15 Cruelty Free Nail Polish Brands and Also Vegan

Posted on June 29, 2018 | Last updated on November 7, 2023

Are you looking for ethical nail polish brands? If so, in this list you will find plenty of cruelty-free nail polish that is also vegan!

Before having a vegan lifestyle I didn’t pay much attention to nail polish brands. Luckily now it can be easy to find brands that you can feel good about using because they did not test on innocent animals. Also, nail polish can make a great birthday present or Christmas gift for someone special in your life.

Many nail polish brands are cruelty-free, but what about being vegan too? Just 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.

 

Does OPI do animal testing?

OPI is part of a bigger company called Coty, and they follow the same rules about animal testing. OPI, by itself, doesn’t test their finished products or the ingredients on animals, but they do pay others to test products on animals if the law says they have to. So, unfortunately, OPI is not considered cruelty-free.

 

Is Essie 2023 cruelty-free?

People have said that Essie is kind to animals, but when I last checked, I couldn’t be sure they are really cruelty-free. Even though Essie says they don’t sell their products in China, they still test on animals if the law says they have to. So, I can’t say for sure that Essie is cruelty-free.

 

Does Sally Hansen nail polish test on animals?

I’m not quite sure if Sally Hansen is kind to animals or not. Plus, it’s important to know that Sally Hansen is owned by a bigger company called Coty, and they do test on animals if the law says they have to. So, it’s a bit uncertain if Sally Hansen is cruelty-free.

 

 

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Best Cruelty-Free Nail Polish Brands (and also Vegan!)

 

Table of Contents

• Nail Polish Brands
• Nail Polish Remover
• Nail Polish for Kids
• Nail Salon in Miami

 

 

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CRUELTY FREE NAIL POLISH BRANDS LIST

 

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

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.

 

Priti NYC

PRITI NYC is a trendy cruelty-free brand that works with designers for Fashion Week runway projects, and they regularly come out with new seasonal collections. Their nail polishes are vegan and cruelty-free. Some of the ingredients they avoid are Formaldehyde, Dibutyl Phthalate (DBP), Toluene, and Camphor.

 

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 they avoid major harsh chemicals. I have previously bought two of their cruelty-free nail polish set boxes which makes it so convenient to try new colors.

 

 

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CRUELTY-FREE NAIL POLISH REMOVER

 

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. These removers are also available with Tea Tree oil and Lavender so you can pick your favorite.

 

More brand options…

There are a couple of more brands that offer nail polish removers like Zoya, Ella+Mila, Gabriel Cosmetics, and more.

 

 

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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, and other harsh ingredients. Plus, they market their products suitable for EVERYONE, including pregnant women, children of every age, and even 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. You can find their cruelty-free nail polish set baggies which I’m linking below.

 

 

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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!

 

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A post shared by LUV NAIL SHOP MIAMI (@luvnailshop)

 

 

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Cruelty-Free VS. Vegan

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 are 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!

 

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!

 

 

This post was all about cruelty-free nail polish brands.

Other Posts You May Like:

• 30+ Top Best Seller Cruelty-Free Products You Can Buy on Amazon
• 10 Vegan Beauty Products You Can Buy on Amazon
• 5 Vegan Perfumes That Smell So Lovely

 

 

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