Looking for a non-toxic or odorless nail polish? Then you may want to give water-based nail polish a try!
Water-based nail polishes claim to be virtually odorless, nonflammable, safe for children, free of harsh and smelly
I did some research and found 7 cruelty-free, water-based vegan nail polish brands. These brands do not test on animals, anywhere in the world and none of their polishes contain any animal-derived ingredients. So that you (and your kids!) can paint your nails without harming animals or your health!
As application and dry-time may vary between nail polish brands’, we advise you to carefully read through each brand’s instructions for preparation, application, and removal of their water-based nail colors so that you know what to expect since water-based nail polishes are quite different from regular nail polish that we’re used to.
Honeybee Gardens Water-Based Nail Enamel
Honeybee Gardens’ unique water-based nail polish is free from strong chemical odors and claims to be 12-free, meaning their polish doesn’t contain formaldehyde, toluene, dibutyl phthalate, camphor, formaldehyde resin, xylene, parabens, fragrance, nitrocellulose resin, animal ingredients, triphenyl phosphate or benzophenone-1.
Choose from 26 of Honeybee Gardens’ nail polish colors ranging from matte, shimmer, or iridescent finish.
Price: $12.99
Where to buy? Amazon
Ingredients: Water (Aqua), Acrylates copolymer. May Contain: Iron Oxides (CI 77490), Mica (CI 77019), Titanium Dioxide (CI 77891), Ultramarine Blue (CI 77007)
Piggy Paint Water-based Nail Polish
Piggy Paint’s advanced water-based nail polish formula claims to be safe for kids and safe for use during pregnancy. Piggy Paint polishes are vegan, non-toxic, virtually odorless, and free of all harsh and smelly chemicals; it’s free of formaldehyde, toluene, phthalates, Bisphenol A, ethyl acetate and acetone.
Choose from 35 Piggy Paint water-based nail polish colors from matte to shimmer, and this especially cool glow in the dark version!
Price: $8.99
Where to buy? Amazon, Well.ca, iHerb.com
Ingredients: Water, acrylates copolymer, neem oil. May contain the following colorants (depending on shade): Red 34 Lake, ultramarines, iron oxide, titanium dioxide, mica, red 28, yellow 10, violet 2, zinc sulfide/copper, copper flake, orange 5, and red 22.
Acquarella Water-based Nail Polish
Acquarella nail polish claims to be virtually odorless, dries quickly in 5-10 minutes, has excellent shine and wear, without a base or top coat, non-toxic, and non-flammable. In addition, Acquarella’s “water-based formula is not only breathable, which allows for a healthier nail, but it is also water permeable without being a ‘peel-off'”
Choose from Acquarella’s impressive range of over 80+ nail colors. They have just about every color in various finishes including creme, metallic, shimmer, and translucent.
Price: $18
Where to buy? Amazon
Ingredients: Aqua (CAS: 7732-18-5), Styrene Acrylates Copolymer, Acrylates Copolymer. May contain: CI 77489 (CAS: 1345-25-1), CI 77492 (CAS: 51274-00-1), Mica (CAS: 12001-26-2), CI 77891 (CAS: 13463-67-7) and/or CI 77499.
SOPHi Water-Based Nail Polish
The main difference between Piggy Paint and SOPHi nail polishes is the range of colors. Piggy Paint nail colors
Price: $8.99
Where to buy? Amazon, Well.ca, iHerb.com
Ingredients: Water, Acrylates
Snails (S’N’B) Water-based Nail Polish
Safe ‘N’ Beautiful’s Snails water-based nail polish claims to be the first 12-free, washable French kids nail polish in the world. Snails water-based polishes are made with natural ingredients making their polishes virtually odorless compared to solvent-based alternatives and best of all, the polish can be washed off easily with water and soap. All of
Choose from 50+ Snails nail colors!
Price: £8 – £10
Where to buy? Amazon
Ingredients: Aqua, Styrene/
Color Club Water Colors
I have a few bottles of Color Club cruelty-free and vegan nail polishes in my collection and I had no idea Color Club had a range of vegan, water-based nail polish! Water Colors by Color Club claims to be an 18-free non-toxic, water-based formula. “Without sacrificing on color and durability, the new Water Colors collection features an odor-free formula and easy peel off removal.” 18-Free Means that this Formula is free
Choose from 18 Color Club’s Water Colors.
Price: $6 – $10
Where to buy? colorclub.com or Wal-mart.
Ingredients: Not listed.
Pure Anada’s Princess Polish – Water-based
Pure Anada is a Canadian cosmetic brand with a range of non-toxic, cruelty-free, and vegan nail polishes. Pure Anada also has a collection of water-based nail polish just for kids called Princess Polish. Made from a base of water, rather than harsh, smelly chemicals, this no odor nail polish is a healthy alternative to traditional, solvent-based nail
Choose from 4 of Pure Anada Princess Polish nail colors! If you’re buying them for a gift, Pure Anada has these adorable Princess Packs that includes one of their water-based nail colors.
Price: CAD$10
Where to buy? purecanada.ca
Ingredients: Water, Acrylates Copolymer, Butoxy Diglycol, Methylisothiazolinone, Hydroxxethylcellulose, Mineral Pigments: Ultramarines, Iron Oxide, Titanium Dioxide, Mica, OR Chromium Hydroxide Green
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A
February 17, 2021Almost all of these include Mica, which is mined by child labor. May every single one of the companies that uses child labor and calls themselves “cruelty free” burn to the ground and rot. All of these companies value animals over human life, to the point that they consider humans so expendable that while children die in the process of making thier polish, they care so little that they still call themselves “cruelty free”. Now thats just plain old evil disguised under good marketing.
Vicky Ly
February 17, 2021Hi Anna, thanks for sharing your feedback. It is horrific how most mica is mined and sourced unethically using child labor and human exploitation. But note that not all mica is mined using child labor. I’m in the process of verifying with all 600+ brands on my cruelty-free and vegan brand list of where they source their mica from and whether it was responsibly and ethically mined. This is taking me a long time to do alone but I plan on providing details about each brand’s response in my posts in the future.
But regarding the brands in THIS post. I can confirm the following:
Honeybee Gardens – “We work with the National Resources Stewardship Council (NRSC) to obtain ethically-sourced mica, noting most of our supply comes from the US.”
Acquarella – They state they try their best to work with suppliers that have ethical practices but as a boutique manufacturer, they are in no position to enforce/monitor/scrutinize their conduct.
Piggy Paint and SOPHi – no response back yet
Pure Anada – “Our Mica supplier ensures that their product is mined ethically in India without the use of child labour. They own their own mines, fund schools and daycare centers so that the quality of life for their employees is fair.”
Color Club – no response back yet
I share the same concerns as you and hope that brands are more transparent about their supply chain and source of mica. Therefore my goal is to provide as much information as possible so that we can make the best informed and kind choices that matters most to us.