Nail Polish vs Basecoat & Sealer Nail Polish: which is safer?

Piggy Paint Basecoat & Sealer Nail Polish is our pick: better on PFAS and on the overall hazard picture.

ella+mila Nail Polish

Ella+Mila

Nail Polish

PFAS grade

Excellent 75/100

Overall grade

Good 59/100

Verdict

Skip

Hazard flags

⚑ 3

Material

Organic nitrocellulose-based nail lacquer

Confidence

35%

PossibleOrganic solvent volatiles (ethyl acetate, isopropyl alcohol, xylene)

PossiblePlasticizers (diethyl phthalate or unnamed alternatives)

PossiblePFAS in film-forming agents or water-resistance coatings

Our pick

Piggy Paint Basecoat & Sealer Nail Polish

Piggy Paint

Basecoat & Sealer Nail Polish

PFAS grade

Excellent 100/100

Overall grade

Excellent 82/100

Verdict

Buy

Hazard flags

⚑ 3

Material

Water-based organic pigments and plant-derived resins

Confidence

82%

PossibleHeavy metals in organic pigments

ReportedVolatile organic compounds (VOCs) from solvents

PossibleBacterial or fungal growth in water-based formula

Where these two actually differ

  • We flag Organic solvent volatiles (ethyl acetate, isopropyl alcohol, xylene), Plasticizers (diethyl phthalate or unnamed alternatives) and PFAS in film-forming agents or water-resistance coatings on the Ella+Mila and not on the Piggy Paint.
  • We flag Heavy metals in organic pigments, Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from solvents and Bacterial or fungal growth in water-based formula on the Piggy Paint and not on the Ella+Mila.
  • The Ella+Mila is Organic nitrocellulose-based nail lacquer where the Piggy Paint is Water-based organic pigments and plant-derived resins, which is most of the difference in these two grades.
  • The gap is 25 points, wide enough that this is not a close call, and the Piggy Paint is the one to buy.
  • We are less certain about the Ella+Mila grade, at 35% confidence against 82%, because it discloses less.

Both products run through the same public rubric: materials, coatings, brand disclosure, lab findings, and recalls, plus a beyond-PFAS hazard analysis. Grades are model-based estimates, not lab tests. How grades work →

More nail polish & top coat: see the full ranking