NCLA or OPI - Which is Better?

Non-toxic nail polishes are reigning in the world of beauty right now. After all, who wouldn’t like some pop of colour on their nails when harmful chemicals can be avoided? As a result, more and more nail polish brands are now embracing clean beauty and creating non-toxic nail polishes that actually perform.

If you are new to the clean beauty movement, you may be torn between two of the most popular nail polish brands - NCLA and OPI. Don’t worry; you will find the answer today! In this article, you can get an overview of both the brands in terms of ingredients, quality, and price. You will also learn how keen the brands are when it comes to animal and environmental friendliness. So keep reading to discover the safer nail polish brand that will best serve your needs.

NCLA vs OPI - A Detailed Comparison

Clean Ingredients

Word on the street is that the widely popular nail polish brand OPI is a safer nail polish, but we beg to differ. OPI nail polishes are considered 3 free, meaning they are free of DPB, formaldehyde, and toluene. However, the nail lacquers contain several other questionable ingredients like dimethicone and aluminium powder.

NCLA, on the other hand, is a 7 free option that eliminates xylene, ethyl tosylamide, camphor, and formaldehyde resin in addition to the Big Three harmful chemicals mentioned above. Many pieces of research have shown the detrimental effects of these chemicals. For example, ethyl tosylamide is a sulfur-based antibiotic that can cause severe to mild allergic reactions and make our body more resistant to antibiotics. Likewise, xylene is a known allergen and can cause cancer, and camphor can induce skin irritation, abdominal distress, and even seizures. Finally, formaldehyde resin can give rise to allergic reactions and is classified as a probable human carcinogen. So, why stop at a 3 free option when you can get colourful shiny nails with a brand free of 7 toxic chemicals.

Durability and Drying Time

OPI markets its heavily-pigmented nail lacquers as super-rich and long-lasting. The high-shine formula is also chip-resistant. All you need to do is apply two coats of the classic nail lacquer and enjoy shine and colour for 7 days. However, OPI nail polishes take a little longer to set. If you are in a rush, you can speed up the process by applying OPI DripDry Lacquer Drying Drops.

NCLA nail polishes hit a good balance in terms of durability and drying time. The NCLA nail polishes have a relatively fast drying time and are known for being ultra long-lasting. Plus, they prevent your nails from chipping.

Vegan Formula

OPI is not a vegan brand, but it now offers vegan nail polishes under the OPI Nature Strong range. OPI Nature Strong offers 30 new earth tones, which are all certified by The Vegan Society. The range is made using non-toxic ingredients such as wheat, sugar cane, corn, and clay but other OPI products contain animal or animal-sourced ingredients.

In comparison, NCLA is a 100% vegan brand. None of the NCLA products is made of animal-derived ingredients. Instead, the brand substitutes animal derivatives with high-quality cosmetic ingredients from different and wholesome plant-based sources.

Cruelty-Free

An essential part of enjoying guilt-free gorgeous nails is to make sure you are buying cruelty-free nail polish. OPI inherits the animal testing policy of its parent company Coty. Even though the company does not test any of their ingredients or final products on animals, they pay third parties for animal testing when required by law.

On the flip side, NCLA has a strict cruelty-free policy. It has been awarded the Beauty Without Bunnies certification by PETA. Not only are NCLA products free of animal-derived ingredients, but they also do not test on animals. Furthermore, NCLA sources suppliers who do not support animal testing and do not allow animal testing on their nail polishes even when required by law. For the same reason, NCLA products are not sold in Mainland China, where animal testing is mandatory.

Environment Friendliness

OPI jumped on the clean beauty bandwagon with its Nature Strong range. Although OPI does not claim itself as an environmentally friendly brand, the Nature Strong nail polish containers are earth-friendly. The glass bottles and plastic caps used are made of 20% post-consumer recycled materials, which is why you might notice some minor imperfections on the packaging.

NCLA makes planet-friendly choices when it comes to ingredients. Simply by avoiding hazardous wastes that are flammable and toxic, NCLA earns the environmentally friendly status. This means NCLA nail polishes will not release toxic components like formaldehyde, dibutyl phthalate, and toluene into the soil when discarded in landfills.

Price

Undoubtedly price plays a vital role in deciding which product to buy. OPI is known for offering affordable luxury to customers. The classic nail lacquers by the brand retail at $11.50, while they also have the ‘Infinite Shine’ range, you can get at $14.80. So you can shop fresh young colours from OPI and enjoy salon-finish without spending too much.

NCLA nail polishes retail at $23 a bottle but often have special offer prices that you can look out for. These vegan and cruelty-friendly nail polishes have a slightly higher price point. Beloved by celebrities like Bella Hadid and Beyonce, nail polishes from this LA-based brand are totally worth the price.

Conclusion

Indeed, both OPI and NCLA have a lot to offer in terms of shades and quality. However, if you are in the process of embracing natural, organic products and want to shop from a brand that is great for not only your health and body but also for the planet, NCLA nail polishes are the way to go. Although NCLA nail polishes are priced slightly higher than the OPI alternatives, they are the safer choice.

Apart from nail polishes, NCLA also has a range of nail wraps and nail care products to help your nails stay healthy and strong.

Why settle for a 3 free brand when you can have it all with a 7 free brand? For a few extra bucks, you can take the guilt off your hands and use products that have less harmful chemicals.