market like holographic nail paints, metallic nail polishes, matte nail polishes, etc. You may pick any from the wide variety available as per your taste and preference.

Finish: Last but not least, check the finish type of the plant-based nail polish you are planning to buy. You can choose between matte, semi-glossy, or high-gloss nail polishes depending upon your taste and preference. 

After taking note of the aspects mentioned above, let me walk you through the benefits of using vegan cruelty-free nail polish. 

The following are the plus points of applying a vegan nail polish - 

1. It protects animals, the environment, and the overall ecosystem. 
2. It prevents nail breakage and damage.
3. It promotes healthy and stronger nails. 
4. It contains naturally sourced and plant-derived ingredients that nourish nails and cuticles. 
5. It doesn’t contain strong chemicals or animal products.
6. A few are breathable and water-permeable, hence they allow your nails to breathe. 
7. It prevents the yellowing and never makes your nails brittle.
8. It is free from parabens and harsh chemicals, and thus suitable for adults as well as kids.

That was all about the best vegan nail polishes that you should think of snagging right away. Trust me, they are healthier and safer alternatives to traditional nail polishes that often hamper the natural quality of your nails. What makes cruelty-free, non-toxic, and vegan polishes so unique is their excellent plant-derived ingredients and splendid formulation that promote healthy nail growth. Plus, you need not worry about your nails and their nourishment in the long run as they are completely free from harmful chemicals. So, there is no reason to wait longer, explore my list of recommendations from top to bottom, and add them in bulk to your collection. Happy shopping!