Best Non-Toxic Nail Top & Base Coat in 2024
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What you should know when choosing non-toxic nail top & base coats on Welpr:
- Only the cleanest products make it onto Welpr.
- We use a score called the Welpr Rating to rank each product.
- The Welpr Rating is based on math, not opinion, ensuring it's free from human bias.
Find Non-Toxic Nail Top & Base Coat
Third-party certifications are key indicators of a product's safety, ethics, and environmental impact. Click the icon to verify the certification.
Highlights aren't always verifiable, so you're trusting the brand when they say "lead free", etc. If the highlight icon is "clickable", it means we've verified the highlight.
User satisfaction is calculated using online reviews and a Bayesian average across all personal care and cosmetic products on Welpr.
Base and Top Coat - LOVE by essie
Product Details
- Salon-quality wear and shine as a base coat and top coat.
- 85% plant-based ingredients and vegan-friendly.
- 2-in-1 formula for priming nails for color adhesion and sealing in nail color with shine.
- Powered by sustainably-sourced cotton, sugarcane, and corn.
- Product packaging designed with recycled materials and filled in a carbon neutral factory.
- Part of essie's 8-free, vegan product portfolio which includes various nail polish lines and nail care products.
Pros & Cons
Pros Mentioned
- Durable
- Vibrant
- Long-lasting
Cons Mentioned
- Chipping
Ingredients
Ingredients can vary by product variation and may change at any time by the manufacturer. For the most complete and up-to-date list of ingredients, refer to the product packaging.
To analyze individual ingredients, use INCIDecoder.
Ingredients: Ethyl Acetate, Butyl Acetate, Nitrocellulose, Triethyl Citrate, Isopropyl Alcohol, Adipic Acid/Neopentyl Glycol/Trimellitic Anhydride Copolymer, Acrylates Copolymer, Ci 60725 / Violet 2
Third-party certifications are key indicators of a product's safety, ethics, and environmental impact. Click the icon to verify the certification.
Highlights aren't always verifiable, so you're trusting the brand when they say "lead free", etc. If the highlight icon is "clickable", it means we've verified the highlight.
User satisfaction is calculated using online reviews and a Bayesian average across all personal care and cosmetic products on Welpr.
High Society Botanical Face Oil - Eight Saints
Product Details
- Contains plant-based oils including marula oil, jojoba oil, vitamin E oil, and grapeseed oil.
- Formulated for all skin types.
- Provides hydration and smooths lines without leaving a greasy finish.
- Includes key antioxidants that combat environmental damage and restore skin's radiant glow.
- Non-comedogenic and absorbs quickly into the skin.
- Can be used as a nighttime facial oil, AM skin primer, makeup remover, or hair oil.
- Cruelty-free and fragrance-free.
- Made in the USA with responsibly sourced ingredients.
- Offers a 30-day return policy.
Pros & Cons
Pros Mentioned
- Hydrating
- Non-greasy
- Lightweight
Cons Mentioned
- Scent
Ingredients
Ingredients can vary by product variation and may change at any time by the manufacturer. For the most complete and up-to-date list of ingredients, refer to the product packaging.
To analyze individual ingredients, use INCIDecoder.
Ingredients: Grapeseed Oil (Vitis Vinifera), Cranberry Seed Oil (Vaccinium Macrocarpon), Pomegranate Seed Oil (Punica Granatum), Marula Oil (Sclerocarya Birrea), Baobab Seed Oil (Adansonia Digitata), Organic Pumpkin Seed Oil (Cucurbita Pepo), Vitamin E (Tocopherol), Sunflower Seed Oil (Helianthus Annuus), Organic Jojoba Seed Oil (Simmondsia Chinensis), Organic Borage Seed Oil (Borago Officinalis), Organic Sweet Orange Peel Oil (Citrus Sinensis), Neroli Oil (Citrus Aurantium), Calendula Flower CO2 Extract (Calendula Officinalis)
Third-party certifications are key indicators of a product's safety, ethics, and environmental impact. Click the icon to verify the certification.
Highlights aren't always verifiable, so you're trusting the brand when they say "lead free", etc. If the highlight icon is "clickable", it means we've verified the highlight.
User satisfaction is calculated using online reviews and a Bayesian average across all personal care and cosmetic products on Welpr.
Speed Setter Top Coat - essie
Product Details
- Quick-dry top coat that speeds drying time to under a minute
- Promises a high performance with a super smooth finish
- Recommended application procedure: 1 coat of base, 2 coats of nail color, followed by 1 top coat
- Compatible with essie base coats, top coats, and treatments for a comprehensive manicure
- Vegan formula: Free from animal-derived ingredients and not tested on animals
Pros & Cons
Pros Mentioned
- Protective
- Quick-drying
- Affordable
Cons Mentioned
- Chipping
Ingredients
Ingredients can vary by product variation and may change at any time by the manufacturer. For the most complete and up-to-date list of ingredients, refer to the product packaging.
To analyze individual ingredients, use INCIDecoder.
Ingredients: Ethyl Acetate, Butyl Acetate, Cellulose Acetate Butyrate, Isopropylalcohol, Acetyl Tributyl Citrate, Sucrose Benzoate, Dimethicone, CI 60725/ Violet 2
Third-party certifications are key indicators of a product's safety, ethics, and environmental impact. Click the icon to verify the certification.
Highlights aren't always verifiable, so you're trusting the brand when they say "lead free", etc. If the highlight icon is "clickable", it means we've verified the highlight.
User satisfaction is calculated using online reviews and a Bayesian average across all personal care and cosmetic products on Welpr.
Top Coat - Sally Hansen
Product Details
- Protects and cares for nails with a natural, plant-based, 100% vegan formula.
- Enhances nail color adherence.
- Free from formaldehyde, formaldehyde resin, toluene, xylene, acetone, phthalates, camphor, parabens, ethyl tosylamide, and triphenyl phosphate.
- Features a brush with 100% natural, plant-based bristles for improved application.
Pros & Cons
Pros Mentioned
- Fast-drying
- Long-lasting
- Smooth
Cons Mentioned
- Smelly
Ingredients
Ingredients can vary by product variation and may change at any time by the manufacturer. For the most complete and up-to-date list of ingredients, refer to the product packaging.
To analyze individual ingredients, use INCIDecoder.
Ingredients: Ethyl Acetate, Butyl Acetate, Nitrocellulose, Adipic Acid/Neopentyl Glycol/Trimellitic Anhydride Copolymer, Isosorbidedicaprylate/Caprate, Alcohol Denat, Sucrose Acetate Isobutyrate, n-Butyl Alcohol, Etocrylene, Dimethicone,Trimethylsiloxysilicate, Trimethylpentanediyl Dibenzoate, D&C Violet No. 2 (Ci 60725)
Third-party certifications are key indicators of a product's safety, ethics, and environmental impact. Click the icon to verify the certification.
Highlights aren't always verifiable, so you're trusting the brand when they say "lead free", etc. If the highlight icon is "clickable", it means we've verified the highlight.
User satisfaction is calculated using online reviews and a Bayesian average across all personal care and cosmetic products on Welpr.
Hardwear Shine UV Top Coat - butter LONDON
Product Details
- Helps prevent nail polish chipping
Pros & Cons
Pros Mentioned
- Shiny
- Protective
- Durable
Cons Mentioned
- Chips
Ingredients
Ingredients can vary by product variation and may change at any time by the manufacturer. For the most complete and up-to-date list of ingredients, refer to the product packaging.
To analyze individual ingredients, use INCIDecoder.
Ingredients: Ethyl Acetate, Butyl Acetate, Cellulose Acetate Butyrate, Isopropyl Alcohol, Acetyl Tributyl Citrate, Adipic Acid/Neopentyl Glycol/Trimellitic Anhydride Copolymer, Acrylates Copolymer, Benzophenone-3, Trimethylpentanediyl Dibenzoate, CI 60725 (Violet 2)
Third-party certifications are key indicators of a product's safety, ethics, and environmental impact. Click the icon to verify the certification.
Highlights aren't always verifiable, so you're trusting the brand when they say "lead free", etc. If the highlight icon is "clickable", it means we've verified the highlight.
User satisfaction is calculated using online reviews and a Bayesian average across all personal care and cosmetic products on Welpr.
Gel Couture Shiny Top Coat - essie
Product Details
- Quick drying clear top coat nail polish that seals and helps protect for a shiny, ultra-glossy gel-like finish.
- Chip and fade resistant, ensuring a long-lasting flawless finish without a UV lamp.
- Application involves two steps: applying two coats of gel couture nail color followed by the Gel Couture Top Coat for added shine and protection.
- Easy removal with any acetone or non-acetone nail polish remover without harsh soaking, scrubbing, or scraping.
- Features a patented swirl-stem and curve-hugging brush for precise and even application.
- The product is part of Essie's portfolio, which is known for its high-quality standards and vegan formula with no animal testing.
- Essie is recognized as America's Nail Salon Expert and a color authority in the nail industry.
Pros & Cons
Pros Mentioned
- Vibrant
- Quick-drying
- Long-lasting
Cons Mentioned
- Chipping
Ingredients
Ingredients can vary by product variation and may change at any time by the manufacturer. For the most complete and up-to-date list of ingredients, refer to the product packaging.
To analyze individual ingredients, use INCIDecoder.
Ingredients: Butyl Acetate, Ethyl Acetate, Nitrocellulose, Dipropylene Glycol Dibenzoate, Isopropyl Alcohol, Acetyl Tributyl Citrate, Cellulose Acetate Butyrate, Acrylates Copolymer, Sucrose Acetate Isobutyrate, Phthalic Anhydride/Glycerin/Glycidyl Decanoate Copolymer, Alcohol Denat, Polymethylsilsesquioxane, Colloidal Platinum, [+/- May Contain CI 60725 / Violet 2]
Third-party certifications are key indicators of a product's safety, ethics, and environmental impact. Click the icon to verify the certification.
Highlights aren't always verifiable, so you're trusting the brand when they say "lead free", etc. If the highlight icon is "clickable", it means we've verified the highlight.
User satisfaction is calculated using online reviews and a Bayesian average across all personal care and cosmetic products on Welpr.
All About the Base Coat Nail Polish - ella+mila
Product Details
- Features a unique formula designed to enhance nail lacquer wear by adding a protective base coat.
- Smooths and fills nail ridges, offering an even and leveled surface suitable for nail polish application.
- Effective as a nail treatment to support and enhance the appearance of natural nails.
- Achieves instant and stunning results with a simple one-coat application.
- Vegan and cruelty-free, certified by PeTA.
- Formulated without Acetone, Formaldehyde, Dibutyl Phthalate (DBP), and other harmful chemicals.
- Marketed as environmentally responsible and health-conscious.
Pros & Cons
Pros Mentioned
- Durable
- Easy-to-apply
- Restorative
Cons Mentioned
- Pricey
Ingredients
Ingredients can vary by product variation and may change at any time by the manufacturer. For the most complete and up-to-date list of ingredients, refer to the product packaging.
To analyze individual ingredients, use INCIDecoder.
Ingredients: Ethyl Acetate, Butyl Acetate, Nitrocellulose, Isopropyl Alcohol, Adipic Acid/Neopentyl Glycol/Trimellitic Anhydride Copolymer, Acetyl Tributyl Citrate, Stearalkonium Bentonite, Stearalkonium Hectorite, Benzophenone-1, Styrene/Acrylates Copolymer
Third-party certifications are key indicators of a product's safety, ethics, and environmental impact. Click the icon to verify the certification.
Highlights aren't always verifiable, so you're trusting the brand when they say "lead free", etc. If the highlight icon is "clickable", it means we've verified the highlight.
User satisfaction is calculated using online reviews and a Bayesian average across all personal care and cosmetic products on Welpr.
Gel Shine Extra Shiny Top Coat - L.A. Colors
Product Details
- Offers 8 different nail treatments targeted for varied nail concerns, ensuring strengthening, perfecting, and protecting nails.
- Features a Gel Shine Extra Shiny Top Coat that adds brilliance and longevity to manicures by enhancing color vibrancy.
- Includes a Miraculous Nail Perfector with hyaluronic acid and acacia collagen, which acts as a ridge filler and nourishes nails.
- Contains a Bamboo Nail Hardener that utilizes natural bamboo extract to harden nails, prevent splitting, and protect against breakage.
- Includes a Quick Gloss Fast Drying Top Coat for a high shine finish, ideal for time-sensitive manicures.
- All-N-One Healthy Nails formula serves as a basecoat, topcoat, or a standalone protective nail hardener, infused with goji berry and blueberry extracts.
- Crystal Hard Nail Strengthener incorporates celery seed extract, glycerin, vitamin E, and lactic acid, along with amethyst crystal extract, to enhance nail strength and thickness.
- Calcium Nail Builder fortifies nails through a mixture of vegetable-based keratin, calcium, lactic acid, sodium hyaluronate and quartz powder.
- Nourishing Cuticle Oil provides recovery for dry and brittle cuticles using ingredients like sweet almond oil, olive fruit oil, aloe vera, and prickly pear oil extract.
- Highlights the vegan, cruelty-free, and 9-free formula (free from 9 harmful chemicals typically found in nail treatments).
Ingredients
Ingredients can vary by product variation and may change at any time by the manufacturer. For the most complete and up-to-date list of ingredients, refer to the product packaging.
To analyze individual ingredients, use INCIDecoder.
Ingredients: Ethyl Acetate, Acrylates Copolymer, Butyl Acetate, Dipropylene Glycol Dibenzoate, Nitrocellulose, Isopropyl Alcohol, Violet 2 (Ci 60725)
Third-party certifications are key indicators of a product's safety, ethics, and environmental impact. Click the icon to verify the certification.
Highlights aren't always verifiable, so you're trusting the brand when they say "lead free", etc. If the highlight icon is "clickable", it means we've verified the highlight.
User satisfaction is calculated using online reviews and a Bayesian average across all personal care and cosmetic products on Welpr.
Duplex Base and Top Coat - Londontown
Pros & Cons
Pros Mentioned
- Durable
- Smooth
- Long-lasting
Cons Mentioned
- Sticky
Ingredients
Ingredients can vary by product variation and may change at any time by the manufacturer. For the most complete and up-to-date list of ingredients, refer to the product packaging.
To analyze individual ingredients, use INCIDecoder.
Ingredients: Ethyl Acetate, Butyl Acetate, Nitrocellulose, Adipic Acid/Neopentyl Glycol/Trimellitic Anhydride Copolymer, Acetyl Tributyl Citrate, Isopropyl Alcohol, Sucrose Acetate Isobutyrate, N-Butyl Alcohol, Benzophenone-3, Trimethylpentanediyl Dibenzoate, Perfluorodecalin, Dimethicone, Trimethylsiloxysilicate, CI 60725
Third-party certifications are key indicators of a product's safety, ethics, and environmental impact. Click the icon to verify the certification.
Highlights aren't always verifiable, so you're trusting the brand when they say "lead free", etc. If the highlight icon is "clickable", it means we've verified the highlight.
User satisfaction is calculated using online reviews and a Bayesian average across all personal care and cosmetic products on Welpr.
Double Duty Base and Top Coat - Sally Hansen
Product Details
- Formula includes Panthenol that smoothes nails' surface and assists in color retention.
- Offers protection and strength as both a base and top coat.
- Contains Nylon and Pro-Vitamin B5 to shield nails with a hard, chip-resistant finish.
- Application involves brushing on 1-2 coats for strengthening; finish with one coat for added shine.
- Provides a long-lasting, chip-resistant finish.
Pros & Cons
Pros Mentioned
- Versatile
- Durable
- Affordable
Cons Mentioned
- Chipping
Ingredients
Ingredients can vary by product variation and may change at any time by the manufacturer. For the most complete and up-to-date list of ingredients, refer to the product packaging.
To analyze individual ingredients, use INCIDecoder.
Ingredients: Butyl Acetate, Ethyl Acetate, Nitrocellulose, Adipic Acid/Neopentyl Glycol/Trimellitic Anhydride Copolymer, Trimethyl Pentanyl Diisobutyrate, Alcohol Denat, Isopropyl Alcohol, Aqua/Water/Eau, Etocrylene, Benzophenone-1, Nylon-12, Panthenol, D&C Violet No. 2 (Ci 60725)
Third-party certifications are key indicators of a product's safety, ethics, and environmental impact. Click the icon to verify the certification.
Highlights aren't always verifiable, so you're trusting the brand when they say "lead free", etc. If the highlight icon is "clickable", it means we've verified the highlight.
User satisfaction is calculated using online reviews and a Bayesian average across all personal care and cosmetic products on Welpr.
Pro Glossy Top Gel - Ohora
Product Details
- Creates a long-lasting, glass-like sheen that enhances nail appearance.
- Seamlessly fills in grooves or ridges on nails for a smoother look.
- Includes a high-quality brush for precise control and application.
- Minimizes sensation of heat during curing for comfortable use.
- Removes easily along with nail strips for user convenience.
- Provides a high gloss finish that adds shine and strength to manicures or pedicures.
- Equipped with a DuPont USA brush with 220 2.5mils bristles for even, streak-free application.
- Non-clumping and drip-free formula ensures a smooth finish.
Pros & Cons
Pros Mentioned
- Glossy
- Durable
- Versatile
Cons Mentioned
- Pricey
Ingredients
Ingredients can vary by product variation and may change at any time by the manufacturer. For the most complete and up-to-date list of ingredients, refer to the product packaging.
To analyze individual ingredients, use INCIDecoder.
Ingredients: Di-hematrimethylhexyl Dicarbamate, Hydroxypropyl Methacrylate, HEMA (Hydroxyethylmethacrylate), Hydroxycyclohexylphenyl Ketone
Third-party certifications are key indicators of a product's safety, ethics, and environmental impact. Click the icon to verify the certification.
Highlights aren't always verifiable, so you're trusting the brand when they say "lead free", etc. If the highlight icon is "clickable", it means we've verified the highlight.
User satisfaction is calculated using online reviews and a Bayesian average across all personal care and cosmetic products on Welpr.
The Foundation Fortifying Base Coat - tenoverten
Pros & Cons
Pros Mentioned
- Strengthening
- Quick-drying
- Non-toxic
Cons Mentioned
- Yellows
Ingredients
Ingredients can vary by product variation and may change at any time by the manufacturer. For the most complete and up-to-date list of ingredients, refer to the product packaging.
To analyze individual ingredients, use INCIDecoder.
Ingredients: Butyl Acetate, Ethyl Acetate, Nitrocellulose, Isopropyl Alcohol, Adipic Acid/Neopentyl Glycol/Trimellitic Anhydride Copolymer, Acetyl Tributyl Citrate, Silica, N-Butyl Alcohol, Acrylates Copolymer, Talc, Ethyl Tosylamide, Benzophenone-1, Equisetum Arvense (Horsetail) Extract, Tocopheryl Acetate, Red 6 Lake (Ci 15850), Yellow 5 Lake (Ci 19140)
Common Harmful Chemicals in Nail Top & Base Coat
Chemical Name
Why it’s harmful
Xylene is a colorless, flammable liquid with a sweet odor that can be found in cosmetic products. Its functions include enhancing fragrance and perfuming the skin, as well as serving as a solvent to dissolve other substances in the formulation. However, it's important to note that exposure to xylene can lead to various health issues, including irritation of the eyes, nose, skin, and throat, along with symptoms like headaches, dizziness, confusion, and loss of muscle coordination.
Benzophenone (BZP) is a photoinitiator, fragrance enhancer, and ultraviolet stabilizer, used in a variety of industrial applications. Despite not being registered as a pesticide in the U.S., it's involved in the production of insecticides and agricultural chemicals. Its toxic effects on humans are scarcely documented, but it presents little hormonal activity on cell lines. Animal studies show it possesses no estrogenic activity, but it can transform into derivatives with such activity under UV irradiation. It did not show reproductive toxicity or carcinogenicity in rats and mice, respectively, even at high doses. It can be bioactivated through specific enzymes. For aquatic life, fathead minnow larvae were more sensitive to BZP, ranking it in the middle of the toxicity order of six benzene derivatives.
Benzophenone & Related Compounds, Chemical Profile: Benzophenone, Toxicological evaluation of benzophenone, Benzophenone – information sheet, Proposition 65 Warnings: Benzophenone, OEHHA: Benzophenone, FDA Removes 7 Synthetic Flavoring Substances from Food Additives List, Benzophenone-3, a chemical UV-filter in cosmetics: is it really safe for children and pregnant women? ,
Formaldehyde is a colorless, flammable gas with a pungent smell that's naturally produced in small quantities in human bodies and is also known as methanal amongst other names. It's used in the production of various items such as fertilizers, paper, plywood, and urea-formaldehyde resins as well as in some foods and household products like antiseptics, medicines, and cosmetics. Exposure to formaldehyde, which can occur through breathing contaminated indoor air, tobacco smoke, or ambient urban air can lead to respiratory symptoms, irritation of the eyes, nose and throat and has been linked to lung and nasopharyngeal cancer as well as leukemia. The EPA considers formaldehyde a probable human carcinogen (Group B1) and inhaling it can cause bronchospasm and pulmonary edema. Commercially, it's sold as formalin in solutions of 37%, 44%, or 50% and long-term exposure can cause first-degree burns, skin sensitization, squamous cell nasal cancer, and chronic pulmonary obstruction.
Formaldehyde and Cancer Risk, Cleaning Products & Indoor Air Quality, No More Toxic Tub, Campaign for Safe Cosmetics: Preservatives, Campaign for Safe Cosmetics: Formaldehyde And Formaldehyde-Releasing Preservatives, Formaldehyde may be found in cosmetic products even when unlabelled, Formaldehyde Found in Popular American Beauty Products, Hair Salons - Formaldehyde in Your Products, Formaldehyde in cosmetic products
Methylisothiazolinone can reportedly cause allergic contact dermatitis in workers who interact with products containing it. This substance is recognized as a contact allergen for consumers using cosmetics that include it. It can cause skin burns and sensitization, and inhaling it may lead to corrosive injuries in the upper respiratory tract and lungs. Ingesting this substance is harmful, and inhalation is toxic. This preservative is linked to the category of isothiazolinones.
Antimicrobial agents, triclosan, chloroxylenol, methylisothiazolinone and borax, used in cleaning had genotoxic and histopathologic effects on rainbow trout, Methylisothiazolinone toxicity and inhibition of wound healing and regeneration in planaria, Methylchloroisothiazolinone and/or methylisothiazolinone in cosmetic products, Isothiazolinone Biocides: Chemistry, Biological, and Toxicity Profiles, Methylisothiazolinone and isothiazolinone allergy, Analysis of isothiazolinones in environmental waters by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry, Methylisothiazolinone induces apoptotic cell death via matrix metalloproteinase activation in human bronchial epithelial cells, EU REGULATIONS , Methylisothiazolinone contact allergy: a review, Effects of methylisothiazolinone and octylisothiazolinone on development and thyroid endocrine system in zebrafish larvae, Two Cases of Chloromethylisothiazolinone and Methylisothiazolinone-associated Toxic Lung Injury, An update of the risk assessment for methylchloroisothiazolinone/methylisothiazolinone (MCI/MI) with focus on rinse-off products, Effects of a mixture of chloromethylisothiazolinone and methylisothiazolinone on peripheral airway dysfunction in children, Isothiazolinone preservative: cause of a continuing epidemic of cosmetic dermatitis, Campaign for Safe Cosmetics: Methylisothiazolinone and Methylchloroisothiazolinone