Best Cruelty-Free Nail Polish for Perfect Nails [2021]

A lot of people will feel incomplete without nail polish. This accessory is the cherry on top of the sundae that is your outfit. It is an excellent source of confidence for people who sport it.

This confidence can be undermined by the lack of peace of mind when you realize that the product on your fingernail results from the torture and death of animals.

Luckily due to the activism in the past few decades, companies have emerged to solve this problem. There are products out there to help people get the benefits of nail polish but with peace of mind knowing no animals were harmed in the process.

Top Cruelty-Free Nail Polish Compared

Product ImageProduct NameFeaturesPrice

Orly Nail Lacquer, Oh Cabana Boy - Best Overall
  • Natural pearl for shine and durability
  • Contains UV inhibitors to prevent fading
  • Price: $ 8.99

Butter LONDON Patent Shine 10X Nail Lacquer
  • No added formaldehyde, formaldehyde resin, DBP, toluene, camphor, ethyl tosylamide, xylene or TPHP
  • The patented shock resisting polymer technology delivers limitless shine with up to 10 days of wear
  • Price: $18

7 Free Nail Polish - Best Long Lasting
  • Amazing vibrant colors that go on smooth and stay put
  • Features a custom wide 100% vegan brush for easier application
  • Price: $6.3

Cirque Colors Holographic Nail Polish
  • Non-toxic formula and 10-free
  • Holographic finish
  • Price: $14

Smith & Cult Nail Polish, Metallics - Best in Smooth application
  • High shine and smooth coverage
  • Long Wear
  • Price: $18

Orly Beautifully Bizarre Nail Lacquer
  • A unique formula that delivers a cutting edge resin technology to improve lacquer adhesion and wear ability
  • A superior range of shades and the hottest special effects and textures
  • Price: $6.25

Deborah Lippmann Nail Polish
  • Has a dual-patented formula with 10 active ingredients
  • Available in a wide range of colors
  • Price: $20

Sarah Hansen Good. Kind. Pure. Nail Color - Best in Innovation
  • Smooth, creamy color
  • All natural hardener improves the look of ridges and imperfections and seals fragile nails
  • Price: $8.99

Creamy Polish by 100% Pure
  • Truffle is a semi-sheer brown with a metallic rose gold sheen
  • Made without the 10 common toxins found in conventional formulas
  • Price: $8.4

MM Olive & June
  • Wide, fan-shaped brush makes painting a breeze
  • Gel-like finish that comes off easily with nail polish remover
  • Price: $8

Ella+mila Nail Polish, Love Collection
  • PETA certified
  • Beach resort blue in color
  • Price: $11.39

LONDONTOWN Lakur Nail Polish Invisible Crown Sheer Pink
  • Sheer finish
  • Brilliant high-pigment lacquer
  • Price: $16

Sundays Non-Toxic Nail Polish
  • Rose gold color
  • Ideal for adults
  • Price: $21.95

RENEWED by Rooted Woman
  • Pregnancy-safe
  • Timeless color collection
  • Price: $18

Reviews of Best Cruelty-Free Nail Polish Today

1. Orly Nail Lacquer, Oh Cabana Boy – Best Overall

This nail polish ticks the boxes most people are looking for in nail polish. It only requires one layer and dries fast while having diminished streaking. The shine is also perfect.

What Are Buyers Saying?

The buyers like the shine; it pops, and the people love the attention it garners. It is also effortless to apply, given how fast it dries and how it does not streak.

Why Buyers Love It

The buyers love how it looks. Just how easy it is to apply as it dries and how it does not streak. It is also easy to remove, allowing more versatility.

Price: $8.99

Buy on Amazon

2. Butter LONDON Patent Shine 10X Nail Lacquer

This nail polish is being sold on its qualities to shine. It maintains the shine for a full ten days, and the product was featured in Forbes as the best non-toxic nail polish.

What Are Buyers Saying?

They love just how quality the nail polish is. However, they do not like how thin the bottle is. There is just very little of it.

Why Buyers Love It

It has a lot of options allowing so much versatility with every color for any occasion. It also has several natural ingredients that are safe and non-toxic to the wearer.

Price: $18.00

Buy on Amazon

3. 7 Free Nail Polish – Best Long Lasting Polish

This nail polish is long-lasting and maintains shine and luster. It achieves this without artificial ingredients that are common in most market offerings and offers various colors.

What Are Buyers Saying?

They love just how many options of color they can get. They also like how it is applied evenly and smoothly.

Why Buyers Love It

The buyers like that it possesses high-quality polishes, and it does not chip, dries fast, and lasts long, all being cruelty free.

Price: $6.30

Buy on Pacifica Beauty

4. Cirque Colors Holographic Nail Polish

This company is built to introduce customers to a less conventional palate of colors. It has a color continuum that is vibrant because it is personally hand-mixed with unique pigments.

What Are Buyers Saying?

The buyers like the array of colors that the nail polish offers. A lot of people say that it helps them express themselves way better than the conventional polishes do.

Why Buyers Love It

They love the colors being on a spectrum as having standard colors. They also love that the polish is non-toxic and is never tested on animals.

Price: $14.00

Buy on Amazon

5. Smith & Cult Nail Polish, Metallics – Best in Smooth Application

This polish has a smooth coverage as it does not streak and maintains a brilliant shine. It also has a base coat that preps the nail surface, which maximizes its lifespan.

What Are Buyers Saying?

They love the innovation that comes from the base coat that increases its longevity. They also appreciate the smooth coverage given how easy it is to apply.

Why Buyers Love It

Users like that they do not have to be expert manicurists as anyone can apply a shiny and even coat. It also has a varied color palette that allows them to express themselves to the fullest.

Price: $18.00

Buy on Amazon

6. Orly Beautifully Bizarre Nail Lacquer

This polish explores innovation in the organic and non-toxic sector. It utilizes bleeding edge resin technology to improve the lacquer adhesion and wearability. As such, it lasts long.

What Are Buyers Saying?

The people like the vibrancy of the colors. It also requires just two to three coats to give a long-lasting shine that the buyers appreciate.

Why Buyers Love It

The colors are vibrant enough in a way that does translate on camera. It has a shine and luster that the people appreciate. This applies in different colors, which is appreciated.

Price: $6.25

Buy on Amazon

7. Deborah Lippmann Nail Polish

This polish is effortless to apply. It requires no use of tools or lamps, as it dries relatively quickly and applies just the same. The non-toxic nature of the polish also means that it is not damaging to the nails.

What Are Buyers Saying?

They like how the design is made to accommodate the easy application. It has a broad brush that helps people do their nails. The polish applies evenly and dries as fast without the need for lamps or specialist tools.

Why Buyers Love It

For most people, they enjoy how long it lasts without damaging their nails.

Price: $20.00

Buy on Amazon

8. Sarah Hansen Good. Kind. Pure. Nail Color – Best in Innovation

This polish is made to be long lasting. It integrates three coats. A base coat that helps with its adherence, the second coat gives it its color, and a final coat that hardens the polish.

What Are Buyers Saying?

Users love that, unlike most of the market offerings, it does not damage their nails. It is also smooth and applies without much of a mess.

Why Buyers Love It

Unlike artificially made products, this polish does not have acetone as an ingredient that can be very off-putting for many people.

Price: $8.99

Buy on Ulta

9. Creamy Polish: Truffle

This polish does not use acetone as an ingredient eliminating the harsh smell making it so much approachable.

What Are Buyers Saying?

People working in a professional setting love the polish due to its understated shine. It can also be just as good for going out.

Why Buyers Love It

They like how smooth and thick the coat is. It gives this durable, hardy look.

Price: $8.40

Buy on 100% Pure

10. MM Olive & June

This polish is for the professionals. It is cruelty-free with natural ingredients and has slightly neutral colors that fit in the corporate world as well as a party.

What Are Buyers Saying?

A lot of people love the color. It is not pink but a light beige that they like.

Why Buyers Love It

They like just how versatile the color is and that it can be worn on almost any occasion or location without seeming out of place.

Price: $8.00

Buy on Olive and June

11. Ella+mila Nail Polish, Love Collection

This product line leverages immediate feedback from social media. It adapts quickly to change with the trends and consequently give people precisely what they want.

What Are Buyers Saying?

They love the number of options available. Many people feel that they can find any polish to suit their needs and express themselves.

Why Buyers Love It

Users like that they can get virtually any polish they see on social media. Their wants can be translated to reality in record time.

Price: $11.39

Buy on Amazon

12. LONDONTOWN Lakur Nail Polish Invisible Crown Sheer Pink

This polish is built on being hardy. It uses a high-end chemical process to ensure that the nail polish is as hard as possible, giving it top of the line durability. The blend is not only non-toxic; it is infused with vitamins and minerals to promote healthy nails.

What Are Buyers Saying?

The polish has a stunning pink shade. It applies evenly with just two coats.

Why Buyers Love It

The shine from the pink color is loved by all that buy it. People with fair complexion love just how much it complements their skin.

Price: $16.00

Buy on Amazon

13. Cote Toxin Free Nail Polish

This polish is beautiful and of high quality. It accomplishes this while being non-toxic, promoting healthier nails.

What Are Buyers Saying?

A lot of people do not like the color, saying that it is not rose-colored as advertised but is instead more silver-colored.

Why Buyers Love It

They like the fact that it is unisex.

Price: $21.95

Buy on Amazon

14. Sundays Non-Toxic Nail Polish

This unique black color adds a lot to the lipstick market, given the vibrancy of the colors. This especially the case in the non-toxic market.

What Are Buyers Saying?

People are saying that they enjoy the shade this nail polish offers. However, they find it quite pricey.

Why Buyers Love It

They like the spa-quality level of the polish and its longevity.

Price: $18.00

Buy on Amazon

15. Rooted Woman

This product design philosophy is based on ethical nail care. It is cruelty-free, gluten-free, and vegan-free.

What Are Buyers Saying?

People love that it only takes one coat for a sturdy application.

Why Buyers Love It

Vegans like that there is a product that matches their philosophy. They like the choice it affords them.

Price: $15.00

Buy on Rooted Woman

Best Cruelty-Free Nail Polish Buying Guide

The market for cruel free nail polish has exploded in the past few years following activists’ actions. Below is a guide to help you navigate this market.

Price

There is a large gap in the pricing of these products. This does not necessarily mean competitively priced products are worse off. A little research will help you get the perfect product for the price range.

Brush

Thick fluffy brushes are better to give an even coat easily.

Easy to Remove

Some people like to change their look. As such, they would benefit from checking the ease of removing their coating to apply another coat.

Quick to Dry

A good polish dries relatively fast. It adds to the convenience as it is faster to apply and go about your business.

FAQs

Do cruelty-free polishes have a strong smell?

Not necessarily. Cruelty-free means no animals were harmed in its production.

Are all cruelty-free polishes made from organic materials?

Not really, but a lot of the market uses natural ingredients.

Are natural polishes less durable?

Though they do not use artificial chemicals, advancements have allowed them to last longer.

Are cruelty-free products more expensive?

Like the alternatives, the products are in an extensive range of prices—there are products for every budget.

Summary

Good nail polish is an accessory that completes the look. It is so versatile that it would not be out of place in the office or when going out. People like to be confident in the products they are using.

However, this confidence can be undermined by the cruelty imposed on animals. Fortunately, there are cruelty-free alternatives to allow you to feel confident with peace of mind.