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Removing nail polish may not be the most enjoyable job, but, let’s face it, it is a necessity. No matter whether your mani has run its course, or you’re just in the mood for a polish change, it’s always important to have a good nail polish remover on hand. And while it may not seem like a beauty category where there’s a ton of variety, there are plenty of options to pick from. Acetone-based formulas will work the fastest (and are what you need for gels or acrylics), though they can be drying and harsh. Non-acetone removers may not work quite as well but are gentler, and there are even now natural options on the market.
To help you find the best one for you, we compiled this list of the best nail polish removers out there.
Best Overall: Zoya Remove+ Nail Polish Remover
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Courtesy of Amazon
Gentle formula
Offers extra benefits
Lasts a long time
Pricey
Who else recommends it? Insider and Allure both picked the Zoya Remove+ Nail Polish Remover.
What do buyers say? 85% of 4,600+ Amazon reviewers rated this product 5 stars.
This three-in-one formula goes above and beyond the call of duty. Sure, it removes any and every shade of polish completely, but it’s also excellent for prepping nails pre-polish, helping to remove dirt and oil. And on top of that, it’s also infused with ingredients that help condition your nails. Bonus points for the spillproof, pump-top container.
Key Ingredients: 2-propanone | Size: 8 ounces | Cruelty-Free: Yes | Byrdie Clean: Yes
Best Budget: OPI Expert Touch Lacquer Remover
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Courtesy of Amazon
Works quickly
Contains hydrating ingredients
Removes even the darkest shades
Bottle isn’t spill-proof
A tried-and-trusted brand for anything and everything nail-related, it’s no surprise that OPI also makes a great nail polish remover. This acetone-based formula contains extra hydrating ingredients (grapeseed oil, aloe leaf extract), works quickly and effectively, and rings in at a super wallet-friendly price.
Key Ingredients: Acetone | Size: 3.7 ounces | Cruelty-Free: No | Byrdie Clean: Yes
Best Budget, Runner-Up: Onyx Professional 100% Pure Acetone Maximum Strength Nail Polish Remover
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Courtesy of Walmart
Removes all types of polish
Works quickly
Easy to use
Can be drying
Aaron is also a fan of this brand, pointing out that their options are widely available. This is the heaviest-hitting of the bunch, a straight-up acetone version that is ideal to use for acrylics, gels, glitters, and the more stubborn polishes of the bunch. And of course, we’d be remiss not to mention the price.
Key Ingredients: Acetone | Size: 2 ounces | Cruelty-Free: Yes | Byrdie Clean: Yes
Best Classic: Cutex Ultra-Powerful Nail Polish Remover
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Courtesy of Amazon
Works quickly
Affordable
Pleasant scent
Can be drying
“This brand has been around forever and is a real classic,” says Syreeta Aaron, LeChat Nails Educator. She adds that she also likes it because they offer different types of removers, including those infused with good-for-your nail nutrients. To that point, while this pick is made with 98% acetone (AKA it works super quickly, even on stubborn dark colors or glitter polishes), it even contains apricot seed oil. The cucumber fragrance helps combat that strong, acetone scent.
Key Ingredients: Acetone | Size: 6.7 ounces | Cruelty-Free: Unclear | Byrdie Clean: Yes
Best Hydrating: Deborah Lippmann The Stripper Nail Lacquer Remover
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Courtesy of Sephora
Works quickly
Contains hydrating ingredients
Nice smell
Pricey
When a nail polish remover is created by one of the most well-known celebrity manicurists out there, you know it’s going to be good. Exhibit A: this formula, which is beloved for working lightning fast, yet still has aloe vera and glycerin in it to help combat any of acetone’s drying effects.
Key Ingredients: Acetone | Size: 4 ounces | Cruelty-Free: Yes | Byrdie Clean: Yes
Best for Gel: CND Offly Fast Remover & Care Kit
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Courtesy of Ulta
All in one set
Contains hydrating ingredients
Includes foil wraps to remove gels quickly
Has a strong, acetone scent
Taking off regular nail polish can be annoying, but taking off a gel manicure is 10 times so. But since peeling it off is a recipe for wreaking havoc on your nails, soaking it off is the only option. Happily, this set makes it easier than ever to do so. It comes with an acetone-based remover (that’s infused with hydrating oils), plus foil wraps to take off a gel manicure, stat. There’s also an orange stick to help you push off any excess, and the brand’s beloved cuticle oil to apply afterward.
Key Ingredients: Acetone | Size: 2 ounces | Cruelty-Free: No | Byrdie Clean: Unknown
Best for Touch-Ups: OPI Nail Polish Remover Pen
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Mess-free
Comes with one replacement tip
Gets around cuticle edges
Pricey
Whether it’s to clean up a tiny smudge or remove tell-tale polish on the edges of your cuticles, this pen is amazing. It dispenses just enough remover through the marker-like tip (which makes precise application super easy), and there are no cotton pads needed.
Key Ingredients: Acetone | Size: 0.13 ounces | Cruelty-Free: No | Byrdie Clean: Unknown
Best for Travel: Butter London Nail Scrubbers
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Contains hydrating ingredients
Easy to use
Mess-free
Pricey
Similar to a nail file or Band-Aids, nail polish remover is one of those things that’s always good to have on hand when you travel. (Trust us.) The only issue? Traveling with a big ol’ bottle—plus the necessary cotton pads—isn’t ideal. Enter these mega-convenient wipes. Each individually wrapped pack holds one wipe that has two different sides. The textured side helps scrub off even glitter polish or dark shades, while the smooth side wipes away any excess. And in our experience, you can usually get away with just one wipe per hand.
Key Ingredients: Acetone, Vitamin E, Aloe | Size: 2 ounces | Cruelty-Free: Yes | Byrdie Clean: No
Best Natural: Pear Nova Refresh Soy Remover
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Non-acetone formula
Infused with jojoba and tea tree oils
Gentle and nourishing
May not work as quickly as traditional formulas
Nail polish removers are notorious for being somewhat harsh on both your nails and cuticles, which is where non-acetone formulas come in. This soy-based formula is oh-so-gentle and infused with jojoba and tea tree oils, simultaneously removing your polish and nourishing your nails and skin with vitamins A, D, and E.
Key Ingredients: Acetone, Vitamin E, Aloe | Size: 4 ounces | Cruelty-Free: Yes | Byrdie Clean: No
Runner-Up, Best Natural: Rooted Woman Nail Polish Remover
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Courtesy of Rooted Woman
Gentle formula
Infused with herbs and essential oils
Dropper bottle makes for mess-free removal
Needs to soak on nail for two minutes
Another great pick for those who prefer a clean beauty routine is this remover from Rooted Woman. Made from a proprietary blend of soybeans, herbs, and essential oils, the formula is non-toxic, non-carcinogenic, and readily biodegradable. Not to mention, the convenient dropper bottle makes it way easier to avoid spills or oversaturating your cotton pad.
Key Ingredients: Soybeans, herbs, essential oils | Size: 2 ounces | Cruelty-Free: Yes | Byrdie Clean: Yes
Final Verdict
It’s time to upgrade your nail polish remover game. The Zoya Remove+ Nail Polish Remover is our favorite, gentle yet effective, non-acetone-based option. You also can’t go wrong with Cutex Ultra-Powerful Nail Polish Remover; it’s a powerful acetone formula, though it smells good and has hydrating ingredients. We also recommend stocking up on the extra-convenient Butter London Nail Scrubbers, single-use wipes that are ideal for travel. Prefer a natural formula? The Pear Nova Refresh Soy Remover removes your polish while nourishing your nails and cuticles.
Meet the Expert
Nail artist Syreeta Aaron is a LeChat Nails Educator and brand ambassador.
What to Look For in a Nail Polish Remover
Acetone or Non-Acetone
According to Aaron, this is pretty much the most important thing to consider. More on the difference below, but acetone is great for breaking down more stubborn polishes (such as gel) as well as darker shades. “If you’ve been wearing reds and darker colors, they are harder to remove and clean away from in between the cuticle and nail plate,” she explains. In this case, you may want an option that has at least a little bit of acetone in it.
On the flip side, non-acetone-based formulas tend to be more hydrating and gentle, good if you’re just wearing a lighter color of normal polish, she says. FYI, it bears mentioning that typically nail salons only use acetone since it works equally well on all kinds of polish, including gels and acrylics, she adds.
Extra Nutrients
Unless you’re using a pure acetone remover, Aaron says to seek out formulas that contain extra hydrating ingredients. She cites vitamin E as one of her top picks.
Why Trust Byrdie
Byrdie contributor Melanie Rud has over a decade of experience in the beauty industry, writing for some of the biggest magazines and websites out there. While her DIY mani skills definitely leave something to be desired, she does always have nail polish remover on hand (as nothing irks her more than chipped nails). She’s used many of the ones on this list, though is especially partial to the Butter London wipes because of how easy they are to use.
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