The Best Non-Toxic Nail Polish of 2026
169 of the 177 nail polish products PFAS Authority has graded reach its 70 point pass mark for PFAS and other toxins, 95.5% of the category, as of October 2026, and 8 score below it. The highest graded is Piggy Paint Basecoat & Sealer Nail Polish at 100 out of 100.
Every grade below is built from published materials, ingredient lists, certifications and brand disclosures, scored on one public rubric and ranked best-graded first. Each score links to the full breakdown of what earned it, and the numbers across the whole dataset are published too.
Is nail polish non-toxic?
169 of the 177 nail polish products we graded clear our screen and 8 do not. Non-toxic is not a defined or regulated term, so what we can tell you is what our graders recorded. Beyond PFAS, the hazards found or left unruled-out on nail polish products in this category are VOCs and off-gassing, phthalates, undisclosed fragrance, formaldehyde, microplastics. The highest graded here is Piggy Paint Basecoat & Sealer Nail Polish at 100 out of 100.
Quick picks
Best overall
Piggy Paint Basecoat & Sealer Nail PolishHighest PFAS grade in the category
100 Excellent
Third-party certified
Piggy Paint Nail Polish Piggy PaintCarries a certification from an outside body
100 Excellent
Brand states its position
Piggy Paint Showstopper Nail Polish SetThe brand has published a PFAS statement we can quote
100 Excellent
Why Piggy Paint Basecoat & Sealer Nail Polish wins, and what it beats
Every grade on this page is one sum. A category starts from a baseline, each disclosed material or coating adds risk points, and each thing the brand or a third party has published takes them away. Below is that sum for the winner, then for 3 products it beats, so you can see exactly where the 70 points between the top and the bottom of this nail polish ranking come from.
The winner
Made of Water-based organic pigments and plant-derived resins.
- +20Category baseline. The starting point for this type of product, before anything specific to this product is counted.
- -10Base material not linked to PFAS. The main material recorded for this product is not one associated with PFAS.
- -30Third-party PFAS-free verification. A third party reports verifying this product as PFAS-free.
What the grade does not fix. Nothing specific to this product adds risk, so what remains is the category baseline that every product here starts from, and our graders recorded 3 other hazards on it. See the full breakdown.
What it beats, and why
What puts it behind. No PFAS disclosure, +15 points. No public statement from the brand about PFAS in this product. The winner carries no such factor.
Made of Nail lacquer (solvent-based or water-based polish).
- +20Category baseline
- +15No PFAS disclosure
- -10Base material not linked to PFAS
25risk points, a grade of 75
What puts it behind. Unknown / proprietary coating, +25 points. A coating is recorded with no disclosed chemistry. The winner carries no such factor.
Made of Proprietary gel-resin polymer blend (soak-off UV/LED cured).
- +25Unknown / proprietary coating
- +20Category baseline
- +15No PFAS disclosure. No public statement from the brand about PFAS in this product.
60risk points, a grade of 40
What puts it behind. Waterproof / stain-resistant treatment, +35 points. Water-repellent coating treatments have historically used PFAS. The winner carries no such factor.
Made of nitrocellulose lacquer base with proprietary resin blend.
- +35Waterproof / stain-resistant treatment
- +20Category baseline
- +15No PFAS disclosure. No public statement from the brand about PFAS in this product.
70risk points, a grade of 30
No product on this page was physically tested by us. Every number above comes from published materials, ingredient and coating disclosures, certifications and brand statements, scored on one public rubric. Formulations change without notice, so check the current product listing before buying.
What to watch for in nail polish
Beyond the PFAS grade, these are the things our graders recorded on the 177 nail polish products in this category. We assess from materials, brand statements and published research. We do not lab-test.
- VOCs and off-gassing
Volatile compounds that evaporate out of a material at room temperature, which is what a new product smell is.
Found on 94 of these nail polish products. Plausible but unconfirmed on 62 more, meaning nobody has ruled it out. EPA
- Phthalates
Plasticisers that keep vinyl soft and make a scent linger, usually undeclared.
Found on 8 of these nail polish products. Plausible but unconfirmed on 99 more, meaning nobody has ruled it out. NIEHS
- Undisclosed fragrance
A single word on a label that can stand for dozens of undeclared ingredients, protected as trade secret.
Found on 8 of these nail polish products. Plausible but unconfirmed on 98 more, meaning nobody has ruled it out. FDA
- Formaldehyde
A preservative and resin ingredient that is also released slowly by a group of chemicals used in its place.
Found on 8 of these nail polish products. Plausible but unconfirmed on 72 more, meaning nobody has ruled it out. NCI
- Microplastics
Plastic fragments small enough to shed from a product into food, water or air without anyone seeing it.
Found on 3 of these nail polish products. Plausible but unconfirmed on 2 more, meaning nobody has ruled it out. EPA
The safest nail polish we graded, lowest PFAS risk first
- 1
Third-party verified
- Water-based organic pigments and plant-derived resins
- The brand calls it PFAS-free, which we have not verified
- Heavy metals
3 hazards checked on this product, all on its full breakdown.
- 2
Third-party verified
- water-based pigmented lacquer
- The brand calls it PFAS-free, which we have not verified
- Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from resins and solvents
3 hazards checked on this product, all on its full breakdown.
- 3
Third-party verified
Piggy Paint
Showstopper Nail Polish Set
100ExcellentPFAS grade✓ PETA Certified Cruelty-Free✓ MADE SAFE Certified- organic pigments, plant-based resins, water-based lacquer
- The brand calls it PFAS-free, which we have not verified
- Volatile organic compounds (VOCs)
2 hazards checked on this product, all on its full breakdown.
- 4
Third-party verified
- Organic-based nail polish (water or non-toxic solvent system)
- The brand calls it PFAS-free, which we have not verified
- Volatile organic compound (VOC) inhalation
2 hazards checked on this product, all on its full breakdown.
- 5
- Nail lacquer (solvent-based or water-based polish)
- We found no PFAS statement from the brand
- Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and inhalation exposure
4 hazards checked on this product, all on its full breakdown.
- 6
- Nitrocellulose, resins, and pigments (standard nail lacquer)
- We found no PFAS statement from the brand
- Toluene and other volatile solvents
4 hazards checked on this product, all on its full breakdown.
- 7
- Nitrocellulose, plasticizers, resins, pigments (typical nail lacquer)
- We found no PFAS statement from the brand
- Phthalates
4 hazards checked on this product, all on its full breakdown.
- 8
- nail polish/treatment lacquer (typical resin/film-forming base)
- We found no PFAS statement from the brand
- Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs)
5 hazards checked on this product, all on its full breakdown.
Questions people ask about nail polish
You may also be interested in
Top-graded picks in the categories readers replace first, every one scored on the same rubric.
- polypropylene filter housing, carbon/sediment cartridge
- We found no PFAS statement from the brand
- Bacterial growth in spent cartridges
3 hazards checked on this product, all on its full breakdown.
Aquasure
Premier Series 75 GPD Under Sink Reverse Osmosis Water Filtration System
- RO membrane, carbon filters, stainless steel housing
- We found no PFAS statement from the brand
- Bacterial and microbial growth in housing and filters
4 hazards checked on this product, all on its full breakdown.
Avocado
Vegan Mattress
- organic cotton, natural latex, coconut coir, recycled steel coils
- The brand calls it PFAS-free, which we have not verified
- Heavy metals
2 hazards checked on this product, all on its full breakdown.
Every nail polish that passes, side by side
Sorted by score. A higher score means lower PFAS risk.
| # | Nail Polish | Score | Rating | Made of | Key concern |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Piggy Paint Basecoat & Sealer Nail Polish | 100 | Excellent | Water-based organic pigments and plant-derived resins | Heavy metals |
| 2 | Piggy Paint Nail Polish Piggy Paint | 100 | Excellent | water-based pigmented lacquer | Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from resins and solvents |
| 3 | Piggy Paint Showstopper Nail Polish Set | 100 | Excellent | organic pigments, plant-based resins, water-based lacquer | Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) |
| 4 | Piggy Paint 4-Piece Nail Polish Set | 100 | Excellent | Organic-based nail polish (water or non-toxic solvent system) | Volatile organic compound (VOC) inhalation |
| 5 | Butter London Cakes & Cuppas 6-Piece Nail Lacquer Set | 75 | Excellent | Nail lacquer (solvent-based or water-based polish) | Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and inhalation exposure |
| 6 | Butter London Ice Princess Mini Nail Lacquer Set | 75 | Excellent | Nitrocellulose, resins, and pigments (standard nail lacquer) | Toluene and other volatile solvents |
| 7 | Butter London Imperial Crown Patent Shine Nail Lacquer Set | 75 | Excellent | Nitrocellulose, plasticizers, resins, pigments (typical nail lacquer) | Phthalates |
| 8 | butter LONDON Nail Blush Restorative Treatment | 75 | Excellent | nail polish/treatment lacquer (typical resin/film-forming base) | Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) |
The verdict on nail polish
Piggy Paint Basecoat & Sealer Nail Polish grades 100 out of 100, the highest here. It is water-based organic pigments and plant-derived resins. The brand calls it PFAS-free, which we have not verified.
Choose Piggy Paint Nail Polish Piggy Paint instead if you want a second option at 100 out of 100, water-based pigmented lacquer.
If an outside certification matters more to you than the grade, that is Piggy Paint Nail Polish Piggy Paint.
We hold no price data, so nothing here is a budget recommendation. Grades are model-based assessments from published materials and disclosures, not laboratory tests.
The nail polish we would skip
Lowest scoring in this category, worst first, with the reason.
- 30Sally Hansen Insta Dri NailPoor
Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) / Respiratory irritants
- 40Gelish Mini Soak-Off Gel Nail PolishPoor
Photoinitiator sensitization (allergic contact dermatitis)
- 40Gelish Mini Soak-Off Gel Nail Polish Red RosesPoor
Acrylate monomers and photoinitiators (respiratory/skin sensitization)
What we check on nail polish
- Confirmed PFAS, PTFE or fluoropolymer content, which is the heaviest penalty we apply.
- Stain, water or grease resistant treatments, which usually mean fluorinated chemistry.
- Whether the brand discloses what is in the product, or stays silent behind a “clean” claim.
- Independent lab results and certifications where they exist.
Full point-by-point rubric on the methodology page.
The nail polish brands we found no PFAS statement from
We found no PFAS statement from 22 of the brands here. That is our research, not proof a brand has never said anything, and it is not evidence of harm. It is why none of them score well on disclosure.
Butter London, CND, China Glaze, Ciaté London, Deborah Lippmann, Dior, Ella+Mila, Essie, Gelish, Julep, Kure Bazaar, Mavala.
The brands that have published something, and what each of them actually said, are in our record of what every brand has said about PFAS.
Common questions about PFAS in nail polish
Is nail polish PFAS free?
169 of the 177 nail polish products PFAS Authority has graded reach its 70 point pass mark for PFAS and other toxins, 95.5% of the category, as of October 2026, and 8 score below it. The highest graded is Piggy Paint Basecoat & Sealer Nail Polish at 100 out of 100. The lowest graded is Sally Hansen Insta Dri Nail at 30 out of 100.
Is nail polish non-toxic?
169 of the 177 nail polish products we graded clear our screen and 8 do not. Non-toxic is not a defined or regulated term, so what we can tell you is what our graders recorded. Beyond PFAS, the hazards found or left unruled-out on nail polish products in this category are VOCs and off-gassing, phthalates, undisclosed fragrance, formaldehyde, microplastics. The highest graded here is Piggy Paint Basecoat & Sealer Nail Polish at 100 out of 100.
What is the safest nail polish to buy?
On our grades, Piggy Paint Basecoat & Sealer Nail Polish at 100 out of 100, which we band as Excellent. Then Piggy Paint Nail Polish Piggy Paint at 100. The one here carrying an outside certification is Piggy Paint Nail Polish Piggy Paint. These are model-based assessments from published materials, ingredient lists, certifications and disclosures, not laboratory tests, so treat them as the lowest risk we can evidence rather than a safety guarantee.
Which nail polish grades best for PFAS?
Piggy Paint Basecoat & Sealer Nail Polish, at 100 out of 100, which we band as Excellent. It is water-based organic pigments and plant-derived resins. The runner up is Piggy Paint Nail Polish Piggy Paint at 100.
Which nail polish should I avoid?
The three lowest scoring we hold are Sally Hansen Insta Dri Nail at 30, Gelish Mini Soak-Off Gel Nail Polish at 40, Gelish Mini Soak-Off Gel Nail Polish Red Roses at 40. The problem with the first is that skip until Sally Hansen discloses formula transparency; waterproofing agents unspecified.
Which nail polish brands have not published a PFAS statement?
We found no PFAS statement from 22 of the brands we scored in this category, including Butter London, CND, China Glaze, Ciaté London, Deborah Lippmann, Dior. That is what our research turned up, not proof a brand has never said anything, and a missing statement is not evidence of harm. It is the reason those brands cannot score well on disclosure.
Do you lab test nail polish?
No. We score from published ingredient lists, materials, certifications, disclosures and third party lab results where they exist. Where a product has been independently tested we use that result and say so.
More beauty and personal care categories we have graded
Same rubric, same scale. These are the categories closest to nail polish.
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Does a particular brand of nail polish have PFAS?
Brands we grade across the catalogue
Everything we have scored from these brands, not just nail polish.
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