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All in your hands. Therefore, they must be in perfect order! Beautiful and well-groomed, with a neat manicure … We tell you how to achieve this, and choose cosmetic assistants. Let’s start with cuticle oil.
What is cuticle oil good for?
Cuticle oil (or, as it is also called, manicure oil):
moisturizes and nourishes;
softens and soothes the skin;
prevents dryness;
promotes the restoration of nails and cuticles;
Helps maintain well-groomed hands.
In general, the thing is extremely necessary and useful. Which cuticle oil is best, you decide for yourself, and we will help you navigate the choice.
Cuticle oil should be used at least a couple of times a week.
Which cuticle oil to choose?
All cuticle care products can be divided into two large groups. The first one is natural oils and esters. They can be mixed with each other or used “solo”. And you can add other plant components and vitamins to them, thus inventing your own nourishing cuticle oil.
The second group is cosmetic oils for nails and cuticles of industrial production. Hypoallergenic, balanced and, in our opinion, more effective than home remedies. There are oils for cuticles and nails with vitamins, there are with the addition of fruit acids that soften the skin roller so that it can be easily moved with a wooden stick and polished. Which cuticle oil is best to use depends on the task that you set for it and your preferences. And even on where and how you will apply it. For example, in nail salons, oil is squeezed out of large bottles with dispensers, miniature vials with pipettes are good for the home, and when traveling it is more convenient to use “pencils” with a tightly screwed cap. Our review will help you make the right choice.
Natural oils
What oil to choose for cuticles? Yes, in general, any: each of them is good in itself.
Basic
Sesame The perfect winter oil. Well nourishes and moisturizes the skin, has antimicrobial properties. By the way, sesame oil is part of most popular industrial cuticle oils.
Jojoba oil nourishes both the skin roller and the nail plate itself, makes the nails stronger, stimulates their growth.
Grape seed oil – vitamins C, D, E and polyphenols included in its composition are excellent antioxidants. They not only moisturize, but also strengthen the skin around the nail. Another important advantage of grape oil is that it almost does not smell.
Olive – ideal base oil. Moisturizes, nourishes, goes well with other oils.
Coconut – Moisturizes and nourishes the skin, softens the cuticle well. Strengthens the structure of nails, smoothes their surface, gives smoothness and shine.
It is important to note that almost all vegetable oils contain vitamin E. And sometimes it is added additionally. Oil with vitamin E strengthens weak nails, moisturizes dry, cracked skin, promotes its regeneration.
Lavender oil not only moisturizes, but also soothes the cuticle. If the skin around the nail is dry, flaky, this oil is for you.
Lemon oil softens the cuticle and improves the condition of the nails – gives them shine, removes yellowness, strengthens and evens out.
Eucalyptus oil – a well-known antiseptic, it perfectly fights infections, relieves inflammation. It also activates blood flow in the skin around the nails, accelerating its renewal.
Tea tree oil makes the cuticle softer and more supple, has an anti-inflammatory effect.
Essential oils are highly active, so they are not applied directly to the skin, but are added drop by drop to the base oils.
Cosmetic oils for nails and cuticles
“Shop” oils for nail and cuticle care may contain natural oils, plant extracts, and useful supplements – vitamins and amino acids. It is very convenient – you do not need to mix anything. And the effectiveness of ready-made products has been proven not by a friend or neighbor, but by special studies. A separate bonus is a pleasant fragrance. Some natural oils smell, frankly, not very much. Shop-bought ones don’t have this problem.
Some cuticle oils contain fruit acids that soften the skin. It is very difficult to make such a remedy at home – there is a risk of getting a dangerous substance: in high concentrations, fruit acids can cause a chemical burn. Therefore, we at Healthy-Food recommend using only industrial designs to soften the cuticle – twice a week, combining this procedure with nail and hand skin care.
Fruit acids in cuticle oils help to soften the skin.
How to take care of cuticles?
How to choose the right cuticle oil, we found out. Now a little about how to take care of her in general, so that her hands look “one hundred percent”.
Never do not cut the cuticle with nail scissors – only with special tweezers, having previously treated them with an antiseptic. “Bite off” the skin gently, little by little, and exclusively “old”, which crawled onto the nail and easily moves away. In general, for an independent manicure, an unedged version, when the cuticle softened with the help of a special tool, is pushed back with an orange tree stick, is preferable. After all, the more we cut the cuticle, the faster it grows.
If the skin around the nail is inflamed, wait until it’s over, and only then do a manicure.
As we wrote, Moisturizing cuticle and nail oil should be used at least a couple of times a week. Moreover, it is important to rub it into the skin with light, gentle movements, and not just apply it with a cotton swab.
Taking care of cuticles do not forget about the skin of the hands. Ideally, the cream should be used after each contact with water.
Tips for using cuticle oil start with, “Drip the cuticle oil onto a cotton pad and wipe the base of the nail with it.” But you can apply it on a cotton swab or a thin brush and lubricate her skin. If there is no ready-made oil at hand, dip a cotton pad in any base oil with a few drops of essential oil. Then you need to gently rub the oil into the skin to increase blood flow. Wait 2-3 minutes, and then carefully remove the cuticle.
Below are products that we at Healthy-Food dearly love and recommend for hand skin care in general and cuticles in particular.
Regenerating hand cream “Intensive care”, Garnier
It contains allantoin, which has a healing ability, and glycerin, which moisturizes the skin of the hands and strengthens its hydrolipid mantle.
Hand cream Biomains, Biotherm
Cares not only for the skin of the hands, but also for nails and cuticles. Thanks to its soft creamy texture, it absorbs quickly without leaving a sticky film.
Moisturizing hand cream Confort Crème Mains, Lancôme
The main role is acacia honey, which makes the skin of the hands silky. The tool is comfortable to use, and what a wonderful smell it has!
Cream-barrier for hands Cicaplast, La Roche-Posay
Hydrates, soothes and improves skin regeneration. Niacinamide also has a calming effect.
Dr. Rescue SOS cuticle pencil, Maybelline New York
Shea butter in its composition perfectly nourishes and softens. An effective and, importantly, convenient cuticle care product.
Summary results
What is cuticle oil, for nails?
It hydrates and nourishes the cuticle, the small strip of skin at the base of the nail that protects it from germs and bacteria, helping it grow strong and healthy.
What is the best cuticle oil to use?
Better – industrial production, because it has a balanced composition, proven safety and effectiveness. Choose whichever you like best in terms of ease of use and fragrance. If there is no ready-made cuticle oil on hand, you can mix any base oil with a few drops of essential oil. For example, sesame oil with eucalyptus oil, or olive oil with tea tree oil, or coconut oil with lemon oil – the options are countless.
What is cuticle oil?
The most common are moisturizing and nourishing oils. There are products with restorative properties, with vitamins and antioxidants. And even with the addition of fruit acids, which additionally soften the cuticle and allow it to be easily moved with an orange stick or removed with wire cutters.
How to properly care for cuticles?
Three basic rules:
do not cut the cuticle with nail scissors, but gently bite off with special nippers or push back with an orange stick;
do not do a manicure if the skin around the nail is inflamed or irritated, wait for healing;
don’t forget to rub the hand cream into the skin around the nails – ideally, it should be used after each contact with water.