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Looking for a non-toxic or odorless nail polish? Then you might 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 managed to find 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.
As application and dry-time may vary between nail polish brands, I highly recommend carefully reading 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 conventional nail polish.
2021 Update! I’ve included information about the mica sourcing from each brand listed below.
gitti Water-Based Vegan Nail Color
Based in Germany, gitti has a collection of water-based, vegan, and odorless nail colors. The unique formula is 55% water-based, easy to apply, dries quickly, and has no strong odor. Currently, they have 12 beautiful and very wearable, water-based nail colors to choose from. (Just be sure you’re getting one that says “water-based” as gitti also sells regular nail polish)
Additionally, gitti is the very first nail polish company that I came across that doesn’t use mica in their nail polish formulas!
Where to buy? gitticonsciousbeauty.de
Honeybee Gardens Water-Based Nail Enamel
Honeybee Gardens’ unique water-based nail polish is free from strong chemical odors and claims to be vegan, cruelty-free, and gluten-free. Get their Endure Primer/Sealer which acts like a base and top coat and helps to extend your manicure 2-3 times. And when it’s time to take off your WaterColor Nail Enamel, use their acetone-free Remover Gel.
Choose from 26 of Honeybee Gardens’ nail polish colors ranging from matte, shimmer, or iridescent finish. Honeybee Gardens has also confirmed their mica is ethically sourced, without the use of child or forced labor.
Where to buy? Amazon
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. Pure Anada has also confirmed their mica is ethically sourced, without the use of child or forced labor.
Where to buy? purecanada.ca
Piggy Paint Water-based Nail Polish
Piggy Paint’s advanced 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.
Choose from 35 Piggy Paint nail colors from matte to shimmer, and this especially cool glow-in-the-dark version! *Note: Piggy Paint has been nonresponsive when I asked them if their mica is ethically sourced.
Where to buy? Amazon and Well.ca
SOPHi Water-Based Nail Polish
The difference between Piggy Paint and SOPHi nail polishes is the range of colors. Piggy Paint nail colors
Where to buy? Amazon
ColorClub Water Colors
I have a few bottles of ColorClub cruelty-free and vegan nail polishes in my collection but I had no idea ColorClub had a line of water-based nail polish! Water Colors by ColorClub claims to be an 18-free, non-toxic, water-based formula and is available in 9 colors on their website.
*Note: ColorClub has been nonresponsive when I asked them if their mica is ethically sourced.
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. They have over 80+ nail colors to choose from and in various finishes including creme, metallic, shimmer, and translucent.
*Note: When I asked if Acquarella’s mica is ethically sourced without the use of child labor, they said they’re in no position to enforce/monitor/scrutinize their supplier conduct.
2 thoughts on “List of Cruelty-Free, Water-based Nail Polish”
Almost 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.
Hi 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.