Removing your old nail polish is a boring chore for many. Strong smells and a drying formula are not our nails’ best friends. But, there’s a lot happening in the nail industry today.
The old days of only acetone-based nail polish removers which cause damage to your nails and are long gone. Now there are multiple choices that can nurture your nails while removing nail polish. We done a lot of the research for you, including a buying guide reviewed by a licensed cosmetologist and a top 8 list of our recommendations for the best nail polish removers.
Quick List - Top Nail Polish Removers
Denise is a licensed cosmetologist who advises people on certain products they should get. She formally worked at Ulta and is now headed into a salon.
mybest US' editing team consists of experienced members who have backgrounds in writing, editing, translation, and more. We are dedicated to researching what makes a product or service the best to users in the US in order to create top-quality articles. From skincare, to kitchen appliances, and to DIY supplies, our mission is to find the best ones for you.
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In a world of unlimited colors and brands of nail polish, there are almost as many removers to go along with it. What should you think about when buying a nail polish remover? Which remover is best for each kind of nail polish? Follow this guide to find out!
The first thing you need to consider when buying a nail polish remover is what kind of remover you should buy. You have two different options - acetone and non-acetone-based nail polish remover. Both will do the job for you, but they use different ingredients to do so.
Acetone nail polish remover works wonders when it comes to taking off the most stubborn nail polish, regardless of the nail polish material. That is why many still choose acetone-based nail polish removers.
However, these removers can be very harsh on your nails and skin, often causing damage. Acetone-based nail polish removers strip the natural oils from your nails, making both your nails and skin dry and damaged.
Non-acetone-based nail polish removers still use solvents like ethyl acetate and propylene carbonate to remove nail polish from your nails. Nail polish removers that claim to be natural and organic still use solvents, just not acetone.
But many find non-acetone-based nail polish gentler and more moisturizing for dry nails and cuticles, making it a better choice for weak and naturally dry nails that need more care and protection.
Different types of removers are better suited for certain polishes. There is the regular nail polish, which is easy to remove, and you don't need a very strong remover to get all the polish from your nail surface.
Other materials, such as shellac or gel nails need a stronger remover to be able to loosen and remove stubborn polish left on your nails.
A liquid nail polish remover can easily be applied with a cotton pad or whatever tools you like, and you can control the amount of liquid you need. A liquid nail polish remover usually doesn't require too much of the product since the formula works well on the nail polish itself.
Pre-soaked nail polish remover pads is another alternative to remove your nail polish. The pre-soaked pads are a great choice when traveling since you don't need to bring liquids to remove your nail polish. They come in packages ready to use wherever you are.
Although it's a preferable choice for those on the go, it takes longer to remove dark or glittery nail polish with pre-soaked pads. This alternative works better on nude and lighter colors if you want to save yourself some time.
There are many different kinds of remover wraps, everything from foil to silicone to plastic, that can help you remove your nail polish in one go.
Just place the wraps around your nails and wait a few minutes until the nail polish has disappeared. By squeezing and pulling the wraps from each finger, the nail polish will come off with the wrap instantly.
For people who don't want to use liquids, pads or wraps, there is another alternative to remove your nail polish. Nail polish remover cream is used by squeezing out the cream onto your nails. Wait a couple of minutes before wiping it off and it will give you the same results as if you were using a liquid-based nail polish remover.
The nail industry has come a long way since acetone was the only choice on the market for nail polish removers. Today many new nail polish removers have ingredients that can actually strengthen and moisturize your weak and brittle nails and cuticles to prevent future damage.
Many nail polish removers are full of vitamins and proteins, like vitamin E, seed oils and collagen. These promote strong, healthy nails and minimize the damage some nail care materials can bring to sensitive nails.
If you're a self-manicurist that likes to change it up with different nail polishes often, look for a nail polish remover that can also prep and condition your nails.
Some types of nail polish removers are vegan and cruelty-free. A vegan nail polish remover means that the product does not contain any animal-derived ingredients or byproducts. A vegan nail polish remover is not always cruelty-free.
Cruelty-free nail polish removers have not been tested on animals. Choosing a cruelty-free remover is a great choice for animal lovers, to make sure your ethics are in line with the products you choose to use.
Products | Image | Click to purchase | Key features | |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Mineral Fusion Nail Polish Remover | ![]() | Best All-Around Remover That Also Nourishes | |
2 | Cutex Ultra-Powerful Nail Polish Remover | ![]() | Save Time with This Strong Remover | |
3 | ZOYA Remove Plus 3 in 1 Formula | ![]() | Good for Conditioning and Prepping Weak Nails | |
4 | Diamond Wipes Nail Polish Remover Pads | ![]() | Handy Nail Polish Remover Pads for Travelers | |
5 | Ella+Mila Soy Nail Polish Remover | ![]() | Packed with Vitamins to Nurture Your Nails | |
6 | Karma Organic Natural Soybean Lavender Nail Polish Remover | ![]() | A Vegan, Natural Remover Great for Those with Allergies | |
7 | Karma Organic Nail Polish Remover Wipes | ![]() | Cruelty-Free, Non-Toxic Wipes | |
8 | Makartt Nail Polish Remover Kit|Comes with cuticle pusher | ![]() | Foil Nail Remover Wraps to Soak off the Polish |
Mineral Fusion Nail Polish Remover is an all-purpose non-acetone-based nail polish remover. It's strong enough to remove everything from regular nail polish to shellac and Mineral Fusion gel polishes in an instant! In fact, users say it does a great job removing tough glitter polish.
The formula is free of paraben, talc, and synthetic fragrances, making this nail polish remover a very gentle choice that preps and cleans the nail surface for longer-lasting nail polish.
This nail polish remover can remove the darkest colors without drying out the nail or the cuticles, which helps you keep your nails healthier and stronger for longer. Some users did have issues with it drying out their nails, but it did the job, and many liked that it's cruelty-free.
Cutex Ultra-Powerful Nail Polish Remover is liquid nail polish remover that removes even your most stubborn polish in one go! This 98% acetone-based polish remover is known for taking off event the toughest colors, material, and glitter from your nails.
Even though it's an acetone-based remover it does not have the strong smell of acetone. Instead, the Cutex remover has a cucumber fragrance, reminding you of a spa treatment!
Reviewers appreciate the nurturing apricot seed oil, making their sensitive and dry nails feel both soft and strong. Some do note that this remover is quite harsh on their nails if they use a larger amount. But people love the scent and say it saves time, as well as cotton pads!
ZOYA Remove Plus 3 in 1 Formula is an award-winning nail polish remover that is acetone-free and gentle on your nails.
It's an effective nail polish remover that also does nail prep and works as a nail conditioner, perfect for weak nails. ZOYA Nail Polish was the first to create a big three free formula and are today well-known for creating a way for extended polish wear.
Users love the pump function of the bottle, but some have said the pump didn't work correctly on the bottle they received. Overall, reviewers really like how fast it removes even the most stubborn glitter nail polish. They say it's also less harsh on the nail surface.
Diamond Wipes Nail Polish Remover Pads are perfect for the woman with a busy lifestyle. These nail polish remover pads are individually sealed, quick to use and a handy choice during travel.
They can practically be used anywhere - they are even airport security-friendly. Another bonus is that it's faster and easier than using a liquid formula. Reviewers praise these pads for being easy to use and a good alternative to liquid remover when in a hurry!
One pad is enough for 10 nails, but some users say they need more. Diamond Wipes Nail Polish Remover Pads are acetone-based, but they have nurturing ingredients such as aloe vera to condition and moisturize your nails.
Ella+Mila Soy Nail Polish Remover is a liquid, non-acetone-based nail polish remover packed with vitamins to strengthen and nourish your weak and damaged nails!
This soy-based formula is vegan and cruelty-free. It can effectively remove all natural nail polishes. Please note that this type of nail polish remover does not work well on harder materials, such as gel nail polishes.
With a formula containing vitamin A, C & E, together with essential lavender oil, this is really the perfect choice for those who need to take extra good care of dry or weak nails. This product has very high ratings among its users, mainly due to the fact it is packed with vitamins, making it gentle on the nails and surrounding skin.
Karma Organic Natural Soybean Lavender Nail Polish Remover is a remover that is both gentle and sustainable, even down to the bottle!
Karma Organic is well-known for its nail polish removers. Instead of being acetone-based, they are based on unscented oil derived from American farm crops. The glass bottle is 100% recyclable. It nurtures your nails with a wonderful scent and removes regular nail polish, but does not work for gel or acrylic-treated nails.
Users appreciate that this remover is well-suited for those with allergies and that pregnant women can use it without any problems.
Karma Nail Polish Remover Wipes has the same ingredients and formula as the liquid product on this list, but in wipe form. Just use these on your nails and you are ready to go! These wipes are non-toxic, vegan and cruelty-free.
These wipes are acetone-free, made out of soybean oil and a perfect choice for the woman that needs to remove her nail polish quickly. This remover is harmless both to sensitive nails and the environment.
Users love the scent of this product, with a soothing lavender smell, but are noticing the wipes are a bit difficult to remove darker colors with.
Makartt Nail Polish Nail Gel Remover is a great alternative remover that works quickly for acrylic, gel, and UV gel-treated nails with polish that is usually very difficult to remove!
These foil wraps are easy to use and make your nail polish removing sessions a lot shorter. Cut down the time from 30 minutes to 10 minutes, or even less depending on the material, with the help of the foil base.
Users find this choice a great help for removing harsh material from their nails, but they do admit the foils aren't pre-soaked, so you have to provide your own acetone. The double-sided cuticle pusher and scraper which is included make this a great kit for those who use strong stuff for their manicures!
Beautiful nails take time and effort, but we've done some of the work for you. Check out these other useful articles!
This expert reviewed the contents of the buying guide for accuracy and provided factual corrections when necessary. They did not participate in the product selection process, nor are they affiliated with any of our choices unless explicitly stated so.
No. 1: Mineral Fusion |Nail Polish Remover
No. 2: Cutex |Ultra-Powerful Nail Polish Remover
No. 3: ZOYA|Remove Plus 3 in 1 Formula
No. 4: Diamond Wipes|Nail Polish Remover Pads
No. 5: Ella+Mila |Soy Nail Polish Remover
View Full RankingThe descriptions of each product are referenced from content available on manufacturer, brand, and e-commerce sites.
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