A nail polish remover that is safer and more environmentally friendly than conventional acetone-based and petrochemical-based nail polish removers containing a mixture of water and at least one lower alkyl acetate, and an amount of an emulsifier that is sufficient to emulsify the alkyl acetate to prevent phase separation of the mixture. Exemplary compositions include, as the lower alkyl acetate, n-butyl acetate in an amount of from 10% to 60% by volume, ethanol, as the emulsifier, in an amount of from 0 to 20% by volume, and the balance being water.
