Why Vegan Nail Polish Is A Better Choice

Most people enjoy a good mani-pedi. It relieves stress, make us feel a little less guilty about all that ‘me’ time you’ve recently missed out on.

The problem is, many of us (myself included), don’t think of the harmful threats to our health that conventional nail polish can cause. Nail polishes, whilst giving us a finished look that we love, are packed with a number of harsh chemicals such as formaldehyde, toluene and camphor.

You’re probably wondering, much like I did, what all these different names mean and what their effect on your health may be. Well, chemicals like formaldehyde have been suggested to contain cancer-causing compounds whilst toluene is found to affect the central nervous system and cause reproductive harm.

Luckily, there are alternatives available apart from going au natural in the form of vegan nail polishes.

Vegan nail polishes offer a natural and safer alternative to conventional brands and give you a finish that is just as good, but without the harmful chemicals that other brands include and of course do not engage in animal testing. Whilst not necessarily considered mainstream, vegan nail polishes are not overly difficult to come by, with some big-name brands like Barry M (with their Barry M Coconut Infusion Nail Paint) providing vegan alternatives available in many high-street stores. Although vegan nail polishes tend to be slightly more expensive than other nail polish brands, consumers are recognising the huge impact that beauty products are having on our internal health and are willing to accept the slightly higher price tag.

So, what’s available on the market that you can get your hands on? Check out our list below of some of our recommended vegan nail polishes;

786 Cosmetics

PETA certified 786 Cosmetics nail polishes put conscious beauty at the heart of their agenda with their vegan, breathable, and halal nail polish line that is inspired by cities around the globe. The polishes also include no animal products and are not tested on animals. Click here to shop.

100% Pure

100% Pure have worked to eliminate ten of the top toxic ingredients found in most nail polishes such as, formaldehyde, toluene, DBP, camphor, formaldehyde resin, xylene, parabens, fragrances, phthalates and animal ingredients. Cruelty-free nail polish, of course. Click here to shop.

AILA Cosmetics

AILA Cosmetics (pronounced eye-luh) prides themselves by being all about beauty and wellness. AILA creates nail polishes that do not sacrifice nail function or health. The company offers a wide range of nail polish colours that are all gluten-free, cruelty-free and vegan, excluding many of the harmful chemicals typically found in nail polishes. AILA also offers a soy-based nail polish remover infused with argan oil and cuticle oil to facilitate the continued health and protection of the nail, for days when you feel like giving your nails some extra TLC. Click here to shop.

All Heart

All Heart recently released limited edition nail polishes designed with selected non-profit partners, with one nail polish from the collection released each month and $1 from each bottle sold being donated to the charity that the polish was designed in collaboration with. All Heart really provides the best of both worlds, as not only do you get to purchase a beautiful colour that is vegan friendly but you also contribute towards a positive change. All Heart’s not for profit partners include; PETA business friends, Kids Connected, The Forgotten International, and Give Kids The World Village. Click here to shop.

Colour Club

Colour Club is print to be female-founded since 1979 (talk about girl power) and remains owned and operated by women to this day. Therefore, it is no surprise that female empowerment and advancement is at the heart of their business agenda. From the boldest neons to the most radiant holographics, Color Club nail lacquers come in every shade under the sun. Click here to shop.

Gitti

Water-based, vegan nail polish set to launch in Spring 2019!

Hype Nail

Made with up to 85% plant based ingredients derived from potatoes and corn, and without any toxic chemicals, Hype nail offers a variety of colours that do not skim on performance! Click here to shop.

LONDONTOWN

In the search for safe and effective ways to restore nail damage, LONDONTOWN founder relied on an old family recipe that could be easily implemented into a nail care routine and voila, LONDONTOWN was born! Using a botanical formula, LONDONTOWN nail polishes put the health of your nails first to give you harder, longer and stronger nails. Click here to shop.

RMS Beauty

RMS has been on our radar since our interview with the wonderful women behind Cassine (you can read the interview here). RMS Beauty is dedicated to transforming women’s approach to beauty. Not only does RMS promote the use of organic ingredients in all their products, but they go beyond that to create a product that is not only non-toxix but works to heal and nourish the skin. Nail polish is just one aspect f the myriad of products that RMS provide for across beauty including, skincare and makeup. Click here to shop.

Veque

We are personally obsessed with their new nudes range that provides the perfect nude, covering 11 shades to create the concept of inclusive beauty down to your fingernails. Btw, it’s pronounced vey-quay for those of you ready to show off your new nudes to friends. Click here to shop.