If you get manicures every week for years, your nails might become weak and brittle. But if you know how to use cuticle oil correctly, it can make a big difference. This product can do more than just help the base of your nails. Add it to your nail care routine, and before you know it, your nails will be stronger and healthier from bed to tip.
Jessica White, an award-winning nail artist and beauty creator, says that cuticle oil is a must-have for healthy nails routine. “It’s the one step that makes the biggest difference in how things look and how they work,” she tells Glamour. “Even if you don’t do anything else, putting oil on your nails regularly will make them stronger shinier healthier over time.”
It’s helpful to know what cuticle oil is and how it works before we talk about how to use it. White says, “Cuticle oil is a concentrated mix of nourishing oils that are meant to moisturise the cuticle area and the nail plate.” “Think of it as a serum for your nails because it goes deep into the nails to soften dry cuticles, make them more flexible, and keep the nail matrix healthy. Even without colour, nails look shinier smoother polished when the cuticle area is hydrated.
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cuticle oil in a bottle
$18 for OPI ProSpa Nail Cuticle Oil at Ulta
a bottle of cream for cuticles
Nail and Cuticle Oil from L’Occitane
Mary Honkus took this picture while testing L’Occitane Shea Nail and Cuticle Oil.
$20 for L’Occitane Nail Cuticle Oil at Sephora
Why is it important to use cuticle oil on your nails?
Biting, picking, and harsh chemicals can also make nails brittle thin peel, and split. This is in addition to the damage that gel and acrylic nails can do. White says, “Cuticle oil is one of the easiest but most important things you can do for your nails.” “Regular oiling replaces lost lipids, makes nails more flexible, and helps keep them from peeling and splitting.” It’s also important for keeping the skin around the nail healthy, which helps it grow and keeps hangnails irritation minimum.
This picture could have a bottle, lotion, and makeup in it.
$19 for OPI Glow Up Nail & Cuticle Oil at Ulta
The picture could show things like makeup, a bottle, perfume, and nail polish.
Essie Apricot Nail & Cuticle Oil is $15.00, but you can get it for $14.00 (7% off).
What does cuticle oil do?
White says, “Nails are made of layers of keratin, and when those layers dry out they separate and become weak, which causes peeling and breaking.” “Cuticle oil works by getting through those layers and strengthening the natural lipid barrier. This helps the nail keep its moisture and stay flexible.” A nail that bends instead of breaking is a strong nail. She says to look for cuticle oils that have a lot of jojoba, vitamin E, and almond oil in them. These are good because they are similar to oils that are already in your nails.
9 Best Oils and Creams for Cuticles for Nails That Are Dry and Broken
9 Slides
By Mary Honkus and Lisa DeSantis
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Cuticle Revitalising Oil from Cuccio Naturale
Thanks to the brand
Cuccio Natural Cuticle Revitalising Oil: $12 now $9 (25% off)
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Julep Roll With It Nail and Cuticle Nourishing Treatment Oil with Vitamin E: Softens and strengthens cuticles
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Julep Roll With It Cuticle Oil is $16, but it’s on sale for $14 (13% off).
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How to properly use cuticle oil
White says to put cuticle oil on when your nails are the driest like after washing your hands or taking off nail polish. “Put a small drop on each cuticle and gently rub it into the nail and the skin around it,” she says. “The massage is important because it boosts circulation and helps nails grow healthily.” She also says that you should wait for oil to fully soak in before putting on hand cream or nail polish. This is “so it doesn’t dilute products or how your polish sticks.”
How often do you need to use cuticle oil?
White says, “Ideally, you should use cuticle oil every day, especially if you wear gels use hand sanitiser a lot, or are outside in the cold.” “For nails that are very dry twice a day can help.” What’s good news? You can’t really put too much on because your nails will only take in as much oil as they need. White says that consistency is more important daily: “It’s better to do a little bit every day than a lot once a week.”
How can I naturally make my nails stronger?
White says that in addition to using cuticle oil to strengthen and fix nails, you should also protect them from stressors in the environment by “wearing gloves when cleaning and not using nails as tools to open cans or peel stickers.” She also points out that she used a nail file incorrectly, saying that “gentle filing in one direction rather than sawing back and forth to prevent splitting,” is the right way to do it. Above all, remember that staying hydrated very important, so you should use cuticle oil and hand cream on a regular basis.
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Now that we’ve finished our crash course, it’s time to find a cuticle oil that you’ll really like using every day. Here are some of editors‘ favourite picks and why we love them.
a bottle of oil for cuticles
Thanks to the brand
Nail and Cuticle Conditioner from CND SolarOil
Charlotte Twine’s original photo of her testing CND SolarOil Nail & Cuticle Conditioner
CND Solar Oil Nail Cuticle Conditioner costs $10 at Ulta.
The picture might show a bottle shaker, and makeup.
Thanks to the brand
Vitamin E Nail and Cuticle Oil from Sally Hansen
Mary Honkus’s original photo of her testing Sally Hansen Vitamin E Nail & Cuticle Oil
Sally Hansen Vitamin E Nail and Cuticle Oil is $8 at CVS.
This vitamin E-rich formula will make your nails stronger and your cuticles softer healthier. This serum deeply moisturises with just a few drops, thanks to a mix of safflower, apricot seed, and coconut oils.
This article first appeared in Glamour UK.
Dominic Cadogan is the Acting Beauty Editor at GLAMOUR. He works on beauty wellness articles for the magazine. Before joining System Beauty, Dominic worked for Dazed Beauty and was one of first people to join. I’ve worked in fashion beauty magazines for ten years, and for the last four years, I’ve been a freelance journalist.
