Let me start by revealing a major bias I have against nail polish on little girls. I’m of the mind that sheesh, can’t we save something until they’re 13. Or at least 6? I know I sound like a fuddy-duddy when I say am always surprised when I’m seated across from a preschooler at our local salon.

But judgy issues aside (I admit it!), boy do my girls love the idea of playing with nail polish. Love. As do some of the boys they’re friends with — or at least the ones with cool parents. So I finally gave up — somewhat — and set some rules: We do it at home, we treat it as a special occasion dress-up thing, and we do it with a safe, non-toxic, eco-friendly kind of nail polish like Hopscotch Kids.

If you’re not familiar with Hopscotch Kids, they make a line of natural nail polish called Watercolors, that’s water-based and free of junk like formaldehyde, coal tar, and other smelly chemicals. It’s got its own polish remover, also easy on the chemicals, made with a plant-based alcohol that’s designed just for water-based polishes.

There are 11 colors and while my girls gravitate towards the pinks (of course), I kind of like the more outrageous colors that scream I’m just playing around here! Think greens, blues, and a pretty new orange right in time for Halloween costumes. One caveat: They’re not cheap. Natural products definitely come at a cost.

It scares me enough to think of my kids as old enough for cosmetics. At least I don’t have to be scared of what’s in them too. –Liz

Find natural nail polish online at Hopscotch Kids, a signer of the Compact for Safe Cosmetics.

Also, check out Scotch Naturals, a line of natural nail polish just for we mamas who don’t like chemicals in our beauty products either. Get free shipping on orders over $35.