Aila nail polish is an 8-free nail polish that comes in bright colors, demure neutrals, and shimmery glitter, and all in modern, understated packaging.
Our Rating: 2 / 5 (See: How Leaf Score is calculated)
Table of Contents
Product Highlights
- 8-free nail polish free from most major toxicants
- Slightly thicker than most water-based polishes
- Goes on more smoothly and lasts longer without chipping compared to other polishes
| Country of Origin: | USA |
| Ingredients: | Butyl Acetate, Ethyl Acetate, Nitrocellulose, Adipic Acid/Neopentyl Glycol/Trimellitic Anhydride Copolymer, Acetyl Tributyl Citrate, Isopropyl Alcohol, Styrene/Acrylates Copolymer, Stearalkonium Bentonite, n-Butyl Alcohol, Benzophenone-1, Silica, Alumina, Trimethylpentanediyl Dibenzoate, and Polyvinyl Butyral. May Contain (depending on the color): Aluminum Powder (CI 77000), Oxides (CI 77499 / CI 77491), Red 34 Lake (CI 15880), Red 6 Lake (CI 15850), Red 7 Lake (CI 15850), Yellow 5 Lake (CI 19140), Ferric Ammonium Ferrocyanide (CI 77510), Mica (CI 77019), Blue 1 (CI 42090), Yellow 11 (CI 47000), Titanium Dioxide (CI 77891), Violet 2 (CI 60725), Polyethylene Terephthalate, Polybutylene Terephthalate, and Ethylene/VA Copolymer. |
| Certifications: | Cruelty Free Vegan |
Overview
This cruelty-free and vegan-friendly polish is made without: parabens, sulfates, formaldehyde, formaldehyde resin, camphor, dibutyl phthalate, toluene, triphenyl phosphate, xylene, bismuth oxychloride, ethyl tosylamide, gluten, or animal products. It is made in the USA and is a little thicker than most water-based polishes, going on smoothly and lasting longer without chipping.
The Aila brand was founded by a board-certified Podiatric Surgeon and someone who clearly understands the problems with toxic chemicals in most nail polishes. That said, it took a while to find a list of the ingredients in Aila nail polish on the company’s website and, when I did, I was a little disappointed.
Aila’s nail polishes/lacquers contain: Butyl Acetate, Ethyl Acetate, Nitrocellulose, Adipic Acid/Neopentyl Glycol/Trimellitic Anhydride Copolymer, Acetyl Tributyl Citrate, Isopropyl Alcohol, Styrene/Acrylates Copolymer, Stearalkonium Bentonite, n-Butyl Alcohol, Benzophenone-1, Silica, Alumina, Trimethylpentanediyl Dibenzoate, and Polyvinyl Butyral.
Depending on the color, they may also contain: Aluminum Powder (CI 77000), Oxides (CI 77499 / CI 77491), Red 34 Lake (CI 15880), Red 6 Lake (CI 15850), Red 7 Lake (CI 15850), Yellow 5 Lake (CI 19140), Ferric Ammonium Ferrocyanide (CI 77510), Mica (CI 77019), Blue 1 (CI 42090), Yellow 11 (CI 47000), Titanium Dioxide (CI 77891), Violet 2 (CI 60725), Polyethylene Terephthalate, Polybutylene Terephthalate, and Ethylene/VA Copolymer.
So, these products are not phthalate free or plastic-free, contain FD&C colorants, may have styrene contaminants present, and contain n-butyl alcohol. Oh, and Aila’s formulations contain benzophenone-1, which is where I really lost faith with this brand.
Why? Well, because the company offers a statement about how this chemical has been approved for use in cosmetics by the CIR Expert Panel. That’s true, this chemical (along with others that can have adverse effects on health) has been approved for use by the CIR, but to imply that there are no health concerns associated with this chemical is, frankly, disingenuous. Even a cursory examination of current research reveals that of nine benzophenones (1–8 and 12) tested, benzophenone 1 was the most potent inhibitor of enzymes involved in testosterone production and/or activity.
So, while Aila may make nail polish that is free from most major toxicants, it’s not free of all potentially toxic chemicals and I am not a fan of the condescending tone of the founder.