The Healthiest Paint for You And Your Home

You know that strong odor you smell when you open a can of paint? It’s from chemicals called volatile organic compounds (VOCs), some of which have been linked to cancer. The good news: More and more mass paint companies are developing low- and no-VOC paints.

But how do these healthier paints stack up? We asked Kelly LaPlante, principal designer and president of Los Angeles–based Kelly LaPlante Organic Interior Design Inc., to pick up her roller and report back on the top options.

Benjamin Moore Aura

$57 per gallon

Type: Low VOC

Coverage: Excellent. Aura provided rich, even color in just one coat. And it’s truly self-priming, so it’s a time-saver.

Odor: Very low

Dry time: 1 hour

Bottom line: This paint offers amazing coverage: “In some instances, you wouldn’t even need to use two coats,” LaPlante says. But it’s also the most expensive one we tested.