Ultimate List of 70+ Cruelty-Free & Vegan Nail Polish Brands

October 15, 2019May 23, 2020 4 min read

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Ultimate Guide to Cruelty-Free Vegan Nail Polish

There are so many cruelty-free and vegan nail polish options on the market right now that I had to share this growing list with you all! I get super excited when I see this many (70+!) cruelty-free nail polish brands that all have vegan options!

What is Vegan Nail Polish?

First, let’s start by asking what makes traditional nail polish not vegan? Certain animal-derived ingredients may be lurking in our nail colors including an ingredient called guanine which is derived from fish scales and used in shimmery nail polish colors; keratin used as a nail strengthener; and shellac which is produced from the lac bug and commonly used as a high-shine hardener.

Vegan nail polish do not contain any animal-derived ingredients or by-products.

What is Cruelty-Free Nail Polish?

In addition, we also want to make sure we’re not supporting or buying from any nail polish brands that test their products, ingredients or formulations on animals, anywhere in the world. Unfortunately, some of the most popular and widely available nail polish brands are not cruelty-free, mainly because they choose to sell their products in mainland China, where animal testing is required by law for all imported cosmetics (including nail polish).

Nail polish brands that are not cruelty-free include OPI, Essie, Revlon, L’Oreal, Sinful Colors, Chanel, Givenchy, Dior, Tom Ford, and Christian Louboutin.

Cruelty-free nail polish are not tested on animals, anywhere in the world.

All of the nail polish brands listed in this post are cruelty-free meaning they don’t test on animals. Although some of the brands may not be entirely 100% vegan, I made sure to only include ones that offer vegan nail polish products. Please note that brands that are not marked as being “100% Vegan” may carry other nail care or cosmetic products (like cuticle oils, remover, lipsticks, eyeshadow palettes, skincare) that may not be vegan.

Scroll down for a comprehensive list of all 70+ cruelty-free and vegan nail polish brands!

Quick Guide: Vegan Nail Polish

Below is a quick guide to vegan nail polish where you’ll find our recommendations for:

Drugstore vegan nail polish
Gel vegan nail polish
Non-toxic vegan nail polish
Water-based vegan nail polish

Drugstore Vegan Nail Polish

If you’re looking for drugstore vegan nail polish at Target, Wal-mart, Ulta, London Drugs, CVS, or Superdrug, we recommend trying out Zoya, Pacifica, ORLY, ella + mila, Mineral Fusion, ELF, Barry M, and Piggy Paint. All of which are relatively affordable and under $10!

Gel Vegan Nail Polish

Get a professional gel manicure in the comfort of your home with these cruelty-free and vegan soak-off gel polishes: Madam Glam, NCLA’s Gelous?, Dimension Nails, Color Club’s Gel, and ORLY GELFX. You will need an LED or UV lamp when using these vegan gel polishes.

Non-Toxic Vegan Nail Polish

For those of us that want cruelty-free & vegan non-toxic nail polishes that contain fewer chemicals but without compromising on durability, quality, or nail color options, we highly recommend these vegan non-toxic nail polishes: Sienna Byron Bay, Londontown, VEQUE, SpaRitual, NCLA, 100% Pure, and Lauren B. Beauty.

Water-Based Vegan Nail Polish

Want a non-toxic, virtually odorless nail polish that is safe enough for your kids to use? Give water-based nail polish a try! Almost all water-based nail polishes don’t contain any animal ingredients but some brands may be selling in China where animal testing is required by law. We recommend the following cruelty-free water-based nail polishes: Honeybee Gardens, Piggy Paint, Acquarella, SOPHi, Snails (S’N’B), Pure Anada, and Color Club’s Water Color Collection.

Guide to All Vegan Nail Polish Brands

Below you will find an updated list of cruelty-free and vegan nail polish brands:

Please note: I have confirmed the following brands mentioned below carry vegan nail polish but some brands may also have other product lines that are not all vegan like nail treatments, lipsticks, perfume, lotions. Brands that are entirely vegan are noted as ‘100% vegan‘ label.