Up until more recently than I’d like to admit, I was one of those people that remained stubbornly convinced that nontoxic beauty products just couldn’t hold a candle to regular. Especially, when it came to nail polish. While I try to always keep an open mind when it comes to beauty, I had had one bad experience at a nontoxic nail salon here in L.A. (the manicure looked cloudy and drab, and only lasted a few days before chipping), and after that, I was quick to dismiss the rest of the nontoxic polish population as inferior to my regular, time-tested favorites. Spoiler: I was so, so wrong.
While the nontoxic nail polish market used to be quite small and “granola” if you will, the offerings have increased exponentially in recent years with new and exciting nontoxic labels intermingling with iconic, beloved brands (like Sally Hansen, for instance) that have launched nontoxic options alongside their regular roster.
For the most part, you won’t see many nail polishes these days containing the top three toxin offenders: dibutyl phthalate, formaldehyde, or toluene. Those 3-free labels have, thank God, become the new normal within the polish industry. That being said, certain brands have been going above and beyond, offering 5-free, 7-free, 9-free, 10-free, and even 13-free bottles that are just as satisfying in the color, shine, and wear departments as their less clean counterparts.
While I stand by any nontoxic nail polish in the name of a cleaner beauty routine, certain brands, in my opinion, are still superior to others. Below, I’m sharing 14 of my favorite nontoxic nail polish lines that 110% deliver on gloss, longevity, and color options. Keep scrolling!
Not that aesthetic is the most important component when picking out a nontoxic nail polish, but it just doesn’t get chicer than Static Nails. I’m warning you now, you’ll want to add every single shade to your cart, and you can breathe easy knowing your selections are 8-free, vegan, cruelty-free, and promise a whopping 10 days of chip-free wear when paired with the brand’s Liquid Glass Primer ($16) and Top Coat ($16). Oh, and did we mention you’re nails will luxuriate in growth- and strength-promoting ingredients like rose hip, biotin, and marula oil?
It’s not surprising that one of L.A.’s most beloved nail boutiques, Olive and June, came out with a 12/10 polish brand of its own. Olive and June’s nontoxic polish selection excels in all of the right departments: a bouncy, practically gel-like gloss payoff, a whimsical color range sure to satisfy any and every mood, and dependable, chip-free longevity. Plus, every polish is 7-free, vegan, and cruelty-free.
I’m obsessed with how luxe LaPierre’s stunning array of nontoxic nail polishes are. You’re sure to find the most on-trend hues on your wish list, and the brand’s 10-free lacquers are vegan, cruelty-free, and manufactured right here in the U.S. Bright green is the color to wear this spring and summer, and Radioactive, below, will be my personal poison this season.
Pregnancy-safe, baby-safe, vegan, nontoxic, cruelty-free, Côte’s range of fan-favorite nail polish ticks every single box you could possibly think of. We love how transparent the brand is about its ethical standards, and you’ll spend hours and hours trying to decide which colors to choose from the brand’s super-epic library.
When it comes to cultivating a nail polish wardrobe filled with unparalleled It shades like velvety black, crisp white, and whimsical sparkle, Jinsoon is our automatic go-to. Yes, the nail polishes are long-lasting, infused with handy UV filters (to combat early fading), vegan, cruelty-free, and 10-free, but they’re also equipped with a double-patented quick-dry formula that delivers salon-level results with fuss-free application and minimal dry time.
Entering the city limits of Base Coat’s website is like making the transition from Kansas to the Munchkinland. Each and every shade is insanely dreamy, the packaging is super elevated, and better yet, they’re free of the 10 most harmful toxins found in so many other popular polish brands. (Psst—the formulas are even mixed by hand to ensure your nails reap the purest, compliment-inducing pigments humanly possible.)
There’s nothing more exciting than being the first person in your circle to know about a cool, under-the-radar brand, and in the league of A+ nontoxic nail polishes, Flora 1761 fits the bill. The elegant packaging (which looks straight out of Bridgerton) is reason enough to stock up on a few bottles, but we also love that the 8-free, vegan, and cruelty-free brand gives a portion of its proceeds to women’s charities, like Dress for Success and Girls Inc. NYC.
Since its birth in 2021, Pear Nova’s mission has been to celebrate all skin tones while creating healthy, luxury nail products. Each bottle is vegan, cruelty-free, and 10-free, and there’s not one unflattering shade in the brand’s fashion-inspired color repertoire.
No other nontoxic nail polish brand can hold a candle to Zoya’s vegan 10-free selection. You can find the brand at popular retailers like Ulta and Amazon, and—wait for it—you have over 400 show-stopping shades to choose from. (Good luck only picking one or two!)
Sally Hansen really outdid themselves when they launched this special line of nontoxic polishes. They’re 16-free natural (yes, you read that right!), plant-based, and 100% vegan. And fear not—you’ll still get the brand’s signature shine and pigment despite the ultra-clean ingredient roster.
Without question, Smith & Cult’s stunning bottles of polish instantly elevate the look of your mani, and the high-vibe of your vanity. So, it’s even more exciting the nail polish brand is one of the best nontoxic alternatives in the biz. They’re 8-free, vegan, cruelty-free, and gluten-free.
We love Mischo’s statement that “toxins are never the trend.” Shop the brand’s luxurious array of colors with abandon because each collectible hues is 10-free, vegan, cruelty-free, gluten-free, made in the United States, and without any artificial fragrances.
Wearing a J. Hannah nail polish on your tips is like wearing a piece of artwork. Carefully edited, and ultra-high quality, the brand categorizes its nontoxic formulas as nail polish for “the color resistant.” In other words, you won’t find any high-sparkle or neon colors in the brand’s artist-inspired color palette. Instead, you’ll find stunning colors that are subtle and inspired by the natural elements of the earth, while still being completely safe thanks to its nontoxic and cruelty-free DNA.
Based on the insane shine and chip-proof long-wear, skeptics would never in a million years guess Butter London’s cult-loved nail polishes are nontoxic. Dare I say a few coats will last longer than your normal salon mani? They have that same gel-like bounce and gloss as a professional paint job while also having the added benefits of a 10-free, vegan, and cruelty-free ingredient chemistry. Oh, and as if that wasn’t enough, every shade is enriched with brightening diamond powder, fade-reducing UV absorbers, and breakage-preventing bamboo extract.
