D

Is CND PFAS-free?

Across 13 graded products, CND averages D (66/100). On disclosure, the brand says nothing publicly about PFAS. 4 of its products grade C or better. Grades are model-based estimates, not lab results.

Worth buying from CND C or better, safest first

CND Shellac Rags To Stitches

CND

Shellac Rags To Stitches

gel nail polish (oligomers, acrylates, pigments)

C
F
PFASAll
C · Moderate4 flags

Lower PFAS concern for nail polish itself; no known Teflon-family coating coatings in this category.

Risky category by default

CND Shellac Beau

CND

Shellac Beau

gel polish (resins, oligomers, solvents)

C
F
PFASAll
C · Moderate4 flags

Lower PFAS concern than most gel polishes, but lack of disclosure means you're not buying certainty.

Risky category by default

CND Gel Set - Mediterranean Dream Set 3

CND

Gel Set - Mediterranean Dream Set 3

gel polish (acrylate-based formula in bottle; no coating on nail surface described)

C
F
PFASAll
C · Moderate3 flags

Lower concern; gel polish formulas rarely contain PFAS, but CND discloses nothing.

Risky category by default

CND Shellac Iced Cappuccino

CND

Shellac Iced Cappuccino

gel-based nail lacquer (nitrocellulose, resin, plasticizer)

C
F
PFASAll
C · Moderate3 flags

Lower-concern standard nail polish with no known PFAS triggers; CND silent on the issue.

Risky category by default

Graded and flagged D and F, we’d swap these

CND Shellac

CND

Shellac

Gel nail lacquer (proprietary resin blend)

D
D · Elevated

Skip until CND discloses PFAS status or seeks third-party verification.

Risky category by default

CND Shellac Masquerade

CND

Shellac Masquerade

gel polish (proprietary resin blend)

D
D · Elevated

Skip until CND discloses gel polish formulation details or PFAS status.

Risky category by default

CND Shellac Vivid

CND

Shellac Vivid

gel-polymer base coat (composition not fully disclosed)

D
D · Elevated

Skip until CND confirms PFAS-free; gel cosmetics often contain fluorinated resins.

Risky category by default

CND Vinylux Arrowhead Nail Polish

CND

Vinylux Arrowhead Nail Polish

Nitrocellulose, plasticizers, colorants, film-forming resins

D
D · Elevated

Lower concern than many cosmetics, but CND does not disclose PFAS status; skip if PFAS avoidance is priority.

Risky category by default

CND Vinylux Polish

CND

Vinylux Polish

nail lacquer (resin, plasticizers, solvents)

D
D · Elevated

Skip until CND discloses or tests for PFAS in nail formulations.

Risky category by default

CND Shellac Blue Rapture Gel Polish

CND

Shellac Blue Rapture Gel Polish

Gel polish (proprietary resin blend)

D
D · Elevated

Skip until CND discloses gel polish chemistry or third-party testing confirms PFAS absence.

Risky category by default

CND Vinylux After Hours Nail Polish

CND

Vinylux After Hours Nail Polish

nitrocellulose-based lacquer (traditional nail polish)

D
D · Elevated

Lower PFAS concern than water-resistant cosmetics, but lack of transparency warrants caution.

Risky category by default

CND Creative Play Nail Lacquer

CND

Creative Play Nail Lacquer

nitrocellulose, resins, solvents (typical nail lacquer formulation)

D
D · Elevated

Insufficient public data; no known PFAS concerns for standard nail lacquer, but no brand transparency either.

Risky category by default

CND Creative Nail Design Shellac

CND

Creative Nail Design Shellac

Proprietary gel-polymer coating (nail lacquer base)

F
F · High PFAS

Skip due to opaque formulation and zero public PFAS disclosure from CND.

Undisclosed proprietary coating

Every grade uses the same public rubric. How grades work →