Is cuticle oil just another beauty fad, or does it protect and strengthen your nails?
In the pursuit of stronger, healthier nails, cuticle oils often pop up as a recommended staple. These easy-to-use products do more than just hydrate the nails; they create a barrier that helps shield nails and cuticles from grime and environmental stressors such as cold weather, pollution, and frequent hand-washing.
But do they really live up to the hype or are they simply a cleverly marketed indulgence? We examine the science behind cuticle oils to determine whether they offer real benefits for nail health or merely cater to an ever-growing appetite for self-care rituals.
Why cuticle care matters
The cuticle is the skin barrier around your nails, warding off foreign particles and microbes from entering and lodging into the delicate nail pocket—the area where the base of your visible nail meets the skin.
“The cuticle takes care of the nail, lending protection from seepage of unnecessary humidity, water or bacterial infection into your nail bed,” explains Mumbai-based cosmetic dermatologist Dr. Sadhana Deshmukh.
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For those who want to use cuticle oils, Dr. Deshmukh warns of a condition called paronychia. Image: Pixabay
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If you’re someone who visits the nail bar on a monthly basis or indulge in a DIY nail refresh at home, looking after your cuticles can become trickier. Image: Unsplash
Daily life alone, even without opting for salon treatments, can leave nails vulnerable. “Frequent hand-washing and application of sanitiser cause the cuticles to become dry, or crack,” says Deshmukh. Complicating matters further, many antibacterial soaps contain triclosan, shown to weaken human skin. Furthermore, alcohol in sanitisers can cause skin flaking and dryness.
If you’re someone who visits the nail bar on a monthly basis or indulge in a DIY nail refresh at home, looking after your cuticles can become trickier. “Manicures involve constant pushing and tugging of the cuticles which can make your nail bed sensitive and make it susceptible to irritation and infection," explains Deshmukh.
Enter: cuticle oils, a simple way to offer your nails care and protection.
Benefits and side-effects of cuticle oils
Most cuticle oils contain essential oils like hemp seed or almond, along with humectants including glycerin, shea butter, and glycerin. The oil-based ingredients can protect the nails, whereas the humectants will moisturise them and hydrate the skin around them.
However, Deshmukh informs that using a hand cream can work just as well. “Hydrating the cuticle is important, and any hand moisturiser can do the job. A cuticle oil may not work for everyone because the greasy ingredients can stay in the nail bed, attracting bacteria and fungi. The cuticle can then become a favourable atmosphere for a lot of germs. So, it depends,” she clarifies.
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Alcohol in sanitisers can cause skin flaking and dryness. Image: Instagram.com/loccitane
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The cuticle is the skin barrier around your nails, warding off foreign particles and microbes from entering and lodging into the delicate nail pocket. Image: Pixabay
Does that mean cuticle oils are a no-no? “If you do not have any cuts or breakage on the cuticle, then maybe you can apply cuticle oil, but I’d recommend a hand moisturiser over it.”
For those who want to use cuticle oils, Deshmukh warns of a condition called paronychia. “Oiling of the cuticle may sometimes cause inflammation, which is referred to as paronychia (infection of the nail bed and the cuticle). Since oil attracts humidity and engenders bacterial growth, oiling of the cuticle may aggravate this condition."
Chronic paronychia can cause swelling of the nail folds, which could have a longstanding impact on your cuticles. So when you use cuticle oils, you have to be sure of using them on clean nails and only when your nails are intact.
8 Best Nail Cuticle Oils
If you want to know whether cuticle oils suit your nails and provide the benefits of a hydrating hand moisturiser minus any side-effects, try incorporating one of these nail cuticle oils into your nighttime skincare routine for healthier nails:
Shea Nail & Cuticle Nourishing Oil, L’Occitane
This nail and cuticle oil by L’Occitane contains 30 per cent shea and sunflower oil. Dry and semi-dry oils like sunflower oil and shea oil moisturise the nails without leaving an oily residue. The brush tip acts as an easy applicator, so you can carry this nail oil on the go, and do not have to worry about dealing with a slippery mess.
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This nail and cuticle oil by L’Occitane contains 30 per cent shea and sunflower oil. Image: Instagram.com/loccitane
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This cuticle oil by Body Shop combines sweet almond oil and olive oil, which is anti-inflammatory and an antioxidant. Image: Instagram.com/allegro
Almond Nail & Cuticle Oil, The Body Shop
This nail and cuticle oil by The Body Shop combines sweet almond oil and olive oil, which is anti-inflammatory and an antioxidant. Sweet almond oil is packed with fatty acids, which helps in aiding eczema and other hand dermatitis conditions that could lead to itching and redness.
Nail Care Cuticle Softener–Cuti Care, Nails Our Way
This formulation claims to prep your nails for nail appointments that involve the dreaded process of cuticle pushing. It will soften the cuticle so that during your acrylic or gel manicure, cuticle pushing doesn’t damage your nails.
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Apply this cuticle oil by Nails Our Way before a nail appointment. Image: Instagram.com/nailsourway
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This nail oil one by Bluesky contains coconut oil, jojoba oil, and sweet almond oil. Image: blueskycolors.com
Cuticle Oil Pen, Bluesky
Another cuticle care product with sweet almond oil, the Bluesky cuticle oil comes in the form of a sleek pen. Coconut oil (anti-inflammatory), jojoba oil (anti-bacterial), and sweet almond oil can be the ideal trifecta for anyone looking to heal damaged cuticles.
Vitamin E Nail & Cuticle Oil, Sally Hansen
This cuticle oil can help with nails that have been impaired by frequent gel application, intricate manicures, and other nail treatments. With coconut oil and apricot oil as dominant ingredients, along with Vitamin E, this product will cushion your nails while helping the cuticle protect your nail plate from fungal infections.
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Sally Hansen's cuticle oil contains Vitamin E, which helps with nail health. Image: Instagram.com/sally_hansen
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Dior's Huile Abricot is a luxurious and silky-textured nail oil. Image: Instagram.com/pinkbox_ch
Huile Abricot, Dior
For those who want to pamper their nails with a luxury product, Dior's apricot oil-enriched concoction oil is loaded with emollients and antioxidants. Just a drop is sufficient to coat your nails with the anti-inflammatory ingredient headlining this formulation. This silky, serum-like texture softens your nails. Just remember to massage the oil on your nails and cuticles in circular motions to ensure the product penetrates thoroughly, considering it’s slightly thicker than the others on the list.
Pro Spa Nail & Cuticle Oil-To-Go, O.P.I
This cuticle oil contains four oils. Sunflower seed oil aids in rebuilding damaged nail beds; grapeseed oil has anti-bacterial properties; sesame oil also protects nails from bacteria while acting as an antioxidant; and avocado oil moisturises nails and keeps them soft.
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The nail oil by O.P.I can help rebuild damaged nail beds and moisturise your nails. Image: Instagram.com/sephorauk
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With organ oil, shea butter, and hyaluronic acid, the hand creams by Moroccanoil combine the benefits of a moisturiser and nail oil. Image: Instagram.com/moroccanoil
Moroccanoil's range of hand creams
Want to skip nail cuticle oil altogether? You can opt for Moroccanoil’s range of hand creams instead. These creams feature a combination of argan oil, hyaluronic acid, and shea butter that nourish, soothe and calm itchy, dry, and irritated skin respectively. Uplifting fragrances and a weightless texture make it the perfect handbag staple for days at the office.
FAQs about cuticle oils
Here are some frequently asked questions related to cuticle oils:
What is cuticle oil made of?
Cuticle oils are usually made of moisturising and hydrating ingredients like shea butter and glycerin, along with essential oils with anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial benefits imparted by sunflower seed, jojoba, almond, and sesame oils.
How do you use cuticle oil?
Wash your hands so that your nails are clean, pat them dry, and then dab some oil on your cuticles (or brush the oil onto them if the cuticle oil comes with an applicator). A drop on each nail should suffice. Massaging it in is key for quicker absorption.
Do you need cuticle oils, or is it an add-on nail-care product?
Cuticle oil is not a necessary nail-care product. However, using it can benefit the health of your cuticles, provided it suits you.
What can you use if you don’t have cuticle oil?
If you don’t have cuticle oil, you can resort to any moisturisers like hand and body butters and lotions.
What precautions should you take while using cuticle oil?
Make sure you do not have any cuts or bruises along your cuticles—it can lead to seepage of oil into your nail bed.
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