Sustainable At-Home Manicure
By Ella Saddler
When we think of going green with our nail care routine, it can be extremely overwhelming. Nail products are commonly full of toxic chemicals and plastics that negatively affect our health and the planet. Just think about all of the dried up nail polish bottles that are thrown out or the number of nail files that are used a few times and then tossed. But what if we could make small changes that encouraged better habits and less waste? Lucky for us there are sustainable and non-toxic solutions popping up all over the place that allow you to up your sustainable nail game without sacrificing quality.
Read along for our recommendations on how to make your mani’s more eco-friendly.
Prep
Invest in the prep. Nail prep is an important step of the process. Below are a few items to help you prep your hands for an eco-friendly pamper.
Image Source: Base Coat
REMOVER
Bye bye toxic polish remover. Make room for your non-toxic, sustainable competitors.
The Base Coat Soy Nail Polish Remover: Say goodbye to toxic, harmful, and potently smelly nail polish remover. The Base Coat nail polish remover is soy-based and does not contain acetone or harsh acetates. It includes vitamins A, C, and E, as well as lavender oil.
Sustainability Practices:
Recyclable
Non-toxic
All packaging for shipping can be recycled or can be repurposed
Our Pick:
Image Source: Base Coat
FILE
No plastic? No waste? No problem! Upgrade to a crystal file to help yourself and the planet.
This crystal file is crafted from hardened glass alloy and is renowned for its durability. The double tempering process multiplies the effect, making it even stronger to ensure the file doesn’t degrade in quality over the years, standing up to frequent use. As a bonus, it’s recyclable and lasts longer than other files, which makes it kinder on the environment.
Sustainability Practices:
Recyclable
Packaged in a reusable nail file case
All packaging for shipping is recyclable or can be repurposed
Our Pick:
Paint
Nail polish is filled with toxins. We are recommending nail polish that is free from these 10 toxic chemicals.
10 toxic chemicals to avoid in nail polish
Formaldehyde: carcinogen and allergen
Toluene
DBP: hormone disruptor, allergen
Camphor
Formaldehyde Resin
Xylene
Ethyl Tosylamide
Parabens: hormone disruptors
Phthalates
Fragrance
Image Source: The Tart Peach
TART PEACH
Get your fall color on with The Tart Peach nail color. The Tart Peach crafts clean beauty for conscious individuals and delivers maximum style.
Sustainability Practices:
Hand poured in small batch
Free of top 10 toxic ingredients (see above)
Glass containers with recyclable brush head (when properly cleaned)
Our Picks:
Image Source: Habit
HABIT
Enter non-toxic/vegan clean beauty for the bold. This polish will keep your nails popping without harming your health or the planet.
Sustainability Practices:
Habit polish is made with a vegan, cruelty-free, toxin-free formula and infused with Myrrh extract to improve nail strength.
Guilt-free packaging: Habit polish is the only polish packaged with recycled plastic components, biodegradeable bamboo overcaps to keep plastic use to a minimum, and FSC-certified paperboard boxes
Our Picks:
41 Terra $18
24 Tan Lines $18
Pamper
You’ve prepped, you’ve polished, and now it’s time to pamper. Wrap your fresh mani in hydrating creams for a smooth finish.
URSA MAJOR
Indulge your skin with this Ursa Major clean, green, velvety body lotion. Light enough for summer, yet rich enough for winter. Consider it a year-round manicure must have.
Sustainability Practices:
Transitioned all 8 fl oz bottles to at least 50% PCR content
Launched new tubes containing 59.1% PCR plastic and 40.9% sugarcane bioresin
Moved to a more sustainable, FSC certified paper stock for the majority of our secondary packaging
Produced over 90% of cartons at a carbon neutral facility, with 100% renewable energy
Became plastic negative, meaning that we remove two plastic bottles from the environment for every bottle we sell
Our Pick:
NUCIFERA
Opt for a multi-purpose balm that works as a cream or as a cuticle oil. Nutrient-dense plant-based butters and oils deeply penetrate and replenish to complete your at-home eco-friendly manicure.
Sustainability Practices:
100% natural
Reusable/recyclable jar
Packaged in recyclable packaging
Our Pick:
Nucifera Balm $24
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Ella Saddler is a Brand Account Manager and Contributing Writer for SISTAIN and has a background in design, dance, and visual arts. She celebrates her love of nature, beauty, and connection through her passion for living mindfully and sustainably.
