The Best Nontoxic Nail Polish Brands That Are Good for Your Nails

You might not know this, but not all nail polishes are created equally. Yes, they're an affordable beauty product that has the power to almost instantly give us that little pick-me-up we all need, the unfortunate reality is that many formulas on the market are packed with harmful and unnecessary chemicals, which can actually be absorbed into the body. Luckily, you don’t have to sacrifice safety for a beautiful manicure thanks to nontoxic nail polish.

Best Nontoxic Nail Polish

How to Shop for Nontoxic Nail Polish

When shopping for nontoxic nail polish, it's essential to read the ingredient label and online product description. Through our beauty editor's research, she found that most nontoxic nail polishes are typically either 3-free, 5-free, 7-free, or 10-free, indicating each item is without at least three controversial ingredients. You also have nail polishes that are 14-free and 16-free, but those are less common.

To help simplify your search for nontoxic nail polish, we tapped Michelle Saunders, an A-list manicurist known for working with celebrities including Emily Blunt, Mandy Moore, and Taraji P. Henson. She breaks down the most common classifications of nontoxic nail polish and what ingredients are omitted, regardless of the brand.

3-Free Nail Polish

For those who prefer fewer chemicals in their manicures, Saunders says you should choose one that is 3-Free, meaning it omits formaldehyde, toluene, and dibutyl phthalate — the three primary offenders in regular nail polish.

5-Free Nail Polish

Some nontoxic nail polishes are 5-free, indicating they do not contain formaldehyde, toluene, and dibutyl phthalate, plus formaldehyde resin and camphor.

7-Free Nail Polish

7-free polishes exclude seven questionable ingredients, including all five found in 5-Free, plus ethyl tosylamide and xylene. "You'll see 3-free, 5-free, 7-free, and so on, but 3-free is just as safe as 7-free," says Saunders.

10-Free Nail Polish

These nontoxic varnishes do not contain the seven ingredients omitted from 7-free polish, plus parabens, ert-butyl hydroperoxide, and animal ingredients.

Pricing

Thankfully, the nontoxic nail polishes on our list don't contain these harmful ingredients, yet still give you the high-quality color you'll love. But, you will spend a bit more for a cleaner formulation. The average cost of the 14 nontoxic nail polishes on our list is $15.50, while traditional nail polishes from OPI are $11 and Essie is $9.

How We Chose

Our beauty editor vetted these 14 nontoxic nail polishes, including their scent, formula, texture, and opacity. She also considered the size of the brush wand, price point, and overall brand quality, plus she evaluated hundreds of reviews across trusted retailers like Amazon and Nordstrom. Plus, Saunders reveals her expert-recommended nontoxic nail polishes.

Ready for gorgeous, chip-free manicures and pedicures that don’t compromise your health? Here are the 14 best nontoxic nail polish brands worth your investment.