Last Updated on September 18, 2021 by April
Hello, Better Ingredients
Toxic ingredients are becoming a thing of the past. With a rising demand for natural beauty products, nail polish brands are stepping up their game to deliver something we aren’t afraid of putting on our bodies.
You have likely been seeing terms such as ‘5-free’ and ‘7-free’ while browsing nail polish colors. This phrase means certain ingredients known to be toxic are not in the product. While the omitted ingredients vary from brand to brand, for the most part, they are the same.
| 5 Free | 7 Free | 9 Free | 10 Free |
| Formaldehyde | Formaldehyde | Formaldehyde | Formaldehyde |
| Toulene | Toulene | Toulene | Toulene |
| DBP | DBP | DBP | DBP |
| Formaldehyde Resin | Formaldehyde Resin | Formaldehyde Resin | Formaldehyde Resin |
| Camphor | Camphor | Camphor | Camphor |
| Â | Ethyl Tosylamide | Ethyl Tosylamide | Ethyl Tosylamide |
| Â | Xylene | Xylene | Xylene |
| Â | Â | Parabens | Parabens |
| Â | Â | Lead | Lead |
| Â | Â | Â | Cruelty-Free |
Cruelty-Free Nail Polish Brands
Each of the nail polishes below is cruelty-free, some of which are 100% vegan. Some of these have parent companies that are not entirely vegan. Each nail polish brand has company claims listed beneath its respective photo. Be sure to check the details of each nail polish before purchasing it.
Want more vegan beauty products? Check out my favorite vegan sunscreens to use year-round.
10-Free | Cruelty-Free | Paraben-Free | Sulfate-Free | Phthalate-Free | Petrochemical-Free | GMO-Free | Triclosan-Free | Vegan
Made in the USA | Formaldehyde-Free | DBP-Free | Camphor-Free | Toluene-Free | Vegan
Low Odor | Non-Toxic | Cruelty-Free | Vegan | Paraben-Free | Alcohol-Free | Acetone-Free | Made in the USA | Eco-Friendly
10-Free | Green Beauty | Cruelty-Free | Long-Lasting | Non-Toxic | Vegan
7-Free | Toluene-Free | DBP-Free | Formaldehyde-Free | Formaldehyde Resin-Free | Camphor-Free | TPHP-Free | Xylene-Free | Eco-Friendly | Vegan
Long-Lasting | Non-Toxic | Vegan | Cruelty-Free | Made in the USA
Vegan | Cruelty-Free | Made in USA | 7-Free |
Vegan | Cruelty-Free | Phthalates-Free | Paraben-Free | Sulfate-Free | Propylene-Free | Benzene-Free | Propylene Glycol-Free | Mineral Oil-Free | No Peanut Oil | Triclosan-Free | No FD&C color | No Endangered Ingredients
Vegan | Cruelty-Free | Uses Recycled Materials | Natural and Pure Ingredients | Fragrance-Free | Hypoallergenic
10-Free | Non-Toxic | Contains Tea Tree Oil + Vitamin E
Vegan (Nail Category Only) | Cruelty-Free
12-Free | Vegan | Cruelty-Free | Breathable
Eco-Friendly | Non-Toxic
Vegan | Cruelty-Free | Formaldehyde-Free | Formaldehyde Resin-Free | Toluene-Free | DBP-Free | Camphor-Free | Paraben-Free | Xylene-Free | Ethyl Tosylamide-Free | Lead-Free
Vegan | 12-Free | Cruelty-Free | Gluten-Free | Halal Certified | No Toluene | No DBP | No Formaldehyde | No Formaldehyde Resin | No Camphor | No Xylene | No Ethyl Tosylamide | No Triphenyl Phosphate | No Alcohol | No Parabens | No Animal Derivatives
Vegan | 10-Free | Non-Toxic
10-Free | Eco-Friendly | Enriched With Bamboo Rhizome Macerate, Organic Silica | Cruelty-Free
Vegan | 10-Free | No Mineral Oil | No Parabens | No Sulfates | No BHA | No Triclosan
5-Free | Cruelty-Free | 85% Plant-Sourced Raw Materials
Non-Toxic | Tasteless | Non-Stimulating | Safe to Use | Breathable for Long-Term Use
Vegan | 16-Free | Natural Plant-Based Bristles | Cruelty-Free |
Formulated without Formaldehyde, Formaldehyde Resin, Toluene, Xylene, Acetone, Phthalates (including DBP), Camphor, Parabens, Ethyl Tosylamide, Triphenyl Phosphate (TPP), Animal-derived ingredients, Styrene, Bisphenol A, Glycol Ether of Series E (Glycol ethers derived from ethylene oxide), Nonylphenol ethoxylate, and Sulfate-free
No animal products | Vegan | Physician-Approved | Breathable | 100% halal.
10-Free | Developed by a Doctor & Biochemist | Botanically Infused to Improve Health of Nails and Protect | Anit-Fungal | Vegan
Cruelty-Free | No Toluene | No Formaldehyde | No DBP | No TPHP | Organic
12-Free | Cruelty-Free | Vegan | No Touline, Formaldehyde, Dibutyl Phthalate (DBP), Formaldehyde Resin, Camphor, Ethyl Tosylamide, Xylene, MEHQ/HQ, MIT, Parabens, Animal Derived Ingredients or Gluten.
Certified Halal | Breathable | 100% Vegan
12-Free | Vegan | Free of Toluene, Formaldehyde, Dibutyl Phthalate, Formaldehyde Resin, Camphor, Ethyl Tosylamide, Xylene, MEHQ / HQ, MIT, Parabens, Animal-derived ingredients, and Gluten | Made in the USA
18-Free | No: Toluene, Formaldehyde, Dibutyl Phthalate (DBP), Formaldehyde Resin, Camphor, Ethyl Tosylamide, Xylene, Triphenyl Phosphate, Guanine, Formaldehyde Donors, Carmine, Gluten, Lead, Methylisothiazolinone, MEHQ, Bisphenol A, Nonylphenol Ethoxylate, Sulphates | Vegan | Plant-Based | Cruelty-Free
Vegan Nail Polish Removers
Drugstore Vegan Nail Polish
Zoya, Pacifica, ORLY, Ella + Mila, Piggy Paint, and Barry M can often be found at drugstores. Please see the links above to conveniently purchase these brands from Amazon.
Vegan Gel Nail Polish
Beetles nail polish is vegan, non-toxic, and cruelty-free
Modelones is Cruelty-free, vegan, and made in the USA
Best Vegan Nail Polish Top Coats
Our Cuticle Oil Treatment Picks
Vegan Option: NCLA Vitamin-E Infused Cuticle Oil
Highly-Rated Natural Option (Not Vegan): Cuccio Naturalé Milk & Honey Cuticle Revitalizing Oil
Our Pick for Best Vegan Anti-Fungal Nail Polish
Dr.’s Remedy Enriched Nail Polish With Tea Tree Oil, Biotin, Wheat Protein, and Vitamins
