Guide To Natural Nail Polish Removers For Healthy Nails

Polish up on the best eco-friendly and natural nail polish removers in the UK for healthy nails and a healthy planet – from the acetone-free to plastic-free brands.

I’ve covered lots of topics in my eco-friendly health and beauty section, yet never nails. One of the main reasons for this is that I’ve never been a big nail polish wearer.

The reason for this is that I never mastered that particular skill. Whenever I try to do my nails, it always looked like they had been done by a two-year-old. On a pogo stick. With their eyes closed. Needless to say, it’s something I just decided wasn’t for me.

But then I had two daughters. And now one of them is very into painting her nails. Suddenly, she’s bringing home nail polish from shopping trips out with her friends and asking me to buy her nail polish remover.

It’s put me in full-on research mode, trying to find out more about natural and sustainable nail polish removers that won’t harm her nails or skin. As I’ve been in prime research mode, let me share with you the best natural nail polish removers I’ve come across.

Guide To Natural Nail Polish Removers

The good news is that there are now lots of eco-friendly alternatives available that avoid these harsh ingredients. Many also come in glass bottles, allowing you to ditch the plastic associated with your nail care routine.

Benecos

Benecos Natural’s certified organic nail polish remover (£6.95 for 125 ml at Ethical Superstore) is acetone-free. Instead, this vegan-friendly blend uses organic orange peel oil and organic lavender oil to naturally and gently remove your nail polish.

As it is made without acetone, this remover won’t leave your skin and nails feeling dry. On the downside, it does come in a recyclable plastic bottle rather than glass. However, this is the cheapest eco-friendly nail polish remover I have found. If you are shopping on a smaller budget, then this might have to be a trade-off that you make.

I’ve found it works best on natural nail polish brands and lighter colours. For conventional or darker polishes, it may take a bit more time and effort, but it will get there with a little patience.

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Manucurist Green Flash

Manucurist (£16 for 100 ml at Cult Beauty) is a French vegan and cruelty-free brand. The brand prides itself on swapping harsh ingredients for natural, eco-friendly alternatives that promote glossy, long-lasting manicures and healthy nails.

Manucurist Green Flash nail polish remover is acetone-free, making it much less damaging to your nails. It’s also packed with 97% bio-sourced ingredients, making it hydrating and gentle on your nails. What’s more, it has a delicate floral scent that’s nothing like its acetone-based counterparts. And it comes in a glass bottle, rather than a plastic one.

Do note that it is formulated especially to remove Manucurist plant-based gel polishes with ease. If you’re using their polishes, it’s a great match. For conventional nail polish, it may not be quite as effective.

Get 15% off almost everything when you spend £25 by using the code CBAFF15 at the checkout.

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Zao

Zao’s vegan-friendly and water-based nail polish remover (available at Amazon) gently and easily removes polish without drying out or harming your skin or nails. This is because it’s formulated without acetone and ethyl acetate.

Instead, it is made with much milder, certified organic, ethyl lactate and organic bamboo water. These help to strengthen and fortify your nails whilst gently removing your nail polish.

This nail polish remover is free from parabens, triclosan, phthalates, mineral oils, animal testing, genetically modified ingredients, artificial colours, and fragrances. What’s more, it is made in Europe and comes in a recyclable glass bottle topped with a bamboo lid. No plastic here!

On the downside, it does contain palm oil. However, Zao says that this has been sustainably sourced. It also contains mica. I’m not big on mica. It’s a common ingredient in beauty products, yet it is linked to forced child labour. However, again, Zao says it only uses certified ethically sourced mica.

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Dear Sundays

Dear Sundays soy-based nail polish remover (available at Amazon) gently removes your polish while nourishing your nails with vitamins A, C, and E as well as natural grapefruit essential oils.

It has a thicker consistency compared to conventional nail polish remover. It is more like olive oil. And it does take a little more scrubbing to remove polish. However, my top tip for any soy-based nail polish remover is to let it sit on your nails for at least 30 seconds before rubbing it off. This helps it to penetrate the nail polish for easier removal.

What’s to love is that this vegan and cruelty-free product also comes packaged in a stylish glass bottle. You won’t want to hide it away, unlike those blue bottles of nail polish remover! The downside is that this is the most expensive natural nail polish remover in this roundup.

How To Pick The Best One For You

It’s worth knowing that natural nail polish removers don’t always behave in quite the same way as conventional ones.

I’ve found they can take a little longer to work, and aren’t always great on conventional polishes, particularly darker shades. If you prefer to wear darker shades, you may want something a little stronger, so you might need to compromise on ingredients.

That being said, if you stick to plant-based or nail polishes that are advertised as 5-free or 11-free, etc, then these gentler removers will usually do the job.

My Top Tips For Using Natural Nail Polish Remover

Whether you are looking to make your remover more effective, your nailcare routine more sustainable, or looking to keep your nails in tip-top condition, then I’ve got a few top tips:

• Give the remover time to work by holding a soaked pad on the nail for a short while before wiping. It helps the remover break down the polish. You’ll use less product, and you’ll have to rub less, making it less effort.
• Single-use cotton pads can contribute to waste. My top tip is to use an old cotton item of clothing cut into squares to help remove your old polish.
• And once you’re done, follow up with a little oil or hand cream to help keep nails and cuticles strong, healthy, and happy.

What’s Up With Regular Nail Polish Remover?

You might also be wondering what’s wrong with regular nail polish remover.

Regular nail polish remover is made from acetone and/or ethyl acetate. Acetone is a chemical that’s often produced in nature, for example, by trees. Acetone is also produced and disposed of in the human body, as part of our metabolic processes. As such, acetone is normally present in blood and urine.

This means the ingredients themselves aren’t toxic. However, we shouldn’t get complacent. Both acetone and ethyl acetate are dangerous when ingested. And both acetone and ethyl acetate can cause irritation when inhaled in large amounts, leading to headaches, dizziness, and irritation to the eyes and throat.

They can also be quite drying. Regular use may leave nails brittle and cuticles dry and uncomfortable, which isn’t ideal if you’re trying to keep nails in good condition. And it’s certainly not something I feel great about using on younger nails and skin.