You may have overhauled your eating habits, but if you’re dedicated to following a vegan lifestyle, it might be time to inspect your manicure, too.
Unfortunately, a lot of the nail varnishes you buy on the high street or find in beauty salons will not be vegan. For starters, the ingredient shellac (used in many salon gel manicures and pedicures) is a resin secreted from certain insects, says animal rights charity PETA. It is processed and sold in a “dry flake” format, then dissolved in alcohol to make liquid shellac.
A lot of the nail polishes you pick up at your local pharmacy or supermarket may also contain animal-derived ingredients, but these are sometimes listed as complex codes that are difficult to spot – until you know what’s what.
Three of the most common animal-derived ingredients used in nail varnish, according to The Vegan Society, include:
• Guanine, also named natural pearl essence or CI 75170, which is a shimmery substance produced by processing fish scales.
• Carmine, also known as crimson lake, natural red 4 or CI 75470, which is a bright red pigment derived by drying and crushing insects.
• Keratin, which is an animal protein derived from mammals such as cattle, horses, pigs, rabbits, and others.
Of course, just because a product doesn’t appear to use animal-derived ingredients, it doesn’t necessarily mean it hasn’t been tested on animals. To avoid this, opt for nail varnishes marked “cruelty-free”.
“Cruelty-free nail varnish as well as other vegan cosmetic and beauty products are widely accessible these days, affordable and do exactly the same job as their animal-tested counterparts,” Dominika Piasecka, spokesperson for The Vegan Society tells HuffPost UK.
So make a kinder choice, she suggests. “Buying such products is important in showing that there is demand for them and in supporting ethical businesses; supporting a company that tests on animals when cruelty free alternatives are available makes no sense.”
To help you along the way, here are four vegan, cruelty-free nail varnishes we’re loving right now:
NailKale in Regents Mews, NailsInc, Was £15, Now £9
NailsInc’s NailKale range is “the first superfood nail range made with kale extract for stronger, smoother healthier nails”. It comes in a range of shades, but the deep plum ‘Regents Mews’ gets a thumbs up from us.
Pacifica in Totally Drift, Holland & Barrett, £11.99
Pacifica’s nail varnishes are vegan, cruelty-free and ‘7 Free’, meaning they’re free of many of the chemicals in most nail varnishes, including parabens, and phthalates. A subtle grey is a must for your collection.
Molten Metal Holographic Flare, BarryM, £3.99
All of BarryM’s products are cruelty-free and the majority (97%) are vegan. While the brand is working on nailing that final 3%, it’s easy to find the vegan friendly products on its website thanks to the clear labelling. This ‘Molten Metal’ shade will give your toes instant mermaid vibes.
Fashionista, Nailberry, £14.50
All of Nailberry’s varnishes are vegan, cruelty-free, alcohol-free and certified Halal. The shade ‘Fashionista’ is described as a warm, creamy lilac “with just the right hit of smoke”. You’ll find
We all work hard to earn our money – so it shouldn’t feel like hard work to spend it well. At HuffPost Finds we’ll help you find the best stuff that deserves your cash, from the ultimate lipstick to a durable iron to replace the one that broke (RIP). All our choices are completely independent but we may earn a small commission if you click a link and make a purchase.