It's fair to say that I'm really into nails. I'm constantly painting my own (and friends'), quizzing the nail pros on their hot tips [1], and looking to improve on my skills. Basically, I talk about nails a lot. And in those conversations, the one thing I'm often asked is how I keep my nails fairly long and (for the most part) healthy-looking. One of the main ways? Cuticle oil. And lots of it.
I keep a bottle of cuticle oil by my bed, at my desk at work (or these days, at home), and even in the car (not applying while driving though, of course). You'll find me rubbing the stuff into my cuticles on many occasions throughout the day. Seems like a lot of work, doesn't it? And, well, it is. But for me, it's worth it for the joy I get painting my long nails and prolonging the life of my manicures.
But what does cuticle oil actually do? Quite a lot, as it turns out. It softens and hydrates the cuticle, reduces any hangnails (the hard, torn pieces of skin that surround the sides of the nails and around the cuticle area), promotes nail growth, and also makes excess cuticles easier (and less painful) to push back with a pusher. In addition to this, regular application of oil can extend the life of acrylic [2] and gel nails [3]. Ingredients like jojoba oil are often found in cuticle treatments as it penetrates deeper than other oils, adding flexibility to the nail, which in turn prevents polish from cracking or lifting off the nail. Plus, who doesn't want to get compliments from their manicurist on how well moisturised their cuticles are?
Since it's become so ingrained in my day-to-day routine, I've tried more than my fair share of cuticle oils. If you're searching for a new one, there are two things to keep in mind: how you want to apply it (dropper, brush, pen), and what scent you're looking for (citrus, sweet, or unscented). We're here to help you find the perfect cuticle oil so you can slather the stuff on and have the healthiest nails ever. Read to find out which cuticle oils took top spot among the POPSUGAR editors and a top London-based manicurist.
Dadi'Oil
The Dadi'Oil [5] (£10) is one of my top three favourite cuticle oils ever (and no, it's not because of the name). It's also a favourite of London-based manicurist Kate Williamson [6]. "It's the original 'every nail tech has in their kit' oil," Williamson said. The reason? It contains a whopping 21 essential oils. "It smells delicious and is super hydrating for thirsty cuticles screaming for some TLC," Williamson added.
Harriet Elizabeth Cuticle Oil
Harriet Elizabeth Cuticle Oil [7] (£12) might be fairly new but it's fast become an absolute favourite of mine. It's packed full of argan, avocado, jojoba, and sesame seed oils making it incredibly hydrating. But, in my opinion, the best part of this oil is the geranium, lemongrass, and sweet orange scent, which is similar to Lush's Lemony Flutter. The dropper is quite large so one tiny drop is enough for five nails.
Cienna Rose The Elixir Nourishing Cuticle Oil
The Cienna Rose The Elixir Nourishing Cuticle Oil [8] (£9.50) is a star product from the British, all-vegan brand. The sweet, lemon-scented oil intensely hydrates the cuticles, thanks to its concoction of pro vitamin B5, vitamin E, lemongrass oil, and sweet almond oil.
Nailberry Little Treasure Nourishing Cuticle Oil
My little deskside pal, the Nailberry Little Treasure Nourishing Cuticle Oil [9] (£15.50) may be mini, but it's a powerful nail treatment. The formula contains sweet almond and castor oils, which helps promote nail growth and repair brittle nails. It's got a small dropper applicator, meaning it's hard to squidge out too much oil; a quarter of a pipette is enough cover all of your nails.
Opi Prospa Nail and Cuticle Oil To-Go
The Opi Prospa Nail and Cuticle Oil To-Go [10] (£11) is the oil I keep by my bedside, thanks to the handy brush applicator. Before bed, I like to avoid that really oily, liquidy formula because it's not ideal having my Kindle slip out of my hands and potentially onto my face. This distributes enough oil to cover the entire cuticle, but with a rich formula that's thick enough that it doesn't drip down my fingers (and, if you were wondering, the formula contains avocado lipids, sunflower oil, sesame oil, and kukui nut oil). It's also relatively unscented, which I like since I use a heavily scented hand cream before bed, too.
Nails Inc Vitamin E Oil Pen
The Nails Inc Vitamin E Oil Pen [11] (£14.50) is Williamson's favourite on-to-go cuticle solution. "Since it doesn't leak, it's a great option to keep in your handbag or car, for the moments when you may be tempted to pick at your nails," she said.
Cuccio Milk and Honey Cuticle Oil
The Cuccio Milk and Honey Cuticle Oil [12] (£8) is as divine as the name suggests with a light, sweet scent. It contains a cocktail of cuticle-loving ingredients like safflower oil, sunflower oil, and cotton seed oil, as well as the lactic acid from milk, which helps remove dead skin cells, and, of course, honey (hence the name), as it's a natural humectant that helps with hydration.
CND Vinylux Solar Oil Nail and Cuticle Care Pen
The reason the CND Vinylux Solar Oil Nail and Cuticle Care Pen [13] (£10) is so great is all thanks to the "solar oil blend", which is a combination of jojoba oil, sweet almond oil, and vitamin E for the most hydrating mix of ingredients. The blend of superlight oils makes it a powerful solution to those with very dry or damaged cuticles.
Deborah Lippmann Cuticle Oil
The Deborah Lippmann Cuticle Oil [14] (£18) contains hydrating jojoba oil, coconut oil, and vitamin E to hydrate the cuticles without leaving a greasy residue. It's a perfect option if you're looking for something to deeply moisturise your nails without the hassle of oily fingertips.
Essie Nail Care Cuticle Oil Apricot Treatment
The Essie Nail Care Cuticle Oil Apricot Treatment [15] (£9) isn't just a pretty bottle — the apricot kernel oil (which gives it the incredible orange hue) and jojoba oil help to deeply hydrate the entire cuticle area, and leave a sweet, apricot scent. It has an easy-to-use brush applicator that is slimmer and longer than a traditional nail polish brush, if you don't fancy the faff of a dropper.
Margaret Dabbs London Nourishing Nail and Cuticle Serum Pen
Podiatrist Margaret Dabbs's pedicures are the stuff of beauty legend lauded by beauty editors on both sides of the Atlantic. Now she's got nine luxury clinics in the UK and a vast range of hand and foot products, many of which focus on both providing nourishment and antibacterial properties. The Margaret Dabbs London Nourishing Nail and Cuticle Serum Pen [16]'s (£12) signature ingredient is emu oil. It's packed full of fatty acids that sinks into the skin instantly, and is also known for its healing properties. The nifty pen makes it easy to apply wherever you are without the possibility any greasy oil spillages.
Lanolips 101 Ointment
Not a fan of oils? We get it. If you're a multiuse product kind of person, Williamson suggests the Lanolips 101 Ointment [17] (£11). This does-it-all, fragrance-free balm isn't just kind to your wallet (no need to buy different products for different uses), it's kind to your cuticles (and hands, and lips and skin). It's a great option if you have extremely dry skin around your nails and along your knuckles, too.
Sally Hansen Vitamin E Nail and Cuticle Oil
The Sally Hansen Vitamin E Nail and Cuticle Oil [18] (£7) is a perfect oil to use as the final step in your at-home manicure routine. It contains an essential oil complex of vitamin E, wheat germ, apricot kernel, and aloe vera, which can be easily swiped across the entire cuticle with its brush applicator.
Burt's Bees Lemon Butter Cuticle Cream
Not a fan of droppers, brushes, or pens? The Burt's Bees Lemon Butter Cuticle Cream [19] (£4) smells delicious, isn't greasy, and comes housed in a very cute tin. It contains cocoa seed butter and sunflower oil (which is rich in omega-3 fatty acids and vitamin E) to intensely moisturise the skin around the nails.
Dior Huile Abricot Nail Serum
Dior Huile Abricot Nail Serum [20] (£22) is a beautiful cuticle oil packed with argan oil, camellia oil, and apricot oil for maximum hydration. Its easy and mess-free brush applicator makes it perfect for on-the-go, at your desk, or by your bedside.