Picking out pregnancy-safe skincare can seem complicated. I have an entire page on pregnancy beauty, dedicated to which skincare ingredients to avoid during pregnancy, breastfeeding, or IVF.
Beautiful nails can make you look fabulous, and although occasional use of nail polish during pregnancy is considered safe, this study shows that many women give up nail polish because of concerns about hazardous chemicals.
I discussed this aspect, and more, in detail in a previous post about the safety of getting manicures, pedicures, and nail treatments like gel and acrylic nails while pregnant.
I will link the blog here:
Are Manicures & Pedicures Safe While Pregnant?
To sum it up, yes, they are safe in pregnancy when used occasionally, and if you choose to be extra careful, you can take the following steps:
- Go for the clean look without any polish.
- Avoid nail treatments like acrylic or gel nails.
- Avoid nail treatments until your first trimester ends, when the developing fetus is at the most risk.
- Use nail polish brands that are safe for pregnancy. There is no one best nail polish for pregnancy- just choose the brand that is pregnancy-safe and resonates with you, e.g., if you are an animal lover, you might prefer a brand that does not conduct animal testing.
- Always speak to your treating doctor, who can give personalized recommendations based on your medical and personal history.
With increasing consumer demand for clean or toxin-free cosmetics, the industry has stepped in to cater to this need, and there are many nail polish brands that are safe during pregnancy.
These nail polishes are often labeled as:
- ‘3-free’– free of toluene, formaldehyde, and dibutyl phthalate (DBP).
- ‘5-free’– free of toluene, formaldehyde, DBP, and formaldehyde resin that is made from formaldehyde to make the polish hardy and resilient, camphor that gives the paint a glossy finish, but the smell can make you dizzy and nauseous.
- ‘7-free’– free of toluene, formaldehyde, DBP, formaldehyde resin, camphor, and ethyl tosylamide to make the polish flexible and hardy, but is an endocrine disrupter, and xylene that is used as a solvent for a smooth consistency, but is an irritant and can cause headache and dizziness.
Some polishes even claim to be 10-, 15-, 16-, and 21-free. I am not writing in detail about them, as these are not legal or scientifically validated terms but rather marketing tools. I, however, mention them in my list below as an option for those interested. Currently, there is no scientific evidence that there is one best nail polish for pregnancy or that one particular brand or type is safer than another when used occasionally.
Reminder: Companies frequently change their formulas, and ingredient lists may vary by country. Hence, always check the ingredient list before using any product.
Here is a list of nail polish brands that are safe during pregnancy:
Butter London
‘10-free’
Vegan & cruelty-free
Ella + Mila
‘17-free’
PETA certified
Habit Cosmetics
Vegan & toxin-free.
Guilt-free packing
Certified by PETA, Leaping Bunny, & 1% for the Planet
Some are Halal certified
Kapa Nui Nails
Vegan and cruelty-free.
Made locally in the USA (Hawaii)
Manucurist
‘9-free’
83% plant-based
Cruelty-free
Olive & June
‘15-free’
Vegan and cruelty-free.
OPI Nature Strong
‘9-free’
Vegan & cruelty-free
Cap made partly with recycled materials.
Sally Hansen Good, Kind, Pure
‘16-free’
Vegan
10 Free Chemistry
‘16-free’
Vegan and cruelty-free.
Leaping Bunny certified.
Zoya Nail Polish
‘10-free’
Vegan and cruelty-free.
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This post is in collaboration with Amazon, but all product choices and opinions are mine.
