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As the weather gets colder, you’ll notice your skin and mood aren’t the only things affected by the temperature change. Your hands and nails suffer too. You can maintain the dryness with a hand cream or hand soap. However, if you want to take it a step further, cuticle oil is just what you need to keep your hands moisturized, your manicure fresh and long-lasting, and, most important, your nails healthy.
To help you find the best one for your nails, we’ve consulted top celebrity nail artists and the Cut’s very own manicures to round up our expert picks.
so you’re looking for the best cuticle oils?
➼ Our top picks
➼ More tried-and-true favorites
➼ FAQs
➼ Our experts
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Our top picks
The Best-Selling Cuticle Oil
Size: 0.25 fl oz. | Key Ingredients: jojoba and sweet almond oils, vitamin E | Applicator: brush
Celebrity nail artist and educator Julie Kandalec’s go-to cuticle oil is a $10 best seller and award winner. She uses this vitamin-E-infused formula on the runway the most. It brushes on easily, and a little goes a long way. It takes some time to absorb, but you can work it into your cuticles to speed up the process.
The Best-Smelling Cuticle Oil
Size: 2.5 fl oz. | Key Ingredients: vitamin E, sunflower oil | Applicator: Dropper
There are several options for this cuticle oil, but nail artist Marbles Valdez’s favorite is the lightly scented Milk and Honey. With ingredients like vitamin E and sunflower oil to nourish the cuticle, she recommends it to clients for the price and how well it works.
The Easy to Use Cuticle Oil
Size: 0.14 fl oz. | Key Ingredients: cactus flower | Applicator: Foam tip
If you’re serious about nail care, here’s cuticle oil you can take on the go to refresh your nails no matter where you are. Valdez’s favorite foam tip applicator makes it easy to quickly moisturize your cuticles.
The Affordable Cuticle Oil
Size: 0.45 fl oz. | Key Ingredients: vitamin E, apricot kernel oil | Applicator: Brush
Most cuticle oils won’t break the bank, but if you’re looking to save, Valdez’s under-$10 favorite works just as well as pricier options. The brush-on formula is rich in vitamin E and aloe, she says.
The On-the-Go Cuticle Oil
Size: 4 ml | Key Ingredients: jojoba, grapeseed and almond oils | Applicator: brush
“I keep this one in my purse. It’s by popular NYC nail artist Melissa Samuel. It’s a blend of oils vetted by a nail tech so I always feel comfortable using it,” fashion and beauty writer Asia Milia Ware explains. “It keeps my cuticles soft, and one twist releases all the product you need for all ten cuticles.”
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More tried-and-true favorites
The Classic Cuticle Oil
Size: 0.29 fl oz. | Key Ingredients: avocado, grape seed and sunflower seed oils | Applicator: Dropper
The nail salon go-to and another one of Valdez’s favorites has a dropper for quick application and a blend of oils like avocado, grape seed, and more for deeply nourished and stronger cuticles.
The Rose-Scented Cuticle Oil
Size: 1 fl oz. | Key Ingredients: vitamin A and E | Applicator: Dropper
Vitamins: They’re good for your nails too. This rose-scented oil is Valdez’s favorite since it helps nail growth and cuticle protection with vitamins A and E.
The Hydrating Cuticle Oil
Size: 0.43 fl oz. | Key Ingredients: jojoba and sweet almond oils, vitamin E | Applicator: dropper
“I love that it comes with a dropper to prevent cross-contamination,” Kandalec says.
The Roll-On Cuticle Oil
Size: 0.46 fl oz. | Key Ingredients: apricot kernel and jojoba oils | Applicator: roll-on
Roll-on applicators aren’t just for your middle-school lip gloss. It’s a pretty helpful addition to one of Kandalec’s favorite on-the-go oils. The roll-on oil infused with apricot and jojoba oils slips right into your bag.
The Soothing Cuticle Oil
Size: 0.25 fl oz. | Key Ingredients: shea, apricot, and sweet almond oils | Applicator: brush
Another one of Ware’s favorites is ideal for irritated and dry cuticles. “L’Occtaine’s cuticle oil revives my driest cuticles, just as its body products do,” She says. “When I have a ripped cuticle, this often soothes it.”
The Luxury Cuticle Oil
Size: 0.37 fl oz. | Key Ingredients: camelia oil | Applicator: roll-on
“My nail artist, Lacie Hayes, loves this oil because of the gel-like texture,” Ware says. “It’s an added layer of protection for her clients. Like other Chanel Beauty products, it’s infused with their signature camellia oil, deeply nourishing that’s visible after one use.”
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FAQs
What makes a good cuticle oil?
Nail artist Marbles Valdez recommends looking for formulas that are hydrating, moisturizing, and gentle. Ingredients like vitamin E, argan, and jojoba oil can help protect your cuticles from further damage. She also suggests avoiding harsh chemicals, strong essential oils, and additional additives that can cause skin irritation for those with sensitive skin.
What does cuticle oil do?
If you want to keep your nails and hands in top shape cuticle oil is the way to go. A good cuticle oil will help with nail growth, Valdez explains, and will soothe and soften cuticles. “Moisturizing your cuticles is always helpful in avoiding any cracking or splitting,” she says. “It’s a great extra step as winter approaches!”
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Our Experts
- Laci Hayes, nail artist
- Marbles Valdez, nail artist
- Julie Kandalec, celebrity nail artist and educator
- Asia Milia Ware, fashion and beauty writer at the Cut
