Cuticle oil is a product that moisturizes your cuticles and nails to keep them healthy. Those of us who are constantly exposed to sunlight and harsh environment, and/or use alkali products (e.g. soapy water, soap, and detergent) on a regular basis can try cuticle oil to reduce the alkali effect on their nails and cuticles, and reap other benefits of cuticle oil.
Cuticle oil is made up of vegetable oils, vitamins, and citric acid. Besides many other medical benefits of cuticle oil, it can help your nail regrow and reduce any signs of abnormalities. Similar to evening primrose, this is an effective moisturizing product that also helps enhance the overall appearance and beauty of your nails. Aside from these many benefits, it protects your nail polish and gives an extra shine.
What is Cuticle Oil?
Cuticle oil is mainly a combination of vegetable oils, essential oils (such as jojoba or Vitamin E oil) and butter. It is a thin mixture which helps your nail and skin absorb the oil particles. Thus, nails and cuticles get moisturized. As you can see, cuticle oil is a nail care product that fights any fungal infection, dryness, and regrowth problems in your nails.
Cuticle Oil Benefits
There are many health benefits of cuticle oil. As you already know, it nourishes your nails and the surrounding skin. However, other major cuticle oil benefits are:
Protect & Repair
Cuticle oil stimulates blood flow under your nail and the surrounding areas and fingers. This enhances the growth process of new cells. The anti-inflammatory quality, which reduces any skin irritation or fungal infection, is one of the notable benefits of cuticle oil.
Moisturize
Regular use of our hands and fingers often cause dryness, scratches, and dead skin. Dry skin, irritating feelings, and dead cuticles can lead to nail problems or the nails pulling away. Regular application of cuticle oil can help with these issues with their deep moisturizing ability.
Healthy Nail Surroundings
Cuticle oil also keeps your eponychium skin healthy and moisturized. Many of us confuse eponychium with cuticles. Cuticles are the white dead part of your nails while eponychium is the live skin surrounding your nails. It is not only your nails and cuticles, but the eponychium and the surrounding nail skin do also get repaired by cuticle oil application.
Manicure
We all know that manicure is incomplete without any cuticle oil application. Using cuticle oil after removing the old polish will help enhance the shininess of your nails. After clipping, filing and buffing your nails, you should apply cuticle oil with a cuticle stick. Also, you can easily check the manicure quality by comparing cuticle oil before or after polish.
Essential Oils for Cuticles
Cuticle oil usually is made of combining many essential vegetable oils. In addition to that, many other essential oils are added to boost the fragrance or the therapeutic value of the oil. You can make your own cuticle oil if you know the products used in the making of cuticle oil. The common ingredients of cuticle nail oil are mentioned below.
Jojoba Oil
Jojoba oil is well known for its moisturizing and emollient properties. It is used in almost every medicine & beauty products. lotion, bath gel, lip conditioner, make-up remover – you name it. Jojoba oil is extracted from the Jojoba plant. Technically speaking, it is not an oil but a liquid plant wax.
Almond Oil
Almond oil is one of the main essential oils for cuticles. They have huge therapeutic value. Almond oil can heal and repair your skin if there is any scratch or crack. It works as a shield for your nail bed from harsh outer environmental effects.
Vitamin E Oil
The effectiveness of vitamin E for healthy hair and skin is undoubted. Vitamin E oil is great for curing any nail infections. Besides the medical benefits, vitamin E oil also has moisturizing benefits. The addition of Vitamin E oil as an ingredient is essential for any cuticle oil recipe and for pedicures and manicures as well.
Sesame Oil
Sesame oil is used in a very little portion when essential oils for cuticles are made. Despite this, sesame oil enhances the overall quality of any cuticle oil to a great extent. It is rich in antioxidants which reduce gradual aging effects and the oxidative stress effects on your skin.
Tea Tree Oil
Tea tree oil has rich antioxidant, antifungal, and antibacterial properties. These medical qualities make it one of the most popular and effective oils good for nails. Most cuticle oil brands in the market use tea tree oil in their products. Tea tree oil boosts the nail growth process and prevents the chance of any accidental breakage.
Cocoa Butter
Cocoa butter is one of the most available and effective natural skin moisturizers. It melts down in normal room temperature and best for home uses. If you are making your own cuticle oil, cocoa butter should be in your ingredient list.
Coconut Oil
Coconut oil is another base product of cuticle oil making process. The high antifungal and moisturizing qualities of coconut oil, make your nails healthier, shinier and less brittle.
Aloe Vera Gel
A little inclusion of the aloe vera gel to the cuticle oil can help prevent redness on or inflammation of your nails and cuticles. This natural healing gel is so potent that a small amount is enough to make the cuticle oil a lot more effective.
DIY Cuticle Oil Recipe
Cuticle oil actually is very easy to make. You can make your own cuticle oil at home with any easy cuticle oil recipe. For the best nail cuticle oil DIY project, you will need:
- 1 tablespoon of Jojoba oil
- 1 tablespoon of Almond oil
- 10 drops of Lemon juice
- 1 teaspoon of Coconut oil
- 3 drops of Aloe Vera Gel
- 3 drops of Vitamin E oil
- 5 drops of Tea Tree oil
- 1 teaspoon of Liquid Cocoa Butter
- 2 or 3 drops of any fragrance (optional)
Directions
- Take a 25ml or 30ml storage bottle with a watertight top
- Remove the top and pour all the ingredients into the bottle with a syringe
- Close the bottle with its watertight cap
- Now grab the bottle carefully and shake it thoroughly for 2 minutes
- Keep it in a dry place in room temperature for one night so the oil components can synergize
- Your DIY cuticle oil is ready to use!
How to Use Cuticle Oil?
Step 1: First remove nail polish from your nails, if any
Step 2: Wash your hands and nails with soapy water and dry them with a towel
Step 3: Shake the cuticle oil bottle before use and lay your palm with your nails facing upward
Step 4: Take a cuticle stick or cotton bud and dip it down into the oil. Slowly apply the oil with the bud or stick on your nails, cuticle area, and the surrounding skin
Step 5: Dib the bud back into the oil bottle if it gets dry. Continue till you’re done applying on all your nails
Step 6: Wipe any excess oil from your hand
Step 7: Apply it at night and you can also use a moisturizer to get the best results
To conclude, cuticle oil has many benefits to offer, allowing you to keep shiny nails with healthy cuticles. You can take cuticle oil supplements or make your own cuticle oil using this easy-to-make DIY cuticle oil recipe. There are no specific guidelines on how often should you use cuticle oil. You can try this oil once a week to get your desired results. Just give it a try to keep your cuticles healthy in all seasons. I am sure that this will help remove your doubts about, “does cuticle oil strengthen nails?”
