One brown nail polish product is the DND DC Gel Duo in Walnut, which is vegan, cruelty-free, and non-toxic with an 8-free formula that does not contain formaldehyde, toluene, dibutyl phthalate, formaldehyde resin, camphor, ethyl tosylamide, xylene, or triphenyl phosphate. Another brown nail polish product is the Essie Salon-quality Vegan Nail Polish in Bed Rock & Roll, which is also vegan and 8-free, without formaldehyde, toluene, dibutyl phthalate, formaldehyde resin, camphor, ethyl tosylamide, xylene, triphenyl phosphate, or animal-derived ingredients.

The ingredients in nail polish can vary, but most modern nail polishes consist predominantly of a film-forming polymer dissolved in a volatile organic solvent. The most common polymer is nitrocellulose, although more expensive cellulose acetates such as CAB are claimed to give better performance. The solvents are commonly butyl acetate or ethyl acetate. Low levels of various additives are included to give the desired finish.

Regarding the safety of nail polish ingredients, some nail polishes are "9-free," meaning they do not contain certain toxic chemicals such as formaldehyde, formaldehyde resin, toluene, xylene, dibutyl phthalate (DBP), camphor, parabens, or ethyl tosylamide. Phthalates, which are implicated as endocrine disruptors and linked to problems in the endocrine system and increased risk of diabetes, are one controversial family of ingredient that some manufacturers have phased out.

In summary, the two brown nail polish products mentioned are vegan and 8-free, and most modern nail polishes consist of a film-forming polymer dissolved in a volatile organic solvent with low levels of various additives. Some nail polishes are "9-free" and do not contain certain toxic chemicals, and phthalates are one controversial family of ingredient that some manufacturers have phased out.