Painting your nails can be a relaxing practice that helps us feel beautiful.
However, we might get bored of the color we chose and want to change it up.
Therefore, many of us might be thinking: what are the most eco-friendly ways to remove nail polish?
Below are some ways to remove nail polish from your nails that are as nice to the environment as possible.
The Toxic Truth About Nail Polish Remover
Sadly, most of the nail polish remover on the market is full of toxic chemicals that are not good for our water and our earth.
Moreover, they are not very pleasant to breathe in, and they aren’t good for your pets to come in contact with.
The plastic bottles that nail polish remover comes in are also harmful pollutants, as are the disposable pads many people use to take their nail polish off.
Thankfully, things are changing in the cosmetic industry, and there are some eco-friendly options for taking off your nail polish or getting nail polish stains out of other surfaces.
Use A Peel-Off Base Coat
There are base coats on the market that allow you to peel off your nail polish when you are ready to change it.
This eliminates the need for nail polish remover or pads to take the nail polish off. All you will need is a nail scalpel to help peel the nail polish off easily.
In order to apply a peel-off base coat effectively to ensure you can remove all of your nail polish with this method, you will want to follow the proper instructions:
- Make sure your nails are super clean by washing your hands with warm water and wiping them dry with a cloth
- Apply an even layer of peel-off base coat and let it dry for about 5 minutes. Repeat this process two to three times
- Once your last layer is completely dry, apply your nail polish as normal
- To make removal even easier, gently rub a cuticle oil on your nails to soften up the nail polish before scraping it off
Purchase Nail Polish Remover In Glass Bottles
It is extremely difficult to get a plastic nail polish remover bottle clean enough to be able to recycle it.
While it may take some shopping around, look for nail polish remover that comes in a glass bottle.
You can easily wash this when you’re done with it, and use it as home decor or recycle it.
Look For Nail Polish Remover With Non-Toxic Ingredients
Many of the ingredients that make up nail polish remover are very harmful. They are also flammable and hazardous.
More nail polish removers are finding alternatives to these ingredients without losing quality or usefulness.
Look for oil-based removers that contain oils extracted from natural sources, such as avocado or jojoba.
These removers are effective, but they also have good ingredients that can help nourish your hands and nails.
Opt For Reusable Cotton Pads
You can purchase inexpensive, reusable cotton pads, or even use inexpensive face cloths to apply the nail polish remover to your nails and rub off the paint.
You can easily wash these either by hand or in your washing machine to be able to use them again.
Use Items You Already Have At Home
Making use out of items you already have at home for multiple purposes is eco-friendly in many ways.
You purchase less and you waste less. You might be surprised to know that many items you have at home can be used to take off your nail polish.
Keep in mind that these methods may not be as effective as quickly as traditional nail polish remover, but the little bit of extra work you need to do is worth it to contribute less to harming the environment.
Below are some DIY recipes and products you can use at home to remove nail polish.
Lemon And Vinegar
Mix two teaspoons of lemon juice with distilled white vinegar and allow your hands to soak in the mixture for five minutes.
You should be able to wipe the nail polish off with a cloth.
Vodka
This strong alcohol can help strip away nail polish from your nails easily.
Soak your nails in a bowl of vodka for a few minutes, and then your nail polish should come off easily with a cloth.
Hydrogen Peroxide
You probably have a tube of this at home to help clean out your cuts. Squeeze hydrogen peroxide into a bowl with double the amount of warm water.
Once again, let your nails soak in the mixture for a few minutes. The nail polish should scrape off with a nail file.
The beauty industry has come a long way to curb their contribution to hurting the environment, and things are only going to continue to change for the better.
Making your nail polish routine more eco-friendly is a great place to start.
