The Best Non-Toxic Nail Polishes & Nail Care Products

by Cailigh Workentin December 01, 2022

Well-manicured nails are really having their moment in the spotlight.

From unique designs to bright polish, a head-turning manicure has seamlessly made its way into an individual's personality and style. However, with these bright colors and eye-catching designs comes a painful truth.

A lot of the nail polish and nail care that are being used to achieve these manicures are toxin-laden and have an extremely negative effect on the health of our bodies—especially when exposed to their application, removal, and long-term wear.

Now, we get it, swapping out all the products in your nail care routine for cleaner formulas might not be high on your priority list, but we're here to explain why it should be.

Starting with nail polish. Traditional nail polishes are packed with chemicals and toxins like formaldehyde resin that is proven to cause harm to the body when worn for long periods of time (hello, hormone disruption!).

As for nail polish removal products, they're loaded with ingredients like alcohol that leave skin feeling dry and nail health depleted.

And cuticle oil? More often than not, it's not actually hydrating your cuticles or working to prevent splitting. It's merely leaving your nails (and hands) with a slippery, greasy feel that's just plain annoying.

Luckily, we've come a long way in the nail care and nail polish market.

Thanks to the emergence of 5-, 7-, and 10-free nail polish (which simply means formulas that are made without those controversial nail polish ingredients found in many traditional options), clean alternatives for healthy nail polish are endless.

The same goes for nail care. A lot of clean beauty brands are taking inspiration from skincare formulations as they create nail care products, using similar ingredients and methods, without the need for toxic chemicals.

From a broad color range of polishes to cuticle oil that actually strengthens your nails, we’re here to break down our top nontoxic nail polishes for every step of your nail care routine.

Here are the best nontoxic nail polishes and nail care products, according to The Detox Market:

Best Overall Non Toxic Nail Polish

Kure Bazaar - Nail Polish in Cashmere

Price: $24

It's worth saying that Kure Bazaar is mentioned a lot through this roundup, but that's because it continues to take the cake as one of the best non toxic nail polish brands, over and over again.

A true pioneer in the world of clean nail polishes, their products have become a cult fave among daily nail polish wearers thanks to their extensive (and continuously expanding) cruelty free, high-fashion color range.

Their formulas glide effortlessly for an incredibly resistant, glossy finish that lasts just as long (if not longer) than its synthetic counterparts.

Plus, all of their polishes are made with up to 90% natural ingredients like wood pulp, wheat, cotton, potatoes, and corn.

We've chosen this subdued shade as the best nontoxic nail polish because it has become a top seller for its versatility and wearability.

But really any color from this top brand is a fave in our books.






Best Natural-Looking Nail Polish Color

Kure Bazaar - Nail Polish in French Nude

Price: $24

It makes sense that a French-founded brand has nailed (pun fully intended) the perfect pink nail polish for a French tip.

Not only is this non toxic nail polish the ideal base for a French mani, it also looks great on its own (and on every skin tone).

After all, everyone needs a go-to natural-looking shade in their nail polish collection and this one definitely has our vote.

It gives nails a 'barely-there' hint of color while keeping them looking like your own nails (perhaps the closest clean swap for OPI's nail polish, Bubble Bath?)

Not to mention that the formula remains the same as the others from Kure Bazaar—ten-free, quick-drying, and created with ecologically-sourced ingredients. All things that count as a win in our books!

For an ultra-natural look, apply your base coat and follow with a single coat of this shade (we promise it'll be streak-free!). And if you want to truly have blush pink ends, we recommend adding two or three layers for a true pink sheen.






Best Non Toxic Red Nail Polish Color

Kure Bazaar - Nail Polish in Love

Price: $24

As for those of you who are into that deep, classic red, you can bet that Kure Bazaar has you sorted there too.

Their shade "Love" is your quintessential romantic red, giving your nails a rich color in only a couple of coats.

Just as with the brand's other polish shades, this red boasts impressive durability, so you can trust you'll have a chip-resistant and long-lasting mani.

For those curious as to how Kure Bazaar manages to boast streak-free application, it all comes down to the practical and effective bottle design.

With an ergonomic top and a neck designed for flow control, this non-spill bottle helps the formula remain incorporated and the brush remain intact for effortless application.






Best Natural Top Coat Nail Polish

Kure Bazaar - Nail Polish in Final Touch

Price: $24

Regardless of color choice, we believe the key to a good manicure is the high-sheen finish.

Kure Bazaar has once again taken top ranks for their glossy (almost gel polish-esque) top coat—appropriately named Final Touch.

Apply this clear nail polish on top of any nail color for a pro-level finish, without even going to a salon.

Similarly to its colorful counterparts, the clear non toxic nail polish is 10-free and ecologically sourced but goes a touch further with over 90% naturally-sourced ingredients in its formula.

What we love most about this top coat though, is its versatility as a top and base coat and even worn alone.

In between color changes, we like to apply a couple of coats of this clear formula to keep nails looking nicely manicured and tidy.






Best Non Toxic Nail Polish Remover

Kure Bazaar - Rose Natural Nail Polish Remover

Price: $24

As we move from nail polish to nail care, we remain loyal to Kure Bazaar as a leader in this category.

Kure Bazaar is not only one of the best non toxic nail polish brands, but it's also (ironically) great at removing what gives it that title.

The brand has created an exclusive oil-in-water formula that effectively removes nail polish from base coat to top coat while keeping skin moisturized and nails healthy-looking.

This remover is made with 100% natural ingredients like sugar cane, wheat, and corn, sparing hands of harmful (and incredibly drying) chemicals like acetone and ethyl acetate.

For the easiest soak-off, we suggest drenching a reusable cotton round (try our Reusable Rounds ) with a small amount of this rosewater-based nail polish remover and gently rubbing it against the nail until they're completely free of color.






Best Cuticle Oil

Kure Bazaar - Rose Infusion Cuticle Oil

Price: $58

If you don't currently have cuticle oil in your nail care roster, consider this your sign to get one.

Whether you wear nail polish or not, cuticle oil is great at minimizing splitting nails and painful dryness, while maintaining general nail health.

Our pick is this organic, rose petal-infused oil that revitalizes the look of cuticles in only a few drops.

It boasts a nourishing blend of 10 organic oils—including castor, sweet almond, hazelnut, and jojoba—to replenish moisture, and soothe and comfort fragile skin.

In case you’re not sure when to use it, we like to treat our skin to this oil pre AND post-manicure (and sometimes even overnight).






Best Natural Nail Balm

Kure Bazaar - Lip & Nail Balm in Rose

Price: $52

If cuticle oil isn't your vibe, there's always a nail balm as a trusty alternative option.

This luxurious, multitasking balm from Kure Bazaar works in similar ways to the oil to bring immediate comfort and relief to dry hands and nails, yet its solid formula makes it slightly easier to use.

Its blend of shea and cacao butter, and vitamin E, revives the look of nails, cuticles, and hands while leaving behind a smooth, soft finish.

And in case you didn't catch it from the product name, this rose-infused balm doubles as a lip balm to bring hydration back to dry, chapped lips.

Not to mention that the circular tin of this balm is great for carrying on the go for quick touch-ups and an instant skin fix.

It's time to nail your non toxic routine.






More on Kure Bazaar

Kure Bazaar is a line of nail polish and nail care products crafted with over 85% natural ingredients, like wood pulp, wheat, cotton, potatoes, and corn.

Their nail polish color range spans over 130 quick-drying, on-trend shades that glide effortlessly leaving behind a smooth, shiny finish that lasts without having to use any toxins in their formulas.

The products are also formulated to maintain the vitality of the nail underneath to minimize compromising the natural cycle of renewal.

Some of our other favorite shades from the brand:

  • Rose Milk: A soft, milky pink.

  • Cashmere: A cloud gray blue.

  • Bohemian: A bright, fiery red.

  • Tattoo: A deep, statement purple.

  • Or Pur: A shimmery, celebratory metallic.

Finding a non toxic nail polish:

The world of non toxic nail polishes can be overwhelming (even with our list of picks).

So as a general rule of thumb, here are some key features to keep your eyes open for as you search for your next nontoxic nail polish:

A "5-free" (or more) formula

Even among conventional brands, it's become standard for nail polish to be 3-free or more.

Try to find formulas that claim to be either 5- or 7-free—or better yet, 10-free (like Kure Bazaar).

This will indicate that the nail polish has been tested and marked as being free of the top harmful toxins that make nail polish toxic and lead to those long-term negative health effects.

If there is no clear marker, evaluate the ingredient list for ingredients like formaldehyde, toluene, and dibutyl phthalate. If they have 'em, ditch 'em.

Let's further break down these top three toxins:

  • Formaldehyde: A chemical component that’s known as a carcinogen, which has continuously been linked to respiratory issues including lung cancer.

  • Toluene: A chemical found in gasoline that has been proven to lead to headaches and nausea.

  • Dibutyl phthalate (DBT): An agent added to improve nail polish durability that has also been shown to disrupt hormones.

Higher pricing

Nontoxic nail polishes tend to be slightly more expensive—but for good reason.

Since the ingredients are sourced much more ethically and go through some pretty lengthy evaluation processes during formulation, their price will naturally reflect that.

While conventional polishes (we're talking your drugstore go-to's) come in around the $6-9 price range, cleaner nail polishes can lean into double that.

Just something to consider as you evaluate your collection of nail care and the value in distancing yourself from the negative effect conventional polishes might be having on your overall health.

How we selected our products

Our team of experts meticulously curated this list based on the innovation, performance, and buzz worthiness that comes along with the Kure Bazaar name.

At the Detox Market, all of the products we carry have pure ingredients, exceptional performance, and cruelty-free formulations.

We've been the trusted clean beauty experts for over a decade, cutting through the clean beauty noise and providing you with nothing but the best in green beauty.

You can learn more about our commitment to clean beauty and our standards here .

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