15 Cruelty Free Nail Polish Brands and Also Vegan

Many nail polish brands are cruelty-free, but what about being vegan too? Only because a brand is cruelty-free doesn’t mean that it’s vegan or vice versa, because a brand it’s vegan sometimes it isn’t cruelty-free. Don’t worry, you’ll learn more about it below.

This post is all about cruelty-free nail polish.

The main difference is that cruelty-free means it hasn’t been tested on animals. But it may still contain an ingredient derived from animals which wouldn’t make it vegan.

So you may ask what makes nail polish vegan? A nail polish labeled “vegan” means there are no animal products in the polish itself. Some common ingredients are beeswax, fish scales to get that shimmery color or shellac which is a by-product from lac bug. Ew!

That’s why I made this short list easy to access in case you’re looking for both options in one brand. The good news is that more brands keep appearing on the market that is vegan!

Some of the brands I avoid buying are Essie, OPI, Revlon, and Sally Hansen.

 

What does this mean: 3-, 5-, and 7-Free?

Another thing I just learned is what “3-free” in nail polish means. At first, I thought it was referring to 3 nail polishes for free and you paid for shipping lol.

But this actually means the toxicity of the formula. The three most commonly known hazardous chemicals are Dibutyl Phthalate (DBP), Formaldehyde, and Toluene. So if it’s free of these chemicals then it would be considered “3-free”. The number denotes how many toxins have been removed from the polish. You will notice other nail polish brands mention “5-free”, “7-free”, etc.

Now I know what it actually means, haha! So here it goes…

List of polish brands that are also vegan:

 

A•Dorn

A.Dorn is a cruelty-free nail polish brand that is “4-Free” and 100% vegan. They have a nice, simple bottle design. A few of their shades can be found on Amazon.

Acquarella

This brand is on the pricey side and from the reviews, they say it doesn’t have a strong chemical smell. It is available in a lot of colors. Aquarella nail polishes are water-based, free of harsh chemicals, vegan, and even wheat free. They also make a non-toxic nail polish remover.

Beauty Without Cruelty

As the name implies, Beauty Without Cruelty is a cosmetics brand that doesn’t test on animals. All of their products, and their Attitude Nail Colors line is 100% vegan!

Deco Miami 

I like Deco Miami because they’re from South Florida too! Their packaging is so cute with gold tones. Their nail lacquers are made in the USA. They are “8-Free” and 100% vegan.

Ella+Mila

Ella+Mila nail polish is a 7-Free product that does not contain: Formaldehyde, Toluene, DiButyl Phthalate (DBP), Formaldehyde Resin, or Camphor. I use their nail strengthener, and the nail products are made in the USA and certified by PETA! ♥

Gabriel Cosmetics is mostly known for its skincare and makeup. They have a nail collection with over 50 shades. All of their polishes are vegan, cruelty-free, non-toxic, and “10 free”. Free of formaldehyde, toluene, DBP, camphor, formaldehyde resin, xylene, parabens, fragrances, phthalates, and animal ingredients.

Julep

I know Julep is mainly for their cosmetic line, but they also offer nail polish! Their nail polish products are fast-drying and long-lasting. It’s “5-free”, and vegan-friendly.

LVX 

LVX‘s nail polishes are inspired by runway looks from top fashion designers. They even collaborate with designers for Fashion Week runway presentations. It has a long wear formula and is chip resistant. They’re also “5-Free”, 100% vegan, and all products are produced in the USA.

NCLA 

NCLA is popular for polish but also for awesome nail wraps. Their nail lacquers are made with love in California, 100% vegan, cruelty-free, and “7-Free”. Contains NO Formaldehyde, Formaldehyde Resin, DBP, Toluene, Camphor, TPHP, or Xylene.

Obsessive Compulsive Cosmetics

One of the first cruelty-free brands I heard about when I changed to this lifestyle. OCC has so many fun and unique polish colors. They are quick-drying and super long-lasting. They are “5-Free” and everything in the line is 100% vegan!

Pacifica

Pacifica is a brand I really enjoy using for makeup and perfume. I have talked about Pacifica in my Favorites video. They offer a diverse range of trendy shades in nail polishes. They are available at Target and online. Their products are “7-Free”, and 100% vegan.

SOPHi

Piggy Paint now also makes a more sophisticated polish for adults, SOPHi. Like the children’s version, these polishes are odorless, vegan, and made without harsh chemicals. They claim the whole line is durable and chip resistant.

SpaRitual

SpaRitual is a zen-inspired nail lacquer brand. The polishes come in a variety of peaceful, New Age colors. They claim their nail polishes have a superior dry time, and coverage, and add shine to each nail.

Zoya

Zoya nail polish is vegan-friendly, cruelty-free, and breathable. One of the brands that offer good quality polish that will last days without chipping. Zoya is also Big-10 free which means there is no toluene, camphor, formaldehyde, formaldehyde resin, parabens, TPHP, xylene, ethyl tosylamide, dibutyl phthalate, or lead.

CRUELTY FREE NAIL POLISH REMOVERS

 

Karma Organic
This is my current favorite nail polish remover. It works really well and has vitamin E oil. It has no scent which I love. This is also available in with Tea Tree oil and Lavender.

CRUELTY FREE NAIL POLISH FOR KIDS

 

Karma Kids
Karma Organic Kids Nail polish is specially designed to be easy and gentle on kids’ nails. They have more than 100 exciting colors, and it’s made in the USA. It’s free of toxins, TPHP, TOLUENE, FORMALDEHYDE, or DBP. Their polish is suitable for EVERYONE including pregnant women, children of every age, and allergy sufferers. It’s cruelty-free and the packaging is 100% recyclable. Also, they use glass bottles and soy-based ink.

Piggy Paint
Piggy Paint is another adorable vegan nail polish made for kids. The nail polish for kids is water-based which makes it free of harsh chemicals and eco-friendly. It’s cruelty-free, odorless, safe to use during pregnancy, and for nursing moms. It’s made in the USA and comes in fun colors.

MODERN NAIL SALON IN MIAMI

In a few weeks, I will have my first appointment at the Luv Nail Shop salon which is inspired by conscious living. All of their nail polish brands are vegan-friendly and “5-free”. Their salon vibe is chic, modern, and nicely decorated which you can see on their Instagram profile. They offer different manicures, non-toxic products, and so much more which are listed on their website.

Luv Nail Shop Salon is located in Wynwood, and even close to GLAM Vegan where they offer plant-based meals. So after or before your care-time, you can enjoy some delicious and compassionate food, yum!

UPDATE 10/2/18: I went to Luv Nail Shop salon a few days before my Guatemala trip to get a nice manicure and pedicure. When I walked in I was offered something to drink and I decided on the water with no ice. It was a two-hour process and the water for the pedicure felt SO hot. Other than that I felt relaxed the rest of the time. The lady that did my nails was so nice and gentle so I enjoyed the experience. It’s a place I will be going back to, and that I recommend. The manicure lasted about a month, and to this day I still have the pedicure, wow!

Good for your nails, the animals, and the planet.

Keep an eye out for these harmful ingredients and in no time you’ll be making choices that are all-around better.

When you buy cruelty-free and vegan products you’re voting with your money for less animal testing. And when you buy 3- and 5-Free nail polish, you’re also protecting yourself and your family from toxic ingredients.

For these types of things I rather buy online to make it easy to find vegan options. At a store, it can be tough to figure out on the spot whether it’s vegan or not. So use this list as a guide, and you can save it in your bookmarks to visit this page again, and again.

Choosing vegan gives a voice to animals and the earth. And at the same time, you make your nails look good while doing it!

Make sure to subscribe to my newsletter to receive email notifications of new posts! Once I go to Luv Nail Shop salon I will update this post with how it went, so stay tuned!