Whether a brand is “10-free” or “16-free” does not tell us much about how they compare. Anything after 9-free isn’t a standardized list. You could make a “million-free” if you wanted to. You can add a long list of toxins a product is free of that were never in nail polish in the first place, or are not a risk when in nail polish.
So I made my own rating system and tested a number of polishes on this list. (My rating system includes the commonly used 9-free list and more).
These are the best of the best, non-toxic wise.
They range from toxin-free water-based options, to solvent-based options that cure cleanly (the solvents flash off fast).
This article contains affiliate links, upon purchase I earn a commission at no extra cost to you.
Table of contents
My Ranking Criteria
I am going give the nail polishes a clean ingredients score out of based on how many of the following ingredients they have removed:
My 20-free criteria: formaldehyde (any type), bronopol, toluene, phthalates (the whole class, including DBP, DEP, DMP, BBP, DEHP, DINP, DnOP etc.), camphor, ethyl tosylamide/tosylamide/p-toluenesulfonamide, xylene, triphenyl phosphate (TPHP), parabens, alcohols, MEK, acetone, alkyl acetate esters (butyl Acetate, ethyl Acetate), octocrylene, hexanal, E-series glycol ethers, synthetic fragrance, benzophenones (PBT/BP-1, Oxybenzone, etc.), isothiazolinones (MIT, BIT etc.), ethoxylated ingredients (non-E-series) due to potential contamination with trace 1,4-dioxane and ethylene oxide.
Please note that this is my personal “free of” rating system based on my opinion and experience and input from Dr. Mudgal our resident toxicologist. This rating system is not standardized in the industry though it is similar to many “free of” lists.
This is a list of ingredients that can be:
- Considered problematic in regular use (so not counting sanding/dust or ingestion).
- Actually exist in nail polish
- Are possible to eliminate
The potentially problematic ingredients include:
- Solvents (apart from water) – the fumes of volatile solvents can be harmful to breathe in. Toluene, xylene, acetone, methyl ethyl ketone (MEK) (in specialty removers or “quick-dry” systems), and alcohols (which are an irritant at high exposures, though generally less toxic than other solvents). And camphor, while not a solvent, has similar effects on the body.
- Endocrine disrupters (potential or confirmed) – Octcrylene (may act as an endocrine disruptor at high doses and can degrade into benzophenone, a potential carcinogen), parabens, benzophenones, and phthalates.
- Carcinogens (suspected and confirmed, or potentially contaminated with) – including formaldehyde, formaldehyde releasers (e.g. tosylamide/formaldehyde resin, Ethyl tosylamide, bronopol) due to toxicity of formaldehyde (used in very low concentrations here in the product (below thresholds), but still of concern due to their classification as carcinogens by agencies like IARC, says Dr. Mudgal). Ethoxylated ingredients due to potential contamination with trace 1,4-dioxane (probable carcinogen) and ethylene oxide (known carcinogen).
- Fragrance – not all fragrance compounds are toxic, but whether toxic or not, we don’t usually get to see the list of fragrance chemicals in beauty products and both categories can be a trigger for the chemically sensitive.
Not on my “free of” list (though on some brands “free-of” lists):
- Gluten – is not a toxin and it’s not used in standard nail polish only in nail strengtheners. Though I will mention if a product contains gluten.
- Heavy metals – while lead is not intentionally added to any nail polish brands (it’s prohibited in cosmetics in general), it can be a natural contaminant in all brands that contain earth elements like bentonite, diatomaceous earth, and iron oxides, though not at any significant level (especially since nail polish would use cosmetic grade ingredients). Some brands also contain tin and/or aluminum, and manganese-based pigments. As for chromium, hexavalent chromium (Cr⁶⁺) compounds are never used in cosmetics—only Cr(III), which has no carcinogenic classification.
- Surfactant sulfates/sulfates – not relevant to nail polish.
- Styrene – Present only as a residual monomer in some styrene/acrylate copolymer formulations if polymerization is incomplete. Brands that use styrene/acrylate claim to be styrene-free.
- BPA – BPA is used in epoxy formulas, but there may not be any free BPA in the final product as brands that use BPA in their chemistry claim to be BPA-free.
- Nonylphenol ethoxylate – not used in nail polish as far as I know.
- Microplastic glitter – not on my list because it’s only slightly worse than the fact that the base of all nail polish is plastic which degrades into microplastics with time.
- Triclosan – not allowed in the US anymore in nail polish.
- EDTA – not a risk in nail polish.
- Dust Hazards – silica, titanium dioxide, mica, and tin oxide and more pose inhalation risks only in dust form (e.g., if polish is sanded or buffed, not in the liquid or dried/cured state), and in some cases in ingestion.
Non-Toxic Nail Polish Brands
1. SOPHi (Water-Based)
SOPHi is my top choice on this list, the only brand that only uses only water as the solvent, so there are no solvent odors here.
It’s one of two brands that came in at 20/20 on my free-of rating.
My Chemical-Free House “Free of” Rating: 20/20
My Testing: I used SOPHi nail polish when chemically sensitive and it definitely is low in odor.
There could still be a subset of folks who prefer a solvent-based nail polish because of how fast and cleanly they cure.
Ingredients: Water, Acrylates copolymer, Neem Oil. May also contain the following colorants (depending on shade): Red 7, Red 34, Red 28, Iron oxide, Titanium dioxide, Ultramarines, Chrome Green, Mica, Violet 2.
Notes: The fact that is is a 100% water-based formula makes this unique, though it may not last as long as solvent-based formulas. They they say when applied with SOPHi’s 4-step system (Prime, Color, Shine, Seal), this formula easily competes with standard nail polish durability.
Cruelty-free & Vegan.
The same brand makes Piggy Paint for kids (which is water-based as well).
2. Poderm Color Care
I like that Poderm is a breathable formula that you can use on toenails even if they have fungus or if you want to prevent toenail fungus.
I bought this to try and I will update the post when I test it out.
My Chemical-Free House “Free of” Rating: 17/20
Contains the following solvents from my free of list: Butyl Acetate, Ethyl Acetate, Isopropyl Alcohol, and Acetone.
(These solvents have lower toxicity compared to aromatic solvents like toluene or
xylene, but are still respiratory irritants, says Dr. Mudgal).
Ingredients: Butyl Acetate, Ethyl Acetate, Isopropyl Alcohol, Nitrocellulose, Adipic Acid/Neopentyl Glycol/Trimellitic Anhydride Copolymer, Acetyl Tributyl Citrate, Acetone, Stearalkonium Hectorite, Silica Silylate, Styrene/Acrylates Copolymer, Stearalkonium Bentonite, Polyhydroxystearic Acid, Lecithin, Biotin, Silica, Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Oil (Melaleuca Alternifolia (Tea Tree) Leaf Oil), CI 77891 (Titanium Dioxide), CI 77742 (Manganese Violet), CI 77510 (Ferric Ammonium Ferrocyanide), CI 60725 (Violet 2).
Notes: Poderm is vegan and cruelty-free.
The film formers are synthetic plastics, but more breathable than most polishes so you can still treat your toes for toe nail fungus while wearing this polish. It is tea-tree & biotin–enriched for damaged or fungus-prone nails.
Swiss-made.
3. Essie (Vegan Salon Formula)
Essie has never really emphasized itself as a non-toxic brand.
It is a mainstream brand but it certainly can compete with some of the ones marketed as non-toxic since the solvents flash off fast.
My Chemical-Free House “Free of” Rating: 16/20
Contains the following solvents from my free of list:
Butyl acetate, Ethyl acetate, Isopropyl alcohol, N-butyl alcohol, Diacetone alcohol, and Hexanal (which is probably acting as a hardener not as a solvent).
Plus Octocrylene, permitted in cosmetics, though studies suggest potential endocrine activity and benzophenone formation on UV exposure.
Risk depends on concentration and skin absorption, which is minimal in nail polish, says Dr. Mudgal (source).
My Testing: I was able to use Essie when I was moderately chemically sensitive and still use it today.
Though it certainly has a solvent odor, those solvents evaporate quite fast and leave behind a product that seems very inert to me.
Other chemically sensitive folks have remarked that they were surprised that they did well with a mainstream brand like this due to how cleanly it cures.
Ingredients: Butyl acetate, Ethyl acetate, Nitrocellulose, Adipic acid/neopentyl glycol/trimellitic anhydride copolymer, Acetyl tributyl citrate, Isopropyl alcohol, Stearalkonium bentonite, Styrene/acrylates copolymer (not the same as styrene monomer, and generally considered safe when polymerized says Dr. Mudgal toxicologist), Acrylates copolymer, Silica, Diacetone alcohol, Octocrylene (may degrade into benzophenone, but typically present in trace amounts says Dr Mudgal), N-butyl alcohol, Hexanal, Synthetic fluorphlogopite, Lithothamnium calcareum extract/lithothamnion calcareum extract, Calcium sodium borosilicate, Phosphoric acid, Dimethicone, Mannitol, Colophonium/rosin/colophane, Trimethylsiloxysilicate, Diatomaceous earth, Barium sulfate.
Pigments: Tin oxide, Zinc sulfate, Ci 77891/titanium dioxide, Ci 77491, Ci 77492/iron oxides, Mica, Ci 77266/black 2, Ci 77742/manganese violet, Ci 19140/yellow 5 lake, Ci 15850/red 6 lake, Ci 15880/red 34 lake, Ci 77510/ferric ammonium ferrocyanide, Ci 12085/red 36, Ci 73360/red 30, Ci 15850/red 7 lake.
Notes: Vegan
4. Zoya
Zoya has been around for a long time and is a popular non-toxic brand.
It’s got a simple ingredient list for a solvent-based polish.
It also performs quite well compared to mainstream brands.
Some sensitive folks even prefer solvent-based nail polish to water-based because of the clean cure.
My Chemical-Free House “Free of” Rating: 17/20
Contains the following solvents: Butyl Acetate, Ethyl Acetate, and Isopropyl Alcohol.
A lower-toxin solvent list (compared to other options for nail polish).
My Testing: I have used Zoya since I was moderately chemically sensitive.
I would say it is a little less odorous than Essie and although it is solvent-based as well, it flashes off quite fast.
Ingredients: Butyl Acetate, Ethyl Acetate, Nitrocellulose, Acetyl Tributyl Citrate, Isopropyl Alcohol, Sterikonium Hectroite, Acrylates Copolymer, Styrene/Acrylates Copolymer. Pigments not listed.
Notes: Vegan, cruelty-free; plastic-free glitter (uses mica).
5. Sally Hansen Good.Kind.Pure.
I like that Good.Kind.Pure. has a plant fiber brush to reduce plastic and 77% plant-derived sugar-based solvents.
Isosorbide dicaprylate/caprate is sugar-based; Ethyl acetate, Butyl acetate, Isopropyl alcohol can be sugar-based.
My Chemical-Free House “Free of” Rating: 15/20
Ingredients still present are the solvents: Butyl Acetate, Ethyl Acetate, Alcohol, Isopropyl Alcohol, and Diacetone Alcohol.
Ingredients: Color butyl acetate, ethyl acetate, nitrocellulose, isosorbide dicaprylate/caprate, adipic acid/neopentyl glycol/trimellitic anhydride copolymer, alcohol, calcium aluminum borosilicate, stearalkonium bentonite, synthetic fluorphlogopite, isopropyl alcohol, silica, diacetone alcohol, tin oxide, phosphoric acid; may contain mica, titanium dioxide (CI 77891), D&C Red No. 7 calcium lake (CI 15850), aluminum powder (CI 77000), iron oxides (CI 77491, CI 77492, CI 77499), D&C Red No. 34 calcium lake (CI 15880), D&C Red No. 6 barium lake (CI 15850), ultramarines (CI 77007), FD&C Yellow No. 5 aluminum lake (CI 19140), D&C Black No. 2 [nano] (CI 77266), ferric ammonium ferrocyanide (CI 77510), manganese violet (CI 77742).
Notes: Vegan, cruelty-free; high bio-sourced ratio, ~77 % plant-derived (sugar-based solvents), plant-fiber brush.
6. Ella + Mila
Ella+Mila is similar to other options on the list.
If you want an ingredient list that is “clean” once those solvents flash off, this is also a good one.
My Chemical-Free House “Free of” Rating: 17/20
The ingredients from my list still present are the solvents: Butyl Acetate, Ethyl Acetate, Isopropyl Alcohol.
(Pretty low-toxin solvents compared to other options).
Ingredients: Butyl Acetate, Ethyl Acetate, Nitrocellulose, Acetyl Tributyl Citrate, Phthalic Anhydride/Trimellitic Anhydride/Glycols Copolymer, Isopropyl Alcohol, Stearalkonium Hectorite, Adipic Acid/Fumaric Acid/Phthalic Acid/Tricyclodecane Dimethanol Copolymer, Citric Acid, Bis(glycidoxyphenyl propane/Bisamino methylnorbornane Copolymer (BPA-based epoxy), Aluminum Hydroxide, Polybutylene Terephthalate, Polyethylene Terephthalate, Styrene/Acrylates Copolymer.
Polish May contain (+/-):Aluminum Powder (CI 77000), Iron Oxides (CI 77499 / CI 77491), Red 34 Lake(CI 15880), Red 6 Lake (CI 15850), Red 7 Lake (CI 15850), Yellow 5 Lake (CI 19140), Ferric Ammonium Ferrocyanide (CI 77510), Mica (CI 77019), Blue 1 (CI 42090), Yellow 11 (CI 47000), Titanium Dioxide (CI 77891), Violet 2 (CI 60725), Yellow 10 (CI 47005), Red 28 (CI 45410), Red 22 (CI 45380).
Notes: Vegan, cruelty-free.
7. Karma Organic
I am not impressed with the marketing from this brand which I write about in the notes below.
My Chemical-Free House “Free of” Rating: 15/20
The ingredients still present from my list are the solvents: Butyl Acetate, Ethyl Acetate, Isopropyl Alcohol, N-Butyl Alcohol, and the UV stabilizer Benzophenone-1 (linked to cancer, endocrine disruption, and organ system toxicity, source).
Ingredients: Butyl Acetate, Ethyl Acetate, Nitrocellulose, Adipic Acid/Neopentyl Glycol/Trimellitic Anhydride Copolymer, Acetyl Tributyl Citrate, Isopropyl Alcohol, Stearalkonium Bentonite, Acrylates Copolymer, Silica, Benzophenone-1, Trimethylpentanediyl Dibenzoate.
May Contain: N-Butyl Alcohol, Mica, Calcium Aluminium Borosilicate, Calcium Sodium Borosilicate, Synthetic Fluorphlogopite, Polyethylene Terephthalate, Polybutylene Terephthalate, Etylene/Va Copolymer, Acrylates Copolymer, Aluminium Powder Ci 77000, Titanium Dioxide Ci 77891, Red 6 Ba.Lake Ci 15850, Red 7 Ca.Lake Ci 15850, Red 34 Ca.Lake Ci 15880, Yellow 5 Al.Lake Ci 19140, Red Iron Oxide Ci 77491, Black Iron Oxide Ci 77499, Manganese Violet Ci 77742, Chromium Oxide Greens Ci 77288, Ultramarines Ci 77007, Ferric Ammonium Ferrocyanide Ci 77510, Black 2 Ci 77266, Blue 1 Lake Ci 42090, Aluminum Hydroxide, Tin Oxide, Polyacrylate-4.
Notes: Peta Certified/Approved. Glass bottles and soy-based ink.
“Our polishes use a natural, plant-based formula” they say, though they don’t mention which ingredients are plant-based (since of few of them could either be plant-based or synthetic).
On Amazon it says “all natural” though the film formers are plastic.
“No plastic is used in our products” they say, though the nail polish itself is plastic-based (Nitrocellulose; Adipic/Neopentyl Glycol/Trimellitic Anhydride Copolymer; PET, PBT, EVA, Acrylates, Polyacrylate-4). The glitter also look like it is microplastic because they do not use mica and they do use PET which is what glitter is normally made of. Not clear if the brush bristles are plastic-free. The bottle cap may be plastic-free.
They claim to be 21-free but I don’t see anywhere on their website that lists out the 21 ingredients.
8. Suncoat Girl (Water-Based, Peel-Off)
Another water-based formula, but it does contain the (low-toxicity) solvent Propylene Glycol n-Butyl Ether, so it’s not 100% water-based.
Still, some may prefer this to other solvent-heavy brands. It has relatively low acute toxicity, says Dr. Mudgal, though still a glycol ether and not completely inert.
I do appreciate peel-off brands as I hate having to use solvent-based nail polish remover.
Suncoat Girl is meant for kids/teens.
My Chemical-Free House “Free of” Rating: 20/20
My Testing: I have used this in the past and found it to be good when I was chemically sensitive.
Ingredients: Aqua (Water); Acrylate/Styrene-Acrylate Copolymer; Propylene Glycol n-Butyl Ether; Dipropylene Glycol Dibenzoate; Mica; Titanium Dioxide; Ferric Ferrocyanide; Iron Oxides; Chromium Oxide; Carmine.
Notes: Vegan, cruelty-free, ~65 % water, mineral pigments, odorless, peel-off.
Corinne Segurais an InterNACHI-certified Healthy Homes Inspector with certifications in Building Biology, Healthier Materials and Sustainable Buildings, and more. She has 10 years of experience helping others create healthy homes. You can book a consult here.
 - My Chemical-Free House (2025))
