WTH is Vegan Nail Polish?
photo cred: SheaButtaBaby @Solo_Kalin
My sisters and I sell vegan nail polish and I can’t tell you how many times we’ve been asked, what does that mean? It’s surely not edible, you should never consume nail polish under any circumstances. Vegan nail polish simply means it’s not tested on animals nor does it contain animal by-products. Here are three common animal-derived ingredients to look out for:
Carmine
If your favorite nail polish is red in hue, it may contain carmine. It’s created by boiling and crushing insect shells to create a red shade for nail polish and lipsticks.

Guanine
For those of us who like a little glitz and glam, say some shimmer in your polish, it may contain guanine. This ingredient is derived from fish scales and acid found in animal tissue.
Oleic Acid
The name alone is enough to be cautious, oleic acid is basically animal fat. It is formulated from animal oils and tallow to thicken a solution.
Fortunately, there are many beauty products on the market that are vegan-friendly including IV KULTURE Nail Lacquer. It’s important to do your research to ensure you’re not using animal-derived ingredients. The first rule of thumb is to read the labels and look for the ingredients mentioned above.
If you’re not into fish residue and insect carcass in your mani pedi consider switching to vegan nail polish. You’ll be glad you did.
Until next time,
-Tianna LaChan
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