Acetone vs. Non-Acetone Nail Polish Remover- Which One is Better?

Don’t you just love a fresh mani and pedi? However, when it comes to removing nail polish, it is considerably less fun, right? Today, there are plenty of nail polish removers available in the market. Have you ever stood in a cosmetic store with chipped nails and wondered which is the best nail polish remover for your nails? 

A crucial decision you need to make is whether you want acetone or non-acetone nail polish remover. Here’s a simple secret: while acetone is going to work much quicker to get the polish off your nails, non-acetone removers are going to be gentler to them. Let’s take a closer look at which one is the best for you.

nailpolish
Photo credit: Thinkstock images

Nail polishes include ingredients such as resins, plasticizers, film molds, and color pigments. All of these ingredients work to give you a smooth, even coat of polish that dries quickly and evenly. The thing is, these ingredients aren’t that easy to extract. It is important to use a formula that works with your type of nails – be it thin, weak, sensitive, or brittle. 

So, here are the two types of nail polish removers available:

What is an Acetone Nail Polish Remover?

An acetone polish remover is a very strong solvent that works to remove polish harshly. But it isn’t so simple, because it extracts a lot of natural oils from your skin. In fact, sometimes your skin looks very white when you’ve used too much acetone on it. That means you’ve dried out your skin. Acetone is a pure, hard-smelling, highly flammable liquid. It’s a solvent, capable of disintegrating even plastics. It explains why it works so quickly to break apart and remove the nail polish. Isopropyl alcohol is usually used in the production of acetone. Using an acetone-based nail polish remover can dehydrate and damage your nail plate significantly.

What is a Non-Acetone Nail Polish Remover?

A non-acetone polish remover uses less harmful solvents such as ethyl acetate, isopropyl alcohol, and propylene carbonate. And polish removers called “natural” or “organic” still use solvents; they just don’t use acetone. They also add moisturizing agents such as glycerin, panthenol, and soya to minimize the drying effect. Not only do they strip the old polish, but they also moisturize the cuticles and nail plates! 

To minimize nail polish removers’ drying effect, some effective products like SERY Cosmetics’ Move-On Nail Enamel Remover contains special moisturizing ingredients such as vitamin E and sweet almond oil. They nourish your nails and protects them from peeling, cracking, and breakage. It is a product you can rely on, and that won’t harm your precious nails. 

Make a Safe Choice!

Removing your chipped, unwanted nail polish isn’t supposed to feel like a herculean task. You can clean your nails with a good nail polish remover and change your look in a moment. The beauty industry has evolved considerably with the advancement of nail art, which has led to the creation of certain products for various uses. While acetone and non-acetone nail polish removers are both used to remove nail polish, they contain different ingredients. 

In a nutshell, acetone is a quicker way to remove nail polish, but it’s not the best. It leaves behind a white covering that’s hard to get rid of. Non-acetone nail polish removers, on the other hand, are a much safer option and best for long term use. The best nail polish remover should gently and thoroughly extract traces of polish from the nails, leaving them clean and ready for a fresh round of nail paint. So, make an informed choice for healthy nails!