If you’re in the market for a non-toxic nail polish…water-based nail polishes are where it’s at! At least as far as ingredients go. They’re the safest ones available + are cleaner than the popular 3-free, 4-free, 5-free or 6-free ones. The truth of the matter is though, that there is no nail polish that’s totally natural. It also can’t be totally chemical-free, non-toxic (just less-toxic) or organic.
When it comes to anything that “lasts” a long time on your body, it almost always requires some kind of necessary + often toxic chemicals to work. Unfortunately, this includes some common beauty products, like – nail polish, sunless tanners + hair dye, etc. So what’s the deal? If you want to wear nail polish, you’ll have to choose the lesser of the evils.
3, 4, 5 or 6-Free:
The ‘-free’ versions of polishes you see are just like regular nail polish except they’re missing what’s known as, the Toxic Trio – Toluene, formaldehyde + dibutyl phthalate (DBP), + possibly a few more chemicals. While these are a fab step in the right direction, they still contain chemical solvents, vapors + sometimes even artificial colors – but are a better choice than those that make no attempt. These act + wear like the nail polish you know and love.
Brands to Try~
Zoya
Vapour Organic
Kure Bazaar
Karma Organic
Priti
Water-Based:
If you’re super-serious about avoiding chemicals for the most part, but still want to get your nails did – you’ll want to try a water-based polish. They still aren’t totally chemical-free, but are the safest option we know of so far. These can be a tad intimidating + seem a bit high-maintenance at first though, due to the application technique. If you’re like me, you’re thinking – how will these stay on when I’m always cooking, cleaning, doing dishes, giving the kids baths (not me, yet!), washing my hair, swimming, insert-excuse-here. I mean, they are made of water, right? Trust me Cinderella, they work. Just note that they can be a little temperamental with wear, depending on how hard you are on your mani + sometimes don’t last quite as long. That’s the trade-off. But they hold up way better than I would have thought, so I’ll take it!
Brands to Try~
Keeki Pure + Simple
Acquarella
Honeybee Gardens
By: The Glamorganic Goddess
Copyright ©2013, Danielle Messina. Updated May, 2017. Visit The Glamorganic Goddess for more info.