It’s okay, you can say it. You’re totally bored of hearing about it. Every nail tech, whether they serve in-person or press on clients, will drill it into your head: ‘oil those cuticles!’.
Whilst they are completely right (you should be applying cuticle oil daily), you might think they’re going over the top with it a little.
Well, here I am to explain the true benefits of using cuticle oil, and it goes further than ‘it’s healthy for your nails’.
Let’s break it down into the products, as the concoction of oils working their strengths together is where the true benefits come from.
You could say I’m biased, but I’m going to use my cuticle oil recipe to share with you the science inside the oil, and how each ingredient works differently to impact the health of your nail.
- Olive oil: this is my ‘base’ of choice for the oil. Its hydrating abilities are unmatched, nourishing your nail, cuticle & surrounding skin. The heavier nature of the oil allows it to sit and absorb slowly into your skin for hours; because it’s not absorbed rapidly, its antiseptic qualities are able to last longer, fighting bacteria.
- Jojoba Oil: jojoba can also be used solely as the base of a cuticle oil, but when you combine its properties with the olive oil, you have the perfect duo. Jojoba oil is extremely similar to sebum, which is an oil naturally produced by our skin. This means it leaves a less greasy feel because it penetrates the skin quickly.
- Avocado Oil: another potential base option that comes with its own individual benefits. The potassium that avocado oil contains helps to promote the natural production of keratin, essentially meaning that it encourages your nail beds to hydrate themselves. The fatty acids moisturise & soften your cuticle, while the abundance of vitamins present strengthen & protect.
- Essential Oils: most recognisably, this is what produces the divine smell that the cuticle oil possesses. For my oil, I chose to use a combination of 3 - each has individual benefits, but together they create a wonderful scent.
- Lavender Essential Oil: while the scent calms the senses, behind the scenes the lavender oil contains powerful antibacterial properties which will defend the nail structure from infections.
- Rosemary Essential Oil: similar to the lavender, its antibacterial. What’s more, however, is that it’s anti-inflammatory, helping to improve the appearance of your cuticles.
- Lemon Essential Oil: the high vitamin C concentration works wonders for the skin. Like the other essential oils, it’s antiseptic & anti-fungal.
- Vitamin E Oil: the moisturising benefits that vitamin e oil possesses most obviously helps to support nail health, encouraging strength & growth. The powerful antioxidant properties fight free radicals, preserving the appearance of your nails.
By no means will all cuticle oil recipes contain so many elements, but I personally think this cocktail is unbeatable. The health benefits overlap in most of the oils, for example, the majority of them are antiseptic, nourishing and a few of them promote keratin production. But together, this oil works wonders.
Obviously, more generic benefits of using cuticle oil that aren’t just related to the ingredients do exist.
There are more benefits of frequently using cuticle oil, like the improvement it can have on the circulation around your nail beds. Simply just the action of taking a couple minutes each day to massage it in can have an impact.
Additionally, the improved appearance of your mani from the shine. The oil helps to add an extra layer of protection over your nails making it more difficult for harsh chemicals to cause damage.
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