6 Best Non-Toxic Nail Polishes for Healthy At-Home Manicures
Karolina Grabowska/ Pexels
Clean ingredients aren’t exclusive to skin care and makeup. Whether you’re perfecting the at-home manicure or prefer to bring your own nail polish to the salon, it’s important that you consider what the product is made of. Gone of the days of staunch smells the second you unscrew the top. Recent clean beauty trends led to brands sourcing and developing non-toxic alternatives (or starting clean nail polish companies!) to ensure what you’re putting on your nails isn’t doing more harm than good.
What Ingredients Should You Look For In Non-Toxic Nail Polishes?
A 2019 study by a health team at Harvard found that “five-free” is a good rule of thumb when it comes to selecting a non-toxic polish, not including ingredients that have been linked to potential cancer-causing substances or skin concerns, like dermatitis. What does “five-free” include?
- Formaldehyde
- Toluene
- Dibutyl Phthalate
- Formaldehyde Resin
- Camphor
Should I Only Use Non-Toxic Nail Polish?
In the peak of the Clean Beauty movement is peaking, remember that small changes can make an impact, but aren’t the be-all-end-all. While nail polish chemicals can be absorbed, it’s not been proven if “non-toxic” picks don’t do the same thing. Our philosophy? Do the research and use products that you feel most comfortable with.
We researched and found the best organic, safe, or non-toxic nail polishes to try in 2021
1. ZOYA
Best for : Tons of colorways
Price : $10
Zoya was one of the first nail polish brands to adopt a 10-Free Formula commitment (aka, no toxic ingredients or parabens). They have a wide variety of gorgeous colorways that have a pearly finish. Plus, many salons carry their products!
Shop ZOYA
Price : $10
Zoya was one of the first nail polish brands to adopt a 10-Free Formula commitment (aka, no toxic ingredients or parabens). They have a wide variety of gorgeous colorways that have a pearly finish. Plus, many salons carry their products!
Shop ZOYA
2. Ella+Mila
Best for : Sharing with a child
Price : $11.39
Ella+Mila was founded as a mommy and me natural nail polish set, providing parents with a safer alternative to painting their little one's nails. Each polish is quick dry and chip resistant -- if you don't believe it, just read one of their thousands of 5-star reviews.
Shop Ella+Mila
Price : $11.39
Ella+Mila was founded as a mommy and me natural nail polish set, providing parents with a safer alternative to painting their little one's nails. Each polish is quick dry and chip resistant -- if you don't believe it, just read one of their thousands of 5-star reviews.
Shop Ella+Mila
3. Olive & June
Best for : Budget-friendly options
Price : $8
Founded in 2013 by Sarah Gibson, Olive & June used to only be available in salons. Now they're committed to helping you perfect your at-home mani with a full range of manicure products and polishes. The colors are gorgeous and have been known to last weeks!
Shop Olive & June
Price : $8
Founded in 2013 by Sarah Gibson, Olive & June used to only be available in salons. Now they're committed to helping you perfect your at-home mani with a full range of manicure products and polishes. The colors are gorgeous and have been known to last weeks!
Shop Olive & June
4. JINSoon
Best for : Rich color payoff
Price : $18
Manicurist Jin Soon created a huge line of products that celebs obsess over -- and we do, too! Each has a glossy finish and a rich color payoff. And each polish has a 9-10-free formula.
Shop JINSoon
Price : $18
Manicurist Jin Soon created a huge line of products that celebs obsess over -- and we do, too! Each has a glossy finish and a rich color payoff. And each polish has a 9-10-free formula.
Shop JINSoon
5. Sally Hansen Good. Kind. Pure.
Best for : Grabbing at a drugstore
Price : $5.95
The Good. Kind. Pure. line by Sally Hansen is surprisingly one of the best non-toxic and vegan polishes on the market. With a 16-free approach and plant-based brush, each part of the polish can be considered "clean." Even better, they're available at most drugstores.
Shop Sally Hansen Good. Kind. Pure.
Price : $5.95
The Good. Kind. Pure. line by Sally Hansen is surprisingly one of the best non-toxic and vegan polishes on the market. With a 16-free approach and plant-based brush, each part of the polish can be considered "clean." Even better, they're available at most drugstores.
Shop Sally Hansen Good. Kind. Pure.
6. Sundays
Best for : Professional quality at-home
Price : $18
sundays has salons, but expanded their offerings to bring you polishes at home. Each bottle is formulated without 10 potentially harmful chemicals, designed to be long-lasting, and has an 800 bristle flat brush (like the ones used in salons). Their colors are timeless so it's perfect for stocking up your mani shelf without worrying about a color going out of style.
Shop Sundays
Price : $18
sundays has salons, but expanded their offerings to bring you polishes at home. Each bottle is formulated without 10 potentially harmful chemicals, designed to be long-lasting, and has an 800 bristle flat brush (like the ones used in salons). Their colors are timeless so it's perfect for stocking up your mani shelf without worrying about a color going out of style.
Shop Sundays
