Let’s talk vegan nail polish. 💅 I gave up wearing nail polish for quite a while after becoming vegan. Unfortunately, there just weren’t a lot of options available. However, I then discovered my new favorite vegan nail polish brand. And my nails–and the animals–couldn’t be happier! 😉
I love sharing my favorite vegan products with you! Every time you purchase a vegan and cruelty free product, you are making a difference. While you may not feel convicted to make every purchase vegan or cruelty free, I’m incredibly appreciative of each purchase that is! One purchase, one person: we can all make a difference!
Why most Nail Polish isn’t vegan
First, let’s discuss why most nail polish isn’t vegan. There may be several ingredients in nail polish that are derived from animals. Common ingredients include:
- Guanine (pearl essence)
- derived from fish scales
- gives nail polish its shine
- derived from fish scales
- Carmine (cochineal)
- made from boiled and crushed insects
- often used in nail polish and other red-tinted cosmetics
- made from boiled and crushed insects
- Oleic Acid
- made from animal fat or tallow
- thickens formulas
- made from animal fat or tallow
- Shellac
- resin secreted by female lac bugs
Other ingredients in nail polish may include:
- Perfumes
- in most countries, the exact ingredients in perfumes are not required to be disclosed
- animal-derived ingredients are common in perfumes
- Musk Oil: dried secretion painfully obtained from musk deer, beaver, muskrat, civet cat, and otter genitalia
- Shark Liver Oil (squalene)
- Ambergris (derived from whale intestines)
- in most countries, the exact ingredients in perfumes are not required to be disclosed
- Lanolin (made from sheep’s wool)
- Beeswax
- Keratin (derived from feathers, horns, and wool of different animals)
- animal-derived Retinol (from liver, fish, egg yolks, heavy cream, butter)
Thankfully though, none of these ingredients are vital to producing nail polish. They can easily be replaced with synthetic or plant-derived ingredients.
Nail Polish Animal Testing
Then, there’s the element of testing on animals which also makes it not vegan-friendly.
Yes, even nail polish can be tested on animals. In my opinion, if we even have to test something like nail polish on innocent animals, we probably shouldn’t even be considering putting it on our own bodies!
Sadly, animal testing is not as humane as it may seem. To learn more about the gruesome practice of animal testing, read:
About Ella Mila
Ella Mila brand nail polish is my all time favorite vegan nail polish! These polishes are long lasting and come in a wide variety of gorgeous color tones.
Ella Mila releases a new collection every couple of months. Currently, over 150 shades are available. Plus, I love that they also give a description of the color on their website.
Plus, you can even find various tutorial videos on their website!
My personal favorite colors are:
- Unwrap Me (red)
- On The Runway (light grey)
- Little Plum Dress (deep purple)
- Emerald Memories (sparkly green)
Additionally, Ella Mila also sells vegan makeup and skin care products.
Ella Mila brand is:
- vegan
- cruelty free and not tested on animals
- Leaping Bunny Certified
- eco-friendly
- made without 17 of the most harmful chemicals including: Acetone, Bisphenol-A, Camphor, Formaldehyde, Gluten, Parabens, Phthalates, and Sulfates
- PETA certified
- made in the USA
Ella Mila can be purchased on their website. Or, in stores such as Target and Ulta Beauty.
Other Vegan Nail Polish brands
Other nail polish brands that are vegan-friendly include:
- Beauty Without Cruelty
- Color Club
- Dazzle Dry
- Karma Organic
- My personal favorite color is Little Blue Box: a really pretty soft aqua color
- LVX
- NCLA
- Pacifica
- Ocean Surf is a beautiful baby blue color, perfect for springtime!
- Piggy Paint (made specifically for kids)
- Sally Hansen vegan nail polish line
- I loved the subtle pink color of Rose Petal–gorgeous for spring or a wedding
- SOPHi (by Piggy Paint)
- Sundays
- Wet n Wild
- YAPA
Getting those nails done!
Most nail salons do not carry vegan-friendly options. I simply bring my own nail polish and products with me. 💅
So, what vegan nail polish brands do you use? Were you surprised to learn that most nail polish isn’t vegan? Let me know in the comments below!
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Beautiful colors on your nails. Love the pinks! My current color for several weeks now. On her live instagram show a few weeks ago, Suzanne Somers talked all about nail polish. Though she didn’t talk about vegan she listed the top offenders in polish:
Formaldehyde (I work for a funeral home and know what they do with this chemical-UGH!!), toluene, dibutyl phthalate-DBT, formaldehyde resin, camphor, triphenyl phosphate-THTP, xylene, ethyl tosylamide/epoxy resin, parabens, gluten.
I couldn’t begin to pronounce these words let alone what in the world they’re doing in polish.
Thank you to you and so many others who study and make us aware of the dangers of chemicals and help us live a healthy lifestyle.
I’m a reds over pinks kinda girl, myself. ❤️
The sheer amount of harmful chemicals in nail polish is astounding. And completely unnecessary! I’m so thankful for brands who are developing products that are better for our health and better for the environment. 💅
BTW I love the Ella+Mila label!
I love love LOVE Ella Mila 💚