A cuticle is a layer of clear skin located along the bottom edge of your finger or toe, which functions to protect new nails from bacteria when they grow. Cuticle oil is a moisturizing product for your nails and cuticles, which is commonly made up of vegetable oils and sometimes contains vitamins and citric acid. Applying cuticle oil can help moisturize your cuticle and nail, restoring it to health, especially in cases of extreme dryness and damage caused by exposure to excessive cold, sun, chlorine, or salty or soapy water.
Cuticle oil can also increase the circulation around your nails, stimulating nail growth, and protect your nail and cuticle against trauma. It can also improve the health and appearance of your nail, and protect your polish for a lasting shine. Most cuticle oils contain a combination of different oils, such as jojoba oil, flaxseed oil, and safflower oil, and some also include vitamins or other ingredients such as antioxidants.
The benefits of cuticle oil include maintaining healthy, hydrated nails, repairing cracked and dehydrated skin, and preventing infections. To use cuticle oil, you can either dab your cuticles with a cotton ball or brush the oil on, apply a few drops to each cuticle, and then massage in for a few minutes. The best cuticle oils absorb quickly into your skin and are rather thin, because thick oils won’t absorb into your skin as well.
It is important to keep your cuticles clean at home to prevent infection. You can soak your hand or foot in soapy, warm water for around 10 minutes every few days to soften the cuticle and keep your nails clean. You can also apply cuticle oil and a massage cream to moisturize your cuticles regularly and prevent dryness and cracking. Cutting cuticles is not recommended as it can open the area up to infection, and cuticles protect both your nails and the skin surrounding them from infection.
