{"id":66673,"date":"2026-07-06T06:00:00","date_gmt":"2026-07-06T04:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.thegreenlist.nl\/?p=66673"},"modified":"2026-06-29T08:11:43","modified_gmt":"2026-06-29T06:11:43","slug":"theres-a-smell-to-nail-polish-remover","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.thegreenlist.nl\/en\/nagellakremover-daar-zit-een-luchtje-aan\/","title":{"rendered":"Nail polish remover: there's more to it than meets the nose"},"content":{"rendered":"
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As soon as you remove your nail polish, you'll know its smell again. That pungent, chemical aroma that wafts through your house in no time. Chances are, you'll then be busy with acetone, the main ingredient in most nail polish removers. But what is acetone, really? How does it remove that stubborn polish so quickly? And just as interesting: what does it do to your health? We've delved into it. And hooray: there are (more) natural alternatives that also do the trick.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

Acetone in nail polish remover<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Whether you're going for a subtle sheen or bright red nails: there comes a moment when the polish has to come off, doesn\u2019t it? Most people reach for that pink bottle of nail polish remover. Effective? Absolutely. Sustainable and healthy? Well, uh, no, not exactly. Let's start at the beginning. Acetone (in full: dimethyl ketone) is a colourless, highly flammable liquid. It's a powerful solvent. It's also used for making plastics, cleaning tools, and as a thinner for paint. And it's in your nail polish remover. There, acetone has one job: to turn the hard layer of your nail polish back into a liquid so you can wipe it off. Acetone breaks down the polymers (yep, the substances that actually make your nail polish hard) in your nail polish at lightning speed. Your polish becomes soft again, and you can wipe your nails clean with a cotton pad soaked in acetone. Well, clean\u2026.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Acetone is aggressive<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Acetone is quick and effective, but also aggressive. It doesn't just dissolve your nail polish, it also strips the natural oils from your nails and the surrounding skin. The result: brittle nails, dry cuticles, and that familiar white film on your fingers. We're telling you nothing new when we say that inhaling acetone vapour isn't exactly a wellness experience. Although acetone isn't directly toxic in small quantities, frequent use can cause irritation to the airways and eyes. A case of \u2018beauty is pain\u2018? Can't it be greener and healthier?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Nice polish, but how do you remove nail polish in an environmentally friendly way? Ultimately, you'll still reach for nail polish remover.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The greener alternative: acetone-free remover<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

On the shelves, you're increasingly seeing \u2018acetone-free\u2019 nail polish removers. Sounds good, but what's the active ingredient then? Usually, it's ethyl acetate. Is that a greener choice? A bit. Ethyl acetate is slightly milder for your skin and nails than acetone, but it's still a synthetic solvent. The big advantage is that it evaporates less quickly (so a less intense smell) and dries out your nails less extremely. But let's be honest: it's still a chemical substance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Good news: you don't have to choose between chemical fumes or peeling nail polish. There are increasingly more bio-based removers on the market. These products don't contain acetone or ethyl acetate, but a natural solvent, such as lactate esters. These are substances made from fermented sugars. Or soy-based solvents. These two are biodegradable and often the removers are also enriched with nourishing oils.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Acetone is the fastest way to remove nail polish. But hey, it's an aggressive way (just check for that white film on your fingers again). Would you prefer a more sustainable bathroom routine? Then opt for a bio-based, acetone-free remover made from natural ingredients. It's an investment, especially in time, as natural removers aren't that much more expensive. Natural removers are just truly slower at working than aggressive acetone, but your nails will stay strong and, also nice, you won't be inhaling those chemical fumes anymore.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Nail polish remover can be avoided in these ways too!<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

You'll just have to see: your nail polish needs to come off and you're out of remover. Before you head out to the shed for the white spirit (don't you dare!), you can try these everyday tips:<\/p>\n\n\n\n