Genetics may have given me long natural nails, but treating them daily to a drop or two of my favorite cuticle oil has kept them ready for manicures. Last summer, a cross-country move led to some major nail breakage, which started happening around the same time I packed up all my nailcare essentials… including my cuticle oil. When I finally broke my favorite products out of their moving box, I resumed my nightly routine of applying cuticle oil before bed. Within weeks, my nail growth doubled, and my cuticles felt soft and smooth.
Yes, taking long breaks between gel manicure appointments and treating your hands to luxe creams and paraffin wax treatments come with endless benefits for both your nails and cuticles, but investing in a good cuticle oil can be the reason you achieve the manicure of your dreams. Interested in learning more about cuticle oil? Scroll on to hear from two nail specialists about what makes this underrated product the best thing you can do for the health of your cuticles and nails.
What is cuticle oil, and where does it belong in my nailcare routine?
There's a good chance you've seen cuticle oil lining the walls of your favorite beauty suppliers and drugstores, but it's important to know why it's a must-have step in any nailcare routine. According to DND Gel nail artist Lauren Ortega, cuticle oil is exactly what you'd expect it to be. "It's an oil or combination of oils that aim to moisturize and nourish the cuticles," she explains. Orly global educator Julie Ventura agrees, further cementing its golden role in your manicure lineup. "Cuticle oil (or nail oil) is designed not only to prevent hangnails and dry skin surrounding the nail, but it actually extends the wear of your manicure by keeping your polish or gel as flexible as your nail plate so it bends with your nail (not against it)—leading to less chipping," Ventura adds.
What should I look for in cuticle oil?
As you may have already guessed, there are a number of ingredients used in some of the best formulas on the market that will support the health of your cuticles and nails. One of the most popular natural oils you'll see in these products is argan oil, which is rich in antioxidants, vitamin E, and fatty acids that can keep your cuticles hydrated and moisturized, so there will be no painful cracking or dryness. Gentle vegetable oils like those derived from apricot kernels are powered by bioactive compounds that are hydrating, nourishing, antibacterial, and anti-inflammatory. Aloe vera, a botanical oil, is another ingredient frequently found in cuticle oils that not only encourages healthy nail and cuticle growth but also has antioxidant benefits that prevent dry, brittle cuticles.
When should cuticle oil be used?
Alright, we've got the basics down, but how and when should it actually be used? When her clients ask this question, Ortega advises reaching for cuticle oil once or twice a day and focusing product application under the nails to keep them from separating, which is especially crucial during the winter months. Being mindful about when cuticle oil is applied in your routine can also make a difference in the finished result. "It should be applied after handwashing or showering to lock in all that hydration at least two times per day," Ventura tells me. It's also worth noting that cuticle oil can be used on bare nails, with manicures, and in between manicures daily.
Keep scrolling to discover which cuticle oils should be in your nailcare routine based on expert picks, beauty-editor favorites, and glowing customer reviews.
The Best Cuticle Oils, Listed
- Best for Fortifying Nail Beds: DND Pineapple Cuticle Oil
- Best for Delivering Instant Moisture: CND SolarOil Nail Cuticle Care
- Best for Combating Environmental Stressors: Kur by Londontown Nourishing Cuticle Oil
- Best for Softening Cuticles: Orly Argan Oil Cuticle Drops
- Best for Bestowing Glow: Tenoverten The Celery Oil
Best for Preventing Breakage: Sally Hansen Vitamin E Cuticle Oil
This budget-friendly cuticle oil by Sally Hansen provides deep moisture to nail beds and cuticles using a nourishing blend of vitamin E, apricot kernel oil, aloe vera. The perfect base for bare nails or a flawless manicure, it keeps hands looking salon-fresh with a simple step.
Key Ingredients: Apricot kernel oil, vitamin E, aloe vera
Product Details: 0.45-ounce bottle
Pros: Conditions and softens cuticles while preventing nail breakage
Cons: Does not absorb instantly into the cuticles
Best for Fortifying Nail Beds: DND Pineapple Cuticle Oil
Boasting essential nutrients to keep your nails and cuticles nourished and hydrated, this is Ortega's top pick for a cuticle oil that's sure to level up any nailcare routine. "It smells great and moisturizes well," says Ortega. "I also love using a little jojoba oil when I'm running low on my favorite."
Key Ingredients: Aloe vera, argan oil, oat oil, avocado oil, chamomile oil, sunflower-seed oil, mineral oil
Product Details: 0.60-ounce bottle with a fan brush
Pros: Fortifies, nourishes, and protects nails and cuticles with a vitamin-packed formula
Cons: None
Best for a Multistep Cuticlecare Routine: Gaoy Cuticle Care Kit
If your cuticles need extra help in the moisture department, investing in a nailcare system like this one by Gaoy can keep them healthy. The cuticle oil's mild formula powered by nonirritating ingredients promotes natural nail growth, and the cuticle remover repairs and softens cuticles.
Key Ingredients: Sunflower oil, safflower oil, apricot kernel oil, vitamin E
Product Details: two 0.10-ounce bottles with fan brushes
Pros: Softens and repairs damaged nails with ingredients that are nonirritating to skin
Cons: The cuticle oil can't be bought separately through major retailers
Best for Sealing In Moisture: Mineral Fusion Cuticle Oil Treatment
Mineral Fusion's naturally derived cuticle oil speeds up the drying time of freshly applied nail polish while keeping it protected from chipping. Applying one small drop to the center of freshly cleaned nails delivers the nourishing benefits of sweet almond and lemon oils.
Key Ingredients: Sweet almond oil, lemon oil
Product Details: 0.33-ounce bottle with fan brush
Pros: Nourishes and soothes nails and cuticles with a 99% naturally derived formula
Cons: None
Best for Manicure Preparation: Essie Apricot Cuticle Oil
If you ask any beauty editor, there's a good chance they'll tell you that this is one of the first cuticle oils they tried when they began to focus on nailcare. The Apricot Cuticle Oil supports nails and cuticles with a quick-absorbing and moisturizing blend of apricot kernel and jojoba oils.
Key Ingredients: Apricot kernel oil, jojoba oil
Product Details: 0.46-ounce bottle with a fan brush
Pros: Absorbs quickly to condition and protect cuticles from dryness
Cons: Frequent reapplication during the day needed for long-lasting hydration
Best for Delivering Instant Moisture: CND SolarOil Nail Cuticle Care
Looking for a cuticle oil you can trust to instantly deliver intense moisture? This one is designed to soften cuticles and support nail growth by blending naturally light oils and vitamin E together. Try applying this daily to the top and underside of nails, then gently massage into skin for the best results.
Key Ingredients: Jojoba oil, vitamin E, sweet almond oil, rice bran oil
Product Details: 0.25-ounce bottle with fan brush (offered in additional sizes)
Pros: Designed to deeply penetrate and condition skin and nails
Cons: None
Best for Repairing Damaged Nails: Duri French Herbs Cuticle Oil
Designed to maintain and repair cuticles, the French Herbs Cuticle Oil is enriched with a revitalizing blend of natural oils, extracts, and vitamins that will leave your cuticles and nails healthy. Apply a few drops of it directly to your cuticles using the flat fan applicator brush for a flawless finish..
Key Ingredients: Natural extracts, oils, vitamins
Product Details: 0.50-ounce bottle with a fan brush
Pros: Deeply moisturizes the nail plate to stimulate growth
Cons: The first application left my cuticles needing more
Best for Promoting Healthy Nail Growth: Ella + Mila Oil Me Up Lavender Cuticle Oil
Weak, thin, and splitting nails don't have a chance against this cuticle oil. It has a formula filled with ingredients to support the nails and cuticles (with safflower-seed oil at its heart) to promote healthy nail growth. This one also helps restore flexibility.
Key Ingredients: Safflower-seed oil, vitamin E
Product Details: 0.45-ounce bottle with a fan brush
Pros: Formula uses vitamin E to promote healthier nail growth
Cons: None
Best for Replenishing Hydration: OPI ProSpa Nail Cuticle Oil
Designed to nourish and protect the skin, OPI's best-selling nail and cuticle oil is a must for instantly replenishing hydration levels. Crafted with a blend of vitamin E and a combination of moisturizing and softening oils, this is a cuticle oil that should always be part of your post-manicure routine.
Key Ingredients: Kukui oil, grape-seed oil, sunflower oil, sesame oil, vitamin E
Product Details: 0.50-ounce bottle with a fan brush
Pros: Replenishes moisture in the nails and cuticles with a fast-absorbing formula
Cons: None
Best for Restoring a Healthy Appearance: Sally Hansen Cuticle Rehab
Treat your damaged, dry cuticles to this fast-absorbing cuticle oil. By fusing the benefits of jasmine and rose extracts with vitamin E, it soothes and calms cuticles while delivering a wave of hydration to combat dryness. It's also easy to use on the go since it delivers mess-free, precise application.
Key Ingredients: Jasmine extracts, rose extracts, vitamin E
Product Details: squeezable tube with brush
Pros: Fast-absorbing formula delivers instantly healthier-looking, smoother cuticles
Cons: Not ideal for those sensitive to fragrance (has a fresh floral scent)
Best for Softening Cuticles: Orly Argan Oil Cuticle Drops
This one uses argan oil to keep the skin around your nails moisturized and hangnail-free, and jojoba oil locks in hydration by penetrating top layers of the nail plate. "I always recommend an oil that can penetrate the surface layers of your lacquer and nails like Orly's Argan Oil Cuticle Drops," says Ventura.
Key Ingredients: Argan oil, jojoba oil, vitamin E
Product Details: 0.6-ounce bottle with dropper
Pros: Nourishes and conditions cuticles while promoting healthy nail growth
Cons: None
Best for Protection From Daily Stress: Manucurist Green Care Nail Cuticle Oil
Combining six botanical oils ranging from vitamin-rich almond to baobab seed, Manucurist's Green Care Nail Cuticle Oil provides deep hydration, nourishment, and protection for your daily stressors. It also has a delicate orange blossom scent that lingers behind.
Key Ingredients: Sweet almond oil, kukui-nut oil, baobab-seed oil, walnut oil, passion fruit oil, coconut oil
Product Details: 0.50-ounce bottle with dropper
Pros: Regenerates and nourishes nails for healthy growth with a nonstick finish
Cons: None
Best for Purifying Cuticles: Gelcare Cuticle Oil
Did you know some cuticle oils can purify your nails and cuticles? Gelcare's Cuticle Oil, for example, uses a formula filled with ingredients to support the health of your nail and cuticles. The presence of rosemary and tea tree oils in this one makes it perfect for gentle purification.
Key Ingredients: Geranium extract, peony extract, rosemary oil, tea tree oil
Product Details: 0.51-ounce bottle with dropper
Pros: Dropper provides easy, mess-free application of cuticle oil formula
Cons: None
Best for Combating Environmental Stressors: Kur by Londontown Nourishing Cuticle Oil
Londontown's lightweight Florium-infused formula is not only one of the most aesthetic cuticle oils I've come across, but it also happens to be a must-have for softer, healthier-looking cuticles. Applying a small amount daily over bare nails or polish promotes deep moisture.
Key Ingredients: Jojoba sweet almond, rice bran oils, rapeseed-flower oil, cucumber extract, garlic extract, evening primrose oil, chamomile extract, vitamin E
Product Details: 0.4-ounce bottle with dropper
Pros: Restores nails from daily damage, acrylics, and UV gels
Cons: Not ideal for those sensitive to fragrance (has a herbaceous scent)
Best for On-the-Go Application: L'Occitane Shea Nail Cuticle Oil
Shea oil can support the health of your skin, so why would you skip adding it to your cuticles and nails? One of the best shea-infused cuticle oils on the market is this one that deeply conditions them with a fast-absorbing formula for a healthier appearance.
Key Ingredients: Shea oil, apricot oil, sweet almond oil
Product Details: 0.25-ounce tube with brush
Pros: Has a quick-absorbing formula designed to intensely condition cuticles
Cons: Not ideal for those sensitive to fragrance (has a shea scent)
Best for Use Between Acrylic and Gel Nails: Nailberry Little Treasure Nourishing Cuticle Oil
As obsessed as I am with Nailberry's oxygenated nail polish, I'm also a huge fan of this underrated cuticle oil. Enriched with concentrated sweet almond oil and a moisture-boosting multivitamin complex, it protects and repairs cuticles while soothing them.
Key Ingredients: Sweet almond oil, vitamin A, vitamin B, vitamin E, castor-seed oil
Product Details: 0.40-ounce bottle with dropper
Pros: Helps reduce peeling, dryness, and cracking with a moisture-restoring vitamin complex
Cons: Does not absorb instantly into the cuticles
Best for Bestowing Glow: Tenoverten The Celery Oil
What better way to repair your nails and cuticles than with a multiuse nail oil that boosts nail strength, stimulates growth, and softens cuticles? The hero ingredient in this one is celery-seed extract, which is antioxidant-rich and works wonders for smoothing and strengthening nails.
Key Ingredients: Celery-seed extract, meadowfoam-seed oil, midnight primrose oil, chia-seed oil, rosehip oil, vitamin B3, zinc
Product Details: 0.20-ounce tube with roller applicator
Pros: Boosts nail strength and stimulates cell regrowth for healthier nails and cuticles
Cons: None
Best for Smoothing Cuticles: French Girl Nail Cuticle Oil
Another roll-on cuticle oil worth getting your hands on is the Nail Cuticle Oil by French Girl. Essential for healthy nails and cuticles, it uses essential oils and extracts to smooth and soothe ragged cuticles while also promoting nail growth.
Key Ingredients: Argan oil, pomegranate oil, rosemary essential oil, geranium essential oil, hemp oil, tamanu oil
Product Details: 0.30 ounce roller bottle
Pros: Nourishes nails with fatty acids and cold-pressed oils with anti-bacterial qualities
Cons: Offered at a moderate price point
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