We all know many cosmetics aren't made with the best ingredients. But the most toxic one of them all? Nail polish. Most nail polishes contain the "toxic trio": formaldehyde, toluene and diputyl phthalate. These toxins are known to cause irritation, headaches and fatigue. Recently, there has been a huge shift toward natural and organic makeup—nail color included. So we've rounded up some nail polish brands that are 3-Free (made without the above toxins) and a lot healthier for your nails.
1. Acquarella
This water-based polish comes in 49 amazing colors and will run you $16 a bottle. It may be pricier than your standard drugstore polish, but this one is also cruelty-free, non-toxic and contains no nasty fumes.
2. Sumbody
CEO and founder Deborah Burnes is a skincare expert who creates products designed to "feed the entire sum of every person." All products contain locally-produced ingredients and are preservative-free.
3. RGB Cosmetics
Aiming to combine green beauty and luxury cosmetics, RGB creates polishes that are 5-free, vegan and gluten-free. The company was awarded "Best Nude" and "Best Green" by Allure, along with several other beauty awards.
4. Nubar
After his family was affected by cancer, Noubar Abrahamian wanted to create high-quality nail products that were safe. Keeping the quality of regular polish, Nubar is both vegan and cruelty-free.
5. Priti NYC
The word 'priti' has many meanings in Sanskrit including out of satisfaction, with love and pleasurable sensation. These eco-friendly polishes fulfill all of these meanings by being 5-free (void of the three toxins mentioned above, plus formaldehyde resin and camphor) and vegan.
6. Piggy Paint
Melanie Hurley, mother of two, realized how toxic the polishes she was using on her children when a few of the paints "ate" through a foam plate. She decided to create a hypoallergenic and cruelty-free polish that is safe for both children and pregnant women.
7. Scotch Naturals
With the intention of creating a good-for-you polish, the minds behind this brand knew that unfortunately, a water-based nail polish wasn't ever going to work. So instead, they got to work with a ton of research and development, and Scotch Naturals was born. We are obsessed with this nature-based, odorless, biodegradable and paraben-free polish!
8. SpaRitual
SpaRitual polishes are vegan and 5-free because the company wants their products to be good for people and the planet. Not to mention that color experts have hand-blended each color to create superior coverage and shine.
9. Obsessive Compulsive Cosmetics
OCC polishes were made with editorial manicurists in mind, so colors are modern, densely pigmented and fast-drying. But the best part? They're 100 percent vegan and cruelty-free, so no harming of animals in the making of this product!
10. No Miss
These colors are cruelty-free and, as a bonus, include UV inhibitors to protect your nails from the sun. They are also moisturizing, chip resistant and super glossy!
What brands will you be trying, collegiettes?