It seems that everything in this world has a vegan alternative now. Food, makeup, clothing - you name it. And of course, there is also vegan-friendly nail polish these days.
Vegan nail polish is the new, cruelty-free alternative to regular nail polish. “What is the difference?” you may be wondering.
Simply put, vegan nail polish has no ingredients derived from animals. Surprised? It’s true - your regular nail polish most likely contains animal products. Don’t worry, we’ll share some vegan-friendly alternatives with you in this article. But you might not be sold yet - can the vegan option do the same thing regular nail polish does? That is exactly what we’re going to discuss in this article. We’ll break down all the differences between vegan nail polish vs regular nail polish. By the end, you’ll see why vegan nail polish is so much better for you–and our ecosystem.
Vegan Nail Polish vs Regular Nail Polish: Breaking Down The Differences
Before you can decide which type of nail polish is better for you, you have to know the differences between vegan nail polish and regular nail polish. Let’s talk about them one by one:
Ingredients Used
Regular nail polish typically contains ingredients derived from animals. Common ingredients include carmine, which is made from boiled and crushed beetles guanine, a substance derived from fish scales that gives nail polish its shine, as well as musk oil, which is obtained from male deer.
Although some nail polish brands may claim that they are cruelty-free, this may only mean that they don’t test their products on animals. Deriving the above-mentioned ingredients, however, is rarely a cruelty-free process.
So, what makes vegan nail polish different?
Vegan nail polishes do not contain any products derived from animals. Instead, vegan nail polish uses plant-based ingredients like horsetail extract and garlic extract that strengthen your nails as you paint them. Learn more in our article covering the main vegan nail polish ingredients.
Quality & Results
When it comes to the end product, vegan and regular nail polish look the same. That said, you won’t be missing out on the vibrancy or luster that regular nail polish provides when you use the vegan alternative.
In fact, many of the ingredients in regular nail polish can be replaced with vegan alternatives without compromising quality. But what we love about vegan nail polish is that it contains ingredients that can improve the health of your nails. This is especially important if you have weak nails to begin with. And with vegan nail polish, you won’t have to worry about exposing your nails to harmful chemicals.
Types Available
Vegan nail polish is certainly less popular than regular nail polish, but that doesn’t mean you can’t find variety. It comes in many different colors and types. There are matte polishes, glossy polishes, and even glittery polishes made 100% cruelty-free.
Vegan Nail Polish vs Regular Nail Polish: Which Is Better For You?
Considering the factors that we’ve mentioned above, you can clearly see why vegan nail polish is quickly earning favor among those who are conscious of their impact on this planet. If you want to abstain from any products that exploit animals or harm them in any manner, stick with vegan polish.
For starters, vegan nail polish is 100% cruelty-free. This means that the product contains no animal ingredients nor is tested on animals. That said, using vegan nail polish is the best way to live by your vegan beliefs.
More than that, vegan nail polish is better for your nails overall. Most regular nail polish brands use a lot of harmful chemicals in their products, and these chemicals can degrade the health of your nails. Whether you have weak nails or not, using milder nail polish can make a significant difference.
And if you’re worried about not finding variety, you don’t have to be any longer. There are tons of vegan nail polish brands that produce a myriad of different nail polish colors and finishes. So, you can enjoy a guilt-free manicure–regardless of the color you want!
If you’re ready to start seeing the difference yourself, read our article on the best vegan nail polish to get started.
How to Find Vegan Nail Polish
Now that you know the clear winner of the vegan nail polish vs regular nail polish debate, how do you go about finding the perfect vegan nail polish?
To start, look for a brand with vegan accreditations. These can include certifications from PETA, the Vegan Awareness Foundation, the National Accreditation Center, and more. However, be wary of brands that use these certifications without authorization. Similarly, avoid brands that hide the ingredients list of their products.
Alternatively, you can also analyze the ingredient list and look for red flags. If you find guanine, carmine, animal-derived perfumes, and other animal ingredients, don’t buy them. Not sure what an ingredient name means? Look it up to ensure that it’s not derived from animals or animal by-products like fish scales, insect shells, and shark liver oil.
Another good tip is to look for stores that specialize in vegan beauty products. You’ll find more luck looking for vegan nail polish online; it is not that common in retail stores (yet!).
Final Thoughts On Vegan Nail Polish vs Regular Nail Polish
So, how do you get a stunning mani-pedi without harming animals along the way? Switch to vegan nail polish!
Unlike regular nail polish, vegan nail polish is 100% cruelty-free. It’s made with zero animal-derived ingredients, but it produces results that are just the same–or even better–than regular nail polish.
Plus, vegan nail polish is better for your nails overall. Without the harmful chemicals, painting your nails with vegan nail polish will make them healthier, stronger, and less prone to breakage. No more chipped nails!
If you’re ready to make the switch, check out what BeautyGarde has to offer. From nude pastels to traditionally bold shades, we’re sure you’ll find a color that you’ll fall in love with.
Get our vegan and cruelty-free nail polish today and see what the hype is all about. To really get the whole BeautyGarde experience, take a look at our nail strengthener treatment - or better yet, our full nail bundles collection.
