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We’ve all been there, wanted to buy that new sparkly nail polish you have seen advertised, but then go to read the ingredients list and it contains Shellac…. So what exactly is Shellac and why is it not vegan? Nail polish is always a tricky one to get vegan, as so many brands use this ingredient to create a glossy finish and improve durability, helping polish stay on the nails for longer without chipping. However, shellac isn’t vegan, so if you’re looking for vegan nail polish, it’s an ingredient worth avoiding.

Read on to learn more about Shellac and discover some incredible cruelty free and vegan alternatives.

what is shellac?

Shellac is a glazing agent and is secreted from female lac bugs, she uses this Shellac to cocoon and protect herself whilst she lays her eggs, this hard Shellac is then harvested and used in products. I know, gross and cruel right!

Nowadays most Shellac comes from dedicated plantations, where it is mass produced. It is estimated that a whopping 50,000 to 300,000 lac bugs are needed to produce 1 kilogram of Shellac, I mean wow! Who wants to wear crushed beetles in their nails anyway, not me for sure.

did you know?

There are a fair few products that often contain Shellac, some I was surprised about, so it’s always good to check your ingredients.

• Citrus fruit (almost always made shiny with a layer of shellac)
• Apples (sometimes)
• Chocolate
• Marzipan
• Candy
• Nail polish
• Cosmetics
• Medicine (often to make them resistant against stomach acid)
• Silicones
• Furniture wax
• Wood finish
• Watches
• Some musical instruments
• Paint
• Waterproof ink
• Fireworks

Source: Shellac Export Promotion Council

cruelty free & vegan nail brands

Here are some amazing cruelty free and 100% vegan alternatives. I love discovering new brand which are also kind to animals. Let me know in the comments if you have tried any of these brands?

• Nailberry
• Manucurist
• Nailkind
• True Nail Polish
• sienna Byron Bay
• Lena Nail Polish
• All Tigers
• London Town
• Emolyne
• True Nail Polish
• Pastel Cosmetics
• Revolution Beauty
• Earthy Nail Polish
• Hanami
• JINsoon
• Cienna Rose
• Smith & Cult
• Glossworks
• Mavala
• LivOliv
• Seren London
• MO Nails
• Neonail
• Peacci
• TOMATO
• Wrenn
• Dear Sundays
• Ella Mila
• Color Club
• Nails Inc (they have a vegan range)
• Zoya
• Shoreditch Nail Polish
• Maggie Anne
• Remedy Nails
• Benecos
• Pacifica
• Dimension Nails
• Beauty Without Cruelty
• The Gel Bottle
• Jolie Vegan
• Habit Cosmetics
• My Beauty Brand
• Barry M
• ORLY
• Telle Moi
• Inaya Beauty
• Hay London
• SOPHi
• Zao
• M&S Autograph
• Beau Polish
• Cally Cosmetics
• Butter London (they have a vegan range)
• Soigné Botanique
• Madam Glam
• Kester Black
• NCLA
• Fairypants
• Kia-Charlotta
• Kure Bazaar
• Trust Fund Beauty
• 516 Polish
• Prism Polish
• Maniko Nails (nail strips, base, top coat and remover)

cruelty free & vegan press on nails

Press-on nails are a great alternative to nail polish. They are super quick and easy to apply and can last up to a few weeks. The designs these days are stunning, and some are so intricate, with 3D elements. You can now get salon-quality nails at home, which can be reused again and again. I have listed some cruelty-free and vegan brands for you to check out below.

cruelty free & vegan press on nail brands

• Glaize⁠
• ILLUMINAILS
• Fairy Official
• Klaws by Katie Eve
• YIJIU
• Veloura Nails
• GLAMNETIC
• NEKO NAILS
• Bling Art⁠
• HOLY GRAIL NAIL⁠
• nailcissit
• essence – What the Fake!⁠
• OPI xPRESS/ON (they have a vegan range)
• Nails Inc (they have a vegan range)
• Olive & June⁠
• Illuminate by Liana⁠
• Lamimosa Beauty⁠
• Celebritips
• Monnai Nails

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**FRIENDLY REMINDER: THIS POST MAY CONTAIN AFFILIATE LINKS THAT HELP OUT A LOT IF YOU CHOOSE TO PURCHASE FROM THEM (IT DOESN’T COST YOU ANYTHING EXTRA). I WILL ALWAYS TELL THE 100% TRUTH.