I'm not a professional when it comes to nail grooming and cuticle care but, I've tried a whole slew of cuticle oils and treatments in an effort to keep them looking presentable, if not perfect. Read on to see some of my favorite cuticle oils, creams and treatments that I almost, always reach for. I'm not going into hand creams and nail treatments here - more on that in a later post!
To Remove & Push Back Cuticles - Sally Hansen Instant Cuticle Remover ($5).
One of the most potent cuticle removers out there! This stuff is awesome if you have thick, dry cuticles that won't budge. The squeeze tube is so convenient to apply precisely on the cuticles. After completely removing polish, I apply this, wait for a few seconds and push back cuticles gently. I never completely remove them. I only push back gently with a metal pusher and remove excess product with a soft, lint-free cotton round. For soft, lint-free cotton rounds, try ones by The Body Shop or Delon, which is super affordable & sold in bulk, on and off at Costco and some smaller Beauty Supply stores. I like to get the soft versions as they tend not to leave behind fuzzy bits. If metal pushers are not your thing, you could use plastic, wood or just plain cotton wrapped around a wooden stick to push back cuticles too.
The Sally Hansen Cuticle Remover Does not remove or dissolve, but helps loosen up cuticles so they are easy to work with. Alternatively, you could also push them back and keep them in shape after a hot shower when skin is delicate.
To Scrub Away Dry, Flaky Skin - L'Occitane One Minute Hand Scrub ($22) and Crabtree and Evelyn Pomegranate, Argan & Grapeseed Hand Recovery ($7 - $26).
If you don't have the problem of ragged cuticles recurring often, you can use one of these scrubs to scrub away dry skin on hands and cuticles. The Crabtree & Evelyn one is a tad lighter than the heavy duty L'Occitane One Minute hand scrub that is ultra nourishing. Both products smell amazing and leave skin and cuticles soft and smooth. I like to use them maybe once or twice a week as my skin tends to get really dry this time of the year.
To Moisturize & Maintain - Burt's Bees Lemon Butter Cuticle Cream ($5.99), Qtica Intense Cuticle Repair Balm ($14 - $18, qtica.com) and CND Solar Oil ($3 - $48).
I love all these for a quick fix or anytime my cuticles need a good dose of moisture. Just take a small amount and massage into nails and cuticles. The heaviest and the most effective of them all is the Qtica Intense Cuticle Repair Balm. It is a thick cream with a super strong scent that takes a long time to absorb. It is better suited as an overnight treatment and is extremely effective at moisturizing the cuticle area. It is an intense, greasy cuticle balm that provides relief to the driest of cuticles and leaves them looking fab!
The Burt's Bees Lemon Butter Cuticle Cream is a tad lighter. The waxy balm does feel slightly oily, but sinks in well when massaged in properly. It smells fantastic and the balm itself is loaded with natural ingredients. I am already on my third tin now, so that should say how much I love it.
The lightest of all is the CND Solar Oil. It absorbs super fast and is great for use any time of the year, especially during the day. It does have a strong, almond smell that fades pretty soon. For something that feels light, it sure is super effective on dry, ragged cuticles. You could apply it and not worry about icky finger marks or a greasy residue!
So, those were some of my favourite, most used cuticle treatments, balms and oils. I always like to follow up with a good hand cream, but laziness wins the battle most of the times and I end up doing neither. When I take time out to maintain, my cuticles look great even in winter. Which of these products have you tried? What are some of your favorites?
To Remove & Push Back Cuticles - Sally Hansen Instant Cuticle Remover ($5).
One of the most potent cuticle removers out there! This stuff is awesome if you have thick, dry cuticles that won't budge. The squeeze tube is so convenient to apply precisely on the cuticles. After completely removing polish, I apply this, wait for a few seconds and push back cuticles gently. I never completely remove them. I only push back gently with a metal pusher and remove excess product with a soft, lint-free cotton round. For soft, lint-free cotton rounds, try ones by The Body Shop or Delon, which is super affordable & sold in bulk, on and off at Costco and some smaller Beauty Supply stores. I like to get the soft versions as they tend not to leave behind fuzzy bits. If metal pushers are not your thing, you could use plastic, wood or just plain cotton wrapped around a wooden stick to push back cuticles too.
The Sally Hansen Cuticle Remover Does not remove or dissolve, but helps loosen up cuticles so they are easy to work with. Alternatively, you could also push them back and keep them in shape after a hot shower when skin is delicate.
To Scrub Away Dry, Flaky Skin - L'Occitane One Minute Hand Scrub ($22) and Crabtree and Evelyn Pomegranate, Argan & Grapeseed Hand Recovery ($7 - $26).
If you don't have the problem of ragged cuticles recurring often, you can use one of these scrubs to scrub away dry skin on hands and cuticles. The Crabtree & Evelyn one is a tad lighter than the heavy duty L'Occitane One Minute hand scrub that is ultra nourishing. Both products smell amazing and leave skin and cuticles soft and smooth. I like to use them maybe once or twice a week as my skin tends to get really dry this time of the year.
To Moisturize & Maintain - Burt's Bees Lemon Butter Cuticle Cream ($5.99), Qtica Intense Cuticle Repair Balm ($14 - $18, qtica.com) and CND Solar Oil ($3 - $48).
I love all these for a quick fix or anytime my cuticles need a good dose of moisture. Just take a small amount and massage into nails and cuticles. The heaviest and the most effective of them all is the Qtica Intense Cuticle Repair Balm. It is a thick cream with a super strong scent that takes a long time to absorb. It is better suited as an overnight treatment and is extremely effective at moisturizing the cuticle area. It is an intense, greasy cuticle balm that provides relief to the driest of cuticles and leaves them looking fab!
The Burt's Bees Lemon Butter Cuticle Cream is a tad lighter. The waxy balm does feel slightly oily, but sinks in well when massaged in properly. It smells fantastic and the balm itself is loaded with natural ingredients. I am already on my third tin now, so that should say how much I love it.
The lightest of all is the CND Solar Oil. It absorbs super fast and is great for use any time of the year, especially during the day. It does have a strong, almond smell that fades pretty soon. For something that feels light, it sure is super effective on dry, ragged cuticles. You could apply it and not worry about icky finger marks or a greasy residue!
So, those were some of my favourite, most used cuticle treatments, balms and oils. I always like to follow up with a good hand cream, but laziness wins the battle most of the times and I end up doing neither. When I take time out to maintain, my cuticles look great even in winter. Which of these products have you tried? What are some of your favorites?
I am really thinking about picking up that Sally Hansen Instant Cuticle Remover! To hydrate my cuticles, right now, all I use is vaseline.. It's my cure-all. :P
ReplyDeleteThat cuticle remover is awesome! Do check it out :)
DeleteI've always wanted to try the Burt's Bees cuticle balm! I really like the sound of the Crabtree & Eveyln cream as well - that range smells lovely :)
ReplyDeleteVery helpful! I`ve got lots of problems with my cuticle and I`d like to try this waxy balm with lemon.
ReplyDeleteLike your blog and will follow you! I`m from Russia, Moscow, my real name is Elena, I`ve got 2 blogs - devoted to cosmetics and style and another one is about our romantic voyages all over the world. Nice to meet you :)
CND where is it available??
ReplyDelete