◆ Guide · Free-From Nail Polish · Updated October 2026
24-Free vs 21-Free vs 10-Free:
What the Numbers Mean
◆ Short Answer
The number is how many ingredients a brand chose to leave out — and each brand writes its own list. The FDA doesn't define "10-free" or "24-free". Most lists start with the same five (formaldehyde, toluene, DBP, formaldehyde resin, camphor); after that they diverge, and a bigger number isn't automatically safer.
By LuxeFormula Labs · Updated October 1, 2026 · 6 min read
About this page: an earlier version listed "24 harmful chemicals" with health effects we can't fully support. We've replaced it with what the levels typically cover and how to compare polishes honestly.
What each level usually covers
| Label | Typically excludes | Note |
|---|---|---|
| 3-free | Formaldehyde, toluene, dibutyl phthalate (DBP) | The original "toxic trio" list |
| 5-free | 3-free + formaldehyde resin, camphor | Common baseline for clean-positioned brands |
| 7- to 10-free | 5-free + often TPHP, xylene, ethyl tosylamide, parabens | Lists vary most at this level |
| 12- to 21-free | + often other phthalates, fragrance, animal-derived ingredients | Some items are rarely in polish anyway |
| 24-free | + further brand-chosen items (e.g. gluten, specific preservatives) | Bigger number ≠ automatically safer |
Why a bigger number isn't automatically better
Longer lists often add ingredients that are uncommon in nail polish in the first place — gluten is a typical example — so the number rises without the formula changing much. What matters more is what the formula uses instead, whether the polish performs, and whether the full ingredient list is published.
What to check instead of the number
- The full INCI ingredient list, in descending order.
- The brand's exact exclusion list, not just the count.
- Wear, chip resistance and dry time — free-from formulas vary widely.
- Label wording: "formulated without…" is accurate; "non-toxic" and "safe" are not defined terms.
Building a free-from line? We make 21-free and vegan nail polish for brands from 100 bottles per shade. Free-from guide · 21-free formulations · PFAS state bans
FAQ
Free-From
Questions
Not automatically. The extra items on longer lists are often ingredients that aren't commonly used in nail polish anyway, such as gluten. Compare the full ingredient lists and how the polish performs, not the number.
It means the brand left out ten ingredients it chose. Most 10-free lists include the 5-free basics — formaldehyde, toluene, DBP, formaldehyde resin and camphor — plus five more such as TPHP, xylene, ethyl tosylamide and parabens, but lists differ by brand.
Nobody defines them. The FDA does not set a meaning for "10-free" or "21-free". The claim must still be truthful — the listed ingredients must actually be absent.
In the EU, DBP is prohibited in cosmetics, and some solvents and formaldehyde are restricted in nail products. In the US, most are permitted, which is why brands use free-from lists to differentiate.
Free-from labels are not medical claims. If you are pregnant, ask your doctor and use nail products in a well-ventilated area.
Sources
General information, not medical or legal advice.