F

Is Shellac PFAS-free?

Across 11 graded products, Shellac averages F (55/100). On disclosure, the brand says nothing publicly about PFAS. 1 of its products grade C or better. Grades are model-based estimates, not lab results.

Worth buying from Shellac C or better, safest first

CND Shellac Rags To Stitches

Shellac

CND Shellac Rags To Stitches

gel-polymer nail lacquer

C
F
PFASAll
C · Moderate3 flags

Lower-concern cosmetic category; no published PFAS risk or lab detection; brand transparency gap typical for polish.

Risky category by default

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

CND Shellac

Shellac

CND Shellac

gel-based nail lacquer (proprietary polymer blend)

D
D · Elevated

Low-risk category but no brand transparency; nail polish formulas rarely disclose fluorochemicals publicly.

Risky category by default

CND Shellac Beau

Shellac

CND Shellac Beau

gel polish (proprietary resin blend)

D
D · Elevated

No public PFAS data; standard gel polish carries inherent uncertainty, proceed with caution.

Risky category by default

CND Shellac Lobster Roll Nail Polish

Shellac

CND Shellac Lobster Roll Nail Polish

Organic film-forming polymers (nitrocellulose, resin blends); no known PFAS-necessary chemistry disclosed

D
D · Elevated

Lower concern cosmetic, no public PFAS signal, but no transparency either.

Risky category by default

CND Shellac Masquerade

Shellac

CND Shellac Masquerade

Gel-based lacquer (proprietary Shellac formula)

D
D · Elevated

Insufficient public data; nail polish PFAS risk is low to moderate but unverified for this product.

Risky category by default

CND Shellac Xpress5 Top Coat

Shellac

CND Shellac Xpress5 Top Coat

Nail gel polish (proprietary resin blend)

D
D · Elevated

No public PFAS transparency; cosmetic gel polishes rarely disclose formulation, skip if concerned.

Risky category by default

Playful Baby Pink Nails Strawberry Bubblegum Shellac Gel Polish

Shellac

Playful Baby Pink Nails Strawberry Bubblegum Shellac Gel Polish

Gel polish (proprietary resin blend, shellac base)

F
F · High PFAS

Skip until brand discloses PFAS status; gel polish formulations are opaque.

Undisclosed proprietary coating

CND Shellac Luxe Gel Polish

Shellac

CND Shellac Luxe Gel Polish

proprietary gel polish blend (acrylate resins, oligomers, pigments)

F
F · High PFAS

Skip until brand discloses, gel polish formulations are opaque and sometimes contain fluorinated resins.

Undisclosed proprietary coating

CND Shellac Tinted Love Nail Polish

Shellac

CND Shellac Tinted Love Nail Polish

gel-like acrylate polymer nail lacquer (proprietary formula)

F
F · High PFAS

Skip until brand discloses or third-party testing clarifies polymer content.

Undisclosed proprietary coating

CND Shellac Vivid

Shellac

CND Shellac Vivid

proprietary gel/acrylic blend

F
F · High PFAS

Skip until transparent, gel nail coatings commonly use fluorinated compounds, and CND discloses nothing.

Undisclosed proprietary coating

Shellac Nail Polish

Shellac

Nail Polish

Gel-resin UV-cured polish blend (proprietary)

F
F · High PFAS

Skip until brand discloses PFAS status; gel polish formulas are often opaque.

Undisclosed proprietary coating

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