In this guide, we are sharing why you should consider making the switch to non-toxic nail polish, and giving you all of our favorite non-toxic nail polish brands, including nail polish removers and safer nail polish options for kids!
Table of Contents
- How Is Nail Polish Toxic?
- Is nail polish toxic only when it makes contact with the skin?
- Is nail polish toxic to breathe?
- Is dry nail polish toxic?
- Toxic Nail Polish Brands (Worth Avoiding)
- What are the best non toxic nail polish brands?
- Dazzle Dry Nail System
- Aila Nail Polish
- Cote Safer Nail Polish
- Zoya Nail Polish
- Piggy Paint Nail Polish
- Sophi Nail Polish
- ella + mila Nail Polish
- 100% Pure Nail Polish
- Poofy Organics Nail Polish
- NCLA Nail Polish
- Karma Organic Natural Nail Polish
- Nontoxic Nail Polish Remover Options
- Non Toxic Nail Polish Brands for Kids
- Piggy Paint Girl’s Nail Polish
- Emosa Nail Polish for Kids
- Karma Kid’s Nail Polish
- Snails Non-Toxic Nail Polish
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Video
- Here’s our take on safe Nail Polish Brands
This article has been a LONG time coming! I really started my research on safer nail polish years ago, when we were first considering starting a family. From there, I’ve learned a lot about what matters, what doesn’t matter, what to prioritize, and some of the pro’s and con’s of the safer polish brand options out there. We utilized the EWG, our own extensive use of the polishes (manicure research, not a bag gig), and the websites of each individual brand to help formulate our guide!
For those of you curious about more of the geeky skincare science AND for those of you curious about how to navigate salon options (think: gel and dip powders), we have those articles coming next!
Let’s dig in…
How Is Nail Polish Toxic?
Truth be told, the contact that nail polish makes with your skin is relatively minor when compared to other skincare and beauty products. If you’re at the beginning stages of switching-to-safer and feeling overwhelmed by all of the swaps you could make, I recommend prioritizing products that make the most regular contact with your skin (think: lotion or makeup). If you’re looking for a safer beauty swap priority list, here’s my suggestion:
- First: products that you apply regularly and that are designed to sit on or soak into the skin. This includes: body lotion, face lotions, serums, oils, makeup, toners, eye cream, etc. My go-to safer skincare brand here.
- Second: deodorant. My go-to safer deodorant here.
- Third: products that you soak in regularly, such as a bubble bath or other kind of spa-like soak. My favorite soak here.
- Fourth: soaps, including body wash and shampoo/conditioner. My favorite safer body products here and my favorite shampoo / conditioner.
- Fifth: perfume, if you wear it multiple times a week; bump to the end of the list if you wear infrequently. My favorite safer perfume here.
- Sixth: hair styling products. My favorite safer styling products here.
- Seventh: nail polish. Read on for my favorites!
Is nail polish toxic only when it makes contact with the skin?
You may think that your nail serves as a protective barrier against nail polish and that it can only be absorbed when it comes into contact with your skin. However, while your skin is more porous than your actual nail, chemicals CAN pass through either barrier. What does this mean? It means that while the toxins in nail polish will pass through your skin at a greater rate, they can also still pass through your nail. So, if you’re still married to your conventional nail polish, be careful to only paint on the nail.
Is nail polish toxic to breathe?
This is a great question! YES, there are a few vaporous toxic ingredients that will waft up while you’re painting your nails. Ingredients include toluene, formaldehyde, and camphor. A few of these are relatively benign (think: rubbing alcohol) but others can actually have an impact on brain functionality, respiratory health, and can cause headaches. If you know that you’re not going to give up your salon manicure (no judgment!) but you are concerned about breathing in the chemicals, a filtering mask (like this one from Amazon) may be worth stashing in your purse for your weekly trip to the manicurist. If you are doing your own at-home manicure, another option to consider is to paint your nails by an open window!
Is dry nail polish toxic?
Unfortunately, it looks like toxins from nail polish do stay in your body long after the polish dries. The chemical TPHP has been found to stay in the body several hours after using polish. The verdict is still out as to whether or not this chemical has any serious long term effects on people, but if you are a regular nail polish user, we have put compiled a list of non- or low-toxic options!
Toxic Nail Polish Brands (Worth Avoiding)
While we’re not on a mission to vilify any one brand, the labels that actually pack the biggest toxic load punch are a few of our salon-staple favorites:
OPI
*Updated information: A reader commented thinking that OPI was 10-free, but because we couldn’t find any evidence of that online, we decided to email them. Here’s their response: “Our products are 3 free. At this time we do not have any information on our products becoming 5 free, 10 free, etc.”
*Original information: OPI Nail Polish boasts about not having the toxic trio (toluene, formaldehyde, and DPB) but, it has other ingredients that aren’t the greatest: camphor, which can cause nausea and dizziness if inhaled, and Benzophenone 1, which may negatively affect the endocrine system.
Essie
While word on the street is that Essie is a safer nail polish, we beg to differ. Like OPI, Essie is considered “3-free” (free of toluene, formaldehyde, and DPB) but it also has several ingredients we aren’t fans of. It contains aluminum powder and dimethicone. Neither one of these is great for your body to absorb on a regular basis. Though the most recent information from the EWG Skin Deep Cosmetic database is a little dated, they gave Essie a score of 6 at one point, which is in the moderately hazardous category.
Sally Hansen
*Updated information: Sally Hansen has a brand new “Good. Kind. Pure.” line that claims to be 16-free and 100% vegan. We can’t verify any ratings on EWG yet, but this sounds promising!
*Original information: Sally Hansen nail polish is also considered “3-free.” Although this is encouraging, it also has some ingredients that aren’t the safest, like triphenyl phosphate. This ingredient is considered a toxic ingredient and may lead to allergies. The EWG Skin Deep Cosmetic database gives Sally Hansen a score of 8, which is in the highly hazardous category.
Revlon
The EWG Skin Deep Cosmetic database gives Revlon a score of 3 and 6, which is in the moderately hazardous category. However, with ingredients like aluminum powder, it’s still on our no-go list.
What are the best non toxic nail polish brands?
We tested and tested and tested this for you! After dozens of safer nail polishes, countless colors, and countless team manicures, we’ve come up with a list of the best healthy nail polish brands with notes on how they actually perform. We believe there’s something for everyone here!
Dazzle Dry Nail System
This nail system has rocked my “safer polish” world! It’s super user-friendly and is the best at-home solution I’ve found for replacing my bi-monthly salon mani/pedi. Unfortunately, there is no EWG rating available for this polish. For more of an in depth Dazzle Dry System review, click HERE.
Pros:
- 10-free (free of 10 of the most harmful leading polish ingredients)
- Non-toxic AND hypoallergenic, making it especially ideal for those with sensitive skin
- Super easy to apply – goes on just like regular nail polish
- Dries in just 5 minutes…YES, it really does!
- Lasts for *two* weeks (through washing dishes (2x/day), cooking, gardening, and playing with my daughter!)
- Dazzle Dry is partners with WeForest Project in India, so it’s a company I feel really good about supporting.
Cons:
- Individual polishes are priced at $18 a bottle, but well worth the cost, in my opinion.
Certifications:
- None that we could find.
Favorite Colors:
- Spring – Prima Ballerina is a very light/opaque pink similar to OPI’s “bubble bath”
- Summer – White Lightening is a true, bright white
- Fall – Midnight Express is a great solid black
- Winter – Passionate Red is a deep red wine color perfect for the holiday season
Aila Nail Polish
This polish has a formula that is actually designed to nourish and improve the condition of your nails. This is a great polish to start with if you are looking for less toxic options! Unfortunately, at this time, there is no EWG rating available for this polish.
pros:
- Free of 8 of the harshest chemicals found in most polishes, including formaldehyde.
- The formula has nutrients to help the overall health of your nails (including their oil-based polish remover).
- Applies BEAUTIFULLY! The applicator brush is precise and the paint didn’t ever lump or bubble.
- Dries quickly! I could paint my nails 30 minutes before bed without worry of waking up to the imprint of my sheets on my nails.
- Marked as cruelty-free and gluten-free.
- At $14 a bottle, this is one of the lower-priced polishes on our list.
cons:
- I could get an honest 5 days out of a manicure, though note that my nails take a beating (I wash a lot of dishes). This is actually higher than several of the other brands below, but not nearly as long as a conventional gel or dip manicure.
- I found that the nail polish remover (notes on it below) would leak if I traveled with it.
Certifications:
- None that we could find.
Favorite Colors:
- Spring – Make Him Wait A Day is the perfect, soft pink for spring
- Summer – California Love is a fun, coral color
- Fall – Room 212 is a nice, deep purple
- Winter – Sarang is a fun, festive red
Cote Safer Nail Polish
This polish is free of 6 of the most harmful polish chemicals. It comes in a variety of modern colors and tends to last longer than most low-toxin polishes. An EWG rating is not yet available for Cote nail polish.
pros:
- Free of 6 of the most harmful polish chemicals
- Vegan and cruelty-free
- 120 different shades in beautiful, modern color gradients
- Comes in a beautiful variety of colors
- Marketed as lasting longer than most low-toxin polishes, though I only really got about 6 days out of a manicure.
cons:
- I found that this polish takes a little longer to dry (had to give my nails a good 30-45 minutes of no contact) and did not pass the “paint nails before bed” sheet imprint test.
- $18 a bottle, it’s a higher price for not much better performance, in my opinion.
Certifications:
- None that we could find.
Favorite Colors:
- Spring – Sea Foam Green is a beautiful soft, green
- Summer – No. 2 is a vibrant white
- Fall – No. 48 is a pretty mauve
- Winter – No. 32 is a great option for a classic red
Zoya Nail Polish
Zoya is known for its long-lasting wear and non-toxic formula. With over 400 hundred colors to choose from, you will have no trouble finding the perfect color for fall. Zoya nail polish is currently not in the EWG database.
pros:
- 10-free (free of 10 of the most harmful leading polish ingredients)
- Also marketed as having long-lasting wear, I also got about 6 days out of a manicure.
- Their marketing material boasts a non-toxic formula, but it’s tough to find exact details on what this means.
- I found that if I were in a rush, I could actually apply a single coat and still have a finished (though not quite as long-lasting) look.
- $10 a bottle, this is one of the most affordable on our list!
cons:
- Similar to Cote, I found that the average color from the line took a while to dry.
- I also found that it had a tendency of going on thicker, making it slightly trickier to apply.
Certifications:
- None that we could find.
Favorite Colors:
- Spring – Elena is a beautiful, soft baby blue
- Summer – Paz is a fun orange, red
- Fall – Rye is a great purple that pops on your fingers
- Winter – Willa is the perfect “make a statement” black
Piggy Paint Nail Polish
You can check out matte or glossy options at your local Target! This polish has an EWG rating of 1/2, which is considered the lowest hazardous score!
pros:
- 7-free
- No harsh smell
- Very low toxicity
- Fun, vibrant colors
- Cruelty-free and vegan
- Only $7.99 a bottle, this is an amazing value for such a low-toxic polish option!
cons:
- Water-based formula- does not last as long as other formulas (use a base/top coat for longer wear!)
Certifications:
- None that we could find.
Favorite Colors:
- Spring – Jazz It Up target=”_blank” rel=”noreferrer noopener nofollow”>Jazz It Up is fun pink that is great on any skin complexion
- Summer – LOL is the perfect hot pink for summer
- Fall – Sleepover is a gorgeous deep gray
- Winter – Sometimes Sweet is a great deeper red
Sophi Nail Polish
This company has gone above and beyond to figure out how to create vibrant, beautiful colors without sacrificing health. They currently have an EWG rating of 1/2. This is considered a very low toxic score!
pros:
- Free of all toxic chemicals, not just 10 free!
- Vegan and cruelty-free
- Beautiful color options
- I will say that when I put in the effort for a Sophi manicure, it did last a few days longer than the other options! About 7 full days with heavy “nail abuse” (lots of dishes washed, cooking, gardening, etc.).
- Closest safer option to a conventional gel manicure, in my opinion.
- We love that this polish is only $7.99 a bottle!
cons:
- This polish takes some getting used to. Application is easy, but to set the polish, you have to use heat (like from a blow-drier) at each coat. If it’s not a routine you’re accustomed to, this can add some time to your manicure.
- You need the Sophi polish remover in order to remove this polish (or just peel it off – no bueno). Read more on the remover below! It’s unique!
Certifications:
- None that we could find.
Favorite Colors:
- Spring – ROME-ance Me is a lovely pink that isn’t too bright
- Summer – Sophi” target=”_blank” rel=”noreferrer noopener nofollow”>Pretty Shore About You is a soft turquoiuse
- Fall – Eiffel of Love is the perfect soft gray
- Winter – French Latte is a beautiful, soft nude
ella + mila Nail Polish
ella + mila is another great brand to add to your nail polish collection. At this time, there is no rating for this polish in the EWG database.
pros:
- 7-free
- Low in odor
- Vegan and cruelty-free
- Extremely chip-resistant
- On the more cost-efficient side of our polish lists at only $7-10.50 a bottle
cons:
- Takes a little longer to dry
Certifications:
- None that we could find.
Favorite Colors:
- Spring – it doesn’t get any prettier than Honeymoon Bliss when it comes to a soft pink
- Summer – Limoncello is a great go-to for a neon yellow
- Fall – Mauve Over is a soft, subtle purple
- Winter – Mediterranean Mist is a beautiful, deep blue
100% Pure Nail Polish
Although not as safe as other non-toxic polishes (rolling in at a 6 in EWG), 100% Pure Safer Nail Polishes come in some lovely colors.
pros:
- 10-free of the top 10 most common toxic polish ingredients, including formaldehyde.
- The formula is creamy and goes on smooth.
- Marketed as safe for kids (though, that EWG rating is concerning).
- Vegan and cruelty-free
- $14 a bottle, a decent price for non-toxic polish!
cons:
- Scored a 6 in EWG, one of the highest of the “safer” polishes on the market.
Certifications:
- None that we could find.
Favorite Colors:
- Spring – You’re A Peach is the perfect pastel peach
- Summer – Cor-All or Nothing is a bold hit of summer color
- Fall – Camel-by-the- Sea is a soft nude with a hint of pink.
- Winter – Elderberry is a very warm, deep purple
Poofy Organics Nail Polish
We love that Poofy Organics is another non-toxic nail polish with a low EWG rating. This polish scored a 2!
pros:
- Not just 10-free! Free of 12 harmful toxins that other nail polishes use.
- Chip resistant – I could get an honest 6 days out of a manicure with minimal “wear”.
- Safe for kids
- Cruelty-free
- At $11 a bottle, this is a great value for a low-toxic polish.
cons:
- It can take a little longer to dry, so give yourself some time between your at-home manicure and your next activity.
Certifications:
- Leaping Bunny Certified
Favorite Colors:
- Spring – Breakfast Blue is a rich blue with strong hints of sea-foam green
- Summer – Peachy Keen is a soft peach with pink undertones
- Fall – Almond Biscotti is a great soft pink.
- Winter – Black Cherries is the perfect dark red
NCLA Nail Polish
Coming in with an EWG rating of 3/4 (moderately hazardous category), this polish option falls near the bottom of the list for the team.
pros:
- 7-free (making it free of Toluene, Camphor, and 5 other harmful chemicals)
- Marketed as a high-shine formula
- Vegan, cruelty-free
- Really fresh, young colors to choose from
- $16 for a bottle, it’s priced right in the middle of the pack
cons:
- Though I like so much of what this brand stands for, the slightly higher EWG rating is concerning.
Certifications:
- Leaping Bunny Certified
Favorite Colors:
- Spring – ncla target=”_blank” rel=”noreferrer noopener nofollow”>We’re Off to Never Never Land is a beautiful muted purple cream
- Summer –Yellowstone is the perfect subtle yellow
- Fall –ncla 2” target=”_blank” rel=”noreferrer noopener nofollow”> Rose Sheer is the perfect sheer cream
- Winter – Rodeo Drive Royalty is a rich red ideal for Christmas and New Year’s
Karma Organic Natural Nail Polish
Unfortunately, there is no EWG information available for this polish at this time.
pros:
- 10 free
- Non-yellowing formula
- Long-lasting
- Easy to remove
- Made without the leading harsh chemicals
- Vegan and cruelty-free
- At just $9.99 a bottle, this polish won’t break the bank!
cons:
- Not as low odor as some of the other natural polishes
Certifications:
- None that we could find.
Favorite Colors:
- Spring – Madison AVE is a subtle, soft orange
- Summer – Veronica is a bold neon purple
- Fall – Vinyl is rich, deep black
- Winter – Vegas Night is a fun festive gold
Nontoxic Nail Polish Remover Options
It took some digging and you should know that safer nail polish removers can be very different in experience than traditional polish remover! Some are gel-like, some are oil-based, some require (what feels like) way more product, and some don’t feel any different at all. Here are a few of the brands we recommend:
This is a great option for remover because it easily removes polish without that overwhelming obnoxious remover smell. In fact, it actually smells like Lavender! It also has nutrients in it that help condition and protects the nail.
Zoya Nail Polish Remover
pros:
- Doesn’t have that overwhelming obnoxious remover smell
- Smells like Lavender
- Has nutrients in it that help condition and protect the nail
cons:
- More expensive than traditional nail polish removers
Cote Nail Polish Remover
The pros of Cote nail polish remover are that it comes in a very handy top-press dispenser, but I’ve found that it has an offensive odor and evaporates very quickly, causing me to use a lot of product to get my polish removed.
pros:
- Comes in a very handy top-press dispenser
cons:
- I’ve found that it has an offensive odor
- Evaporates very quickly, causing me to use a lot of product to get my polish removed
Sophi Nail Polish Remover
Though this polish remover only makes sense if you’re using it to remove Sophie nail polish, it does work well! It’s actually a gel and you will apply it to sit on top of your nails for several minutes. Once the remover has worked, you’ll notice that the Sophie nail polish has “lifted” off of your nail. It’s pretty neat!
pros:
- It works like a charm!
- It’s like observing a science experiment
cons:
- It can be difficult to use at first
- You have to sit still while the “remover” separates the polish from your nail
Aila Nail Polish Remover
This one is my personal favorite! It doesn’t have an offensive odor, is oil-like, and removes the polish beautifully.
pros:
- Doesn’t have an offensive odor
- It is actually oil-like, and removes the polish beautifully
cons:
- It can leak if you travel with it
Non Toxic Nail Polish Brands for Kids
Piggy Paint Girl’s Nail Polish
This is a great option if you are looking for 100% non-toxic nail polish for kids. It is chemical-free, low odor, and comes in fun colors!
pros:
- 100% non-toxic nail polish
- Low odor
- Comes in fun colors
cons:
- Tends to chip easily (use a top coat)
Emosa Nail Polish for Kids
This polish is water-based and is free of harsh chemicals. We love this set because of the fun color options and because it comes with a top coat!
pros:
- Free of many harsh chemicals
cons:
- Water-based (top or base coat needed)
Karma Kid’s Nail Polish
This is another great option for kids! Although it is free of several harsh chemicals, it does tend to have a stronger smell than other non-toxic polishes.
pros:
- Free of many harsh chemicals
cons:
- Stronger smell
Snails Non-Toxic Nail Polish
This polish is completely toxin-free, odorless, and even washable!
pros:
- Toxin-free
- Odorless
- Washable
cons:
- A little more expensive (~$11/bottle)
Frequently Asked Questions
Not to villainize salons, but *most* of them aren’t using high-quality non-toxic polish. Many salons use OPI and other brands that are less than ideal. Be bold and bring your safer nail polish to the salon with you, though! Many salons are more than happy to accommodate you by using your polish if you just ask.
Through all of our testing, we found that the Dazzle Dry system far and away outlasted the rest! In fact, it stayed on for a solid 10-14 days.
We totally understand! If you want to take one small step towards safer, consider first painting your nail with a safer polish base coat (this is my favorite safer polish base coat). Let that dry (forming a barrier) and then apply your favorite conventional nail polish color on top.
Video
Here’s our take on safe Nail Polish Brands
Don’t stress! There are better options available to us now, but we don’t think it’s anything to lose sleep over.
Hi sadly your info on nailpolish appears to be incorrect. Check out this extensive research from Australia. https://www.biome.com.au/blogs/beauty/why-non-toxic-nail-polish-may-still-be-harming-you-and-the-environment?srsltid=AfmBOormN5jeGm6k1IP6RtuRLZnPApBDtlsVY890R4DaltxOPex0dwrT
I wonder if it is a good idea to use up my unsafe polish by layering it over my new, safe polish?
Hi Cassie – Thank you so much for your reviews and information about nail polish etc! I’m just getting back into nail polish after retiring from being a massage therapist (I couldn’t have long nails as it was sometimes uncomfortable for clients).
I would LOVE to try Dazzle Dry but I’m allergic to epoxy resin which is in most nail polishes (especially OPI!). One of the reasons I want to try Dazzle Dry is b/c I’ve heard it does NOT yellow the nails.
In your article you mentined that Karma Organic doesn’t yellow nails, just want to get your (and other readers) opinion on if that is really true. If so I am definitely going to buy some because they don’t have epoxy resin in their formula!! Thank you so much!
For me, it not only yellowed my nails, but made them brittle and flaky. Probably because it does last so long. Months later, Iโm still trying to repair my nails.
This is so enlightening, thank you!. I will pay more attention to the brands I buy.
Essie is one the most sold brands in Sweden, where I live. I thought it was okay, since now they claim that they are : Essie Is Only Making Vegan and 8-Free Nail Polish From Now On. Is it true or you don’t agree with that for some reason?
Would love to learn more.
Thank you! I appreciate all your hard work! Can you tell me what you knew of Mineral Fusion nail polish and how it stacks up? Thank you!
We haven’t tested it, Elyse! We’ll definitely add it to our list!
I love your site and that you share this type of information. I have been trying to find a great non-toxic nail polish brand and have tried 10Free and Ella&Mila both. Thanks so much for your research so I didn’t have to do more.
You’re so welcome, Heather! We’re so glad you find it helpful.
Any comments on the clear ones example Nobility as base coat and OPI as top coat. I see OPI is 3-free but I could not find anything on Nobility.
We haven’t tried Nobility, but we’ll add it to the list for when we test another round of safer polishes!