5 Eco-friendly Non-Toxic Nail Polish Removers
No matter how much we love the color we painted our nails it’s going to have to be removed at some point!
As we seek healthier and sustainable solutions for all areas of our lives, beauty products have come under closer scrutiny.
Friendlier, gentler options, like non-toxic nail polish, are being sought for nails, but we can’t forget about the end process either: the remover.
This guide explores the sustainability of nail polish remover and some natural non-toxic alternatives to consider trying.
Pin these sustainable nail polish remover options for later!
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What’s in Nail Polish Remover?
Nail polish removers are mainly made up of solvents that dissolve the resins in nail polish.
Acetone is the most common solvent found in removers.
When it comes to your nails, acetone has a drying effect and can lead to and exacerbate yellowed, weak, and brittle nails.
If you want something gentler for your skin that isn’t as drying, there are acetone-free options.
However, despite this label, it doesn’t necessarily mean a remover is completely free of acetone, just less concentrated due to the use of moisture additives.
Other Nail Polish Remover Ingredients to Be Wary Of
methyl ethyl ketone
n-methyl-pyrrolidone (NMP)
And as with many other beauty products, try to avoid fragranced items
Is Nail Polish Remover Toxic to Our Health?
What do all these chemicals mean for you and your health, especially for those working in salons?
Overexposure to acetone may lead to adverse effects like dizziness, headaches, and skin irritation.
But acetone poisoning is rare and generally it’s regarded as safe as long as exposure is brief and infrequent.
However, methyl ethyl ketone is more potent.
It’s a neurotoxin and may lead to headaches, memory impairment, and respiratory tract irritation. NMP, a reproductive toxin, has been reported to cause acute contact dermatitis.
5 Eco-Friendly Nail Polish Removers to Try
If you’re looking for nail polish removers with cleaner less toxic ingredients, here is a great list to get started.
BKIND: Natural non ACETONE Nail Polish Remover
Price: $20
Cringe no more with BKIND’s natural nail polish remover. The formula replaces toxic acetone with ingredients found in grapes (ethyl acetate) and from fermenting corn sugar (propanediol).
They also offer the possibility to refill your bottle, so you won't have to worry about throwing away any plastic bottle.
Kure Bazaar Acetone & Essential oil-free Nail Polish Remover
Price: $32-$38
Kure Bazaar’s rose nail polish remover is acetone and essential oil free.
This less toxic option is made with natural solvents such as sugar cane, wheat, and maize which work to dissolve polish with ease. The moisturizing formula is infused with rosehip oil and damask rose water to nourish and replenish.
Mineral Fusion’s Gentle Nail Polish Remover
Price Range: $9-$20
Mineral Fusion creates a gentle acetone-free nail polish remover that can take on dark shades of nail polish. Their remover is also paraben free and cruelty free and is a great less-toxic option!
This brand is also Carbon Free Certified.
Aila’s Natural Plant Based Nail Polish Remover wipes
Price: $20
Along with its range of vegan nail polishes, Aila offers a natural, plant-based nail polish remover wipes.
It’s soy-based and made with argan oil, which has antimicrobial and antifungal properties.
The remover also contains vitamins A, C, and E, which act as antioxidants and anti-inflammatories.
Sienna Byron Bay’s Water Based Nail Polish Remover
Price: $42
Sustainability is at the core of Sienna’s philosophy.
Their head office and warehouse is powered with renewable energy, all their packaging is recyclable, and they run an in-house recycling program.
Their range of vegan and cruelty-free products includes nail polish bottles with timber caps, as well as a water-based remover made with soy and vitamin E that comes in a recyclable glass bottle.
Is Nail Polish Remover Sustainable?
It’s not just people who are affected by the toxic ingredients in nail polish removers.
The planet is affected too, which of course ends up impacting us as well. The EPA classifies nail polish and its removers as household hazardous waste because this product is toxic and flammable.
Nail polish remover bottles are also difficult to recycle.
Consumers must clean out the bottles which can mean hazardous waste going down the drain and entering waterways.
Consider taking your empties to a hazardous waste facility or find an appropriate recycling program or ask your nail salon whether they have partnered with any such facilities.
Oh and let’s not even get started on glitter nail polish: not only is it a nightmare to remove, but glitter is bad for the environment.
It’s made up of microplastics that cannot break down or be recycled, often ending up in waterways, posing a threat to aquatic life and ultimately to humans as well.
Tips for Shopping for Sustainable Nail Polish Removers
Beauty brands are trying to find sustainable solutions for their nail polishes and removers, such as timber caps for nail polish and glass bottles instead of plastic ones for removers.
When shopping for eco-friendly nail polish remover find brands that not only make their packaging sustainable but their production process too.
Along with the packaging consider what’s inside the bottle. Keep an eye out for removers containing natural or gentler ingredients like oil-based removers (think avocado, jojoba, or rosehip oil).
There are even water-based solutions you can use.
Acetone-free remover can be a starting point, especially if you want to stop stripping your nails of their natural oils.
Natural and organic removers may take a little more effort and elbow grease to remove polish, but they’ll be kinder to your nails and the environment.
Hopefully this guide has helped you find some less toxic and eco-friendly nail polisher remover options.
For more tips & tricks on sustainable living be sure to follow The Honest Consumer on social media, subscribe to our newsletter, & check out the Ethical & Sustainable Brand Directory.