My daughter is desperate to paint her nails, and I have managed to put it off with the combo you’re-too-young and it’s-full-of-chemicals argument. But the other day our youngest neighbor (5 years old) came downstairs, nail polish in hand and proceeded to set up a manicure station in my hallway. That night I had to remove the polish from my daughter’s right thumb so she wouldn’t suck on the toxic stuff all night long. Let me clarify, it’ not exactly that I’m opposed to nail polish. There are few things more cute than little kids (boys and girls) with painted toes. But the slippery slope of kids and make-up was one I just didn’t want to deal with quite yet. And more truthfully I didn’t want to search out the right nontoxic option. But the jig is up. So here are the most popular non-toxic nail polishes suitable for thumb suckers (and those of us who seem to have become allergic to nail polish, who knew that could happen). A quick glossary:
“3 free” refers to nontoxic nail polish free of the three grossest chemicals in most polishes, Toluene, Formaldehyde and Dibutyl phthalate (DBP).
“5 free” is polish without the previous chemicals and without camphor or Formaldehyde Resin. Yum.
Piggy Paint With 39 colors that range from blinding to hideous, this collection is definitely made for kids, complete with a tiny application brush. If your kid doesn’t plan to share, or you don’t mind having your nails done in these colors (because it will happen), then this is the polish for you. Their water-based formula, free of formaldehyde, toluene, phthalates, biphenyl A, ethyl acetate and acetone, is “3 free” with a few other poisons left out of the recipe.
Scotch Naturals is “3 free,” as well as free of ethyl acetate, butyl acetate, nitrocellulose, acetone, and heavy metals. Classy packaging and gorgeous colors like Lock Ness Mystery, will make this a go-to for you, oh, and the kid too. Water based, 43 colors.
Hopscotch Kids Scotch’s kids’ line, this polish is more then just “3 free” and “5 free.” They have replaced ethyl acetate, butyl acetate, nitrocellulose, acetone, alcohols and heavy metals with water and acrylic polymers. A kid sized brush, and 19 painfully vibrant colors ensure that you won’t feel like a pageant mom.
Rescue Beauty Longue is “5 free” and all grown up, and comes in 48 shades. They are at the top of the price range at $20 a pop. But all those colors seem like the perfect versions of every go-to shade, like Accidental Interloper, a gunmetal grey, or Naked Without Polish, a ballet pink for those following the latest color trend (dear god, why do I know the latest color trends. This is what magazine addiction looks like).
Karma Hues, on the list simply because they have a color called “Fist Pumps and Beats” probably chosen because it sounds better than Disco Trash, which is exactly what comes to mind when you see this blue green sparkle. “3 free,” and safe for pregnant women, kids, cancer patients and allergy sufferers. Oh, yeah, and they have 109 colors.
Priti NYC, “5 free,” vegan and nontoxic, the 132 shades of addictive color will make you want to smoke cigarettes and flip through magazines while you listen to your 45’s. And, like everything else in New York these are among the most expensive of the lot. But so cool. Can you really put a price tag on style? Well, they can.