i'm just going to come right out and admit my ignorance: what makes nail polish Not Vegan? is it potential animal testing, depending on the company? or is there an actual ingredient that is animal-based in most nail polish?
i ask because i have a large back-stock of OPI nail polish in my cupboard, and i'm wondering if i should be grossed out by it or not. i've had these bottles almost forever, seriously, because they hold up well and i only use it on my toes and i don't necessarily paint my toes year-round. i know there are a couple of vegan nail polish companies, and i've tried the no miss brand, but honestly i much prefer my OPI stuff. there is really only one shade of no miss that i like (zinnia zephyr or something like that), and while it's quite pretty, i get bored of wearing the same color absolutely all the time. also, i feel like the OPI wears better and longer.
does anyone know the ins and outs of nail polish? is my OPI stuff okay? are there other vegan nail polish companies out there that i should know about? especially ones that don't only have "fun" colors? i'm kind of a shimmery-taupe kind of gal when it comes to nail polish, so turquoise and fuschia and bright red aren't selling points for me. someone, de-mystify nail polish for those of us who are clueless!
i emailed opi a couple of years ago asking if they tested on animals and what the ingredients were. i posted on vrf (i'm too lazy to go search for the thread), but as far as i recall, they do not test on animals however, the shimmery polish has pearl dust or something in it? i think... or fish scales? i don't remember.
i found a completely vegan makeup company (geared to the pros, so i assume it's good quality (i haven't tried it 'cause it's a bit spendy), that sells nail polish. i just looked and they don't have a huge colour selection but there are some neutrals: http://www.occmakeup.com/nails.html
honestly, i hate waste so i would just use up the opi stuff and when it runs out replace it with something else. but that's me. ;)
Posted by: gen | 08 May 2009 at 03:12 PM
As far as I know both OPI (with the possible exception of fish scales, which I didn't know about- eek!) and Essie are vegan. So I wouldn't worry about using those. I'm more concerned with the chemicals in most nail polish being harmful, but I also didn't love No Miss. The search continues!
Posted by: Amy | 09 May 2009 at 01:25 PM
The salon I go to uses Sparitual, which is vegan and comes in lots of basic colors. In fact, I often wish for more fun ones! www.sparitual.com
Posted by: Kristen | 11 May 2009 at 06:56 PM
I use SpaRitual polish. This company makes great quality polishes (with a top and base coat I can wear one color for up to 2 weeks) and has a nice selection. I get mine at the spa that I work at so maybe try a local Spa or check out their website. :)
Posted by: Melissa | 14 May 2009 at 08:54 PM
gen, i totally remember the fish scales thing now! i bet that's what was sticking in the back of my mind, causing doubts and other wonderment. :)
gen & amy, thanks for the other ideas too. i've seen essie around, but haven't used it before. i'll keep an eye out!
kristen & melissa, thanks for the recommendation on the sparitual polish. i did a search and only one place in my city came up (it's a salon in a hotel downtown, weirdly enough), but i'll see what i can do to track it down. some of the colors look really pretty.
Posted by: girl least likely to | 26 May 2009 at 02:26 PM
Actually, I don't think all OPI and Essie nail polish is vegan. While neither company tests on animals, some of their colors may contain fish scales for a shimmery effect. You'll probably never see "fish scales" listed as an ingredient on the bottle though - instead look for words like "pearl" or "guanine."
"'Pearl' or 'guanine' is literally made from small fish scales and skin, suitably cleaned, and mixed with solvents such as castor oil and butyl acetate."
- http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1G2-2896500069.html
Cruelty-free brands will often use mica instead. SpaRitual is my FAVORITE! And Zoya, No Miss and PeaceKeeper are all safe bets too. (Zoya probably has the best range of colors).
And I'm super excited about this OCC brand. I'm going to order the nail polish in Wasabi. Thanks for sharing!
Posted by: Sonja | 04 June 2009 at 01:47 PM
Whoa, good to know about the fish scales! I was wondering why some Urban Decay carmine-free shadows were non-vegan.
Posted by: Maddy | 13 October 2009 at 09:28 PM