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13 of the Best Cuticle Oils That Should Be on Your Radar This Winter

Bye-bye, hangnails.

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cuticle oils best 2020
Sally Hansen

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Cutting cuticles is a no-no that can open the door to infection, according to the experts. But what if your cuticles look dry, flaky, and uneven? We know, it's so tempting to trim them — but the answer might be a good cuticle oil instead.

“Cuticle oil is to be considered the water bottle for nails,” says celebrity manicurist Naomi Gonzalez-Longstaff. "It’s meant to keep nails hydrated at the root (matrix), flexible, and strong." She also notes that cuticle oils can help protect your natural nail from brittleness and also shield against over-moisturizing — so basically, cuticle oil is the cure to all of your mani mishaps.

If you're in need of some nail rehabilitation, then massage your nail beds with these best cuticle oils that'll give you a better-looking manicure — no clippers necessary.

1

Deborah Lippmann Cuticle Oil Treatment

Deborah Lippmann Cuticle Oil Treatment
$22 at Amazon$22 at Nordstrom$20 at belk.com

Give your cuticles what they really need: a dose of hydration, of course! All it takes is a drop or two of this formula enriched with jojoba oil, coconut oil, and vitamin E to instantly condition the skin around the nail. You'll love the scent, too.

More: Top-Rated Cuticle Creams to Heal Dry Hands

2

Cuccio Revitalize Milk and Honey Cuticle Oil

Amazon’s Choice
Cuccio Revitalize Milk and Honey Cuticle Oil
Now 37% Off

This cuticle oil is a top-rated pick for Amazon customers. It has a dreamy honey scent, and along with healing cracked cuticles, it can be used on dry hands, too.

3

L'Occitane Nourishing Nail & Cuticle Oil

L'Occitane Nourishing Nail & Cuticle Oil

L’Occitane’s latest version of their cuticle oil includes a brush applicator and 30% shea oil, so you’ll get softer skin and stronger nails with less mess.

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4

Essie Apricot Cuticle Oil

Essie Apricot Cuticle Oil

Do you have an extensive Essie polish collection? Then it isn't complete without this cuticle oil. The orange liquid goes on clear, and contains cottonseed and soybean oils to lock in moisture, strengthen nails, and revive dry cuticles.  

5

CND SolarOil Nail & Cuticle Oil

CND SolarOil Nail & Cuticle Oil

"The wonderful almond scent is just one of the many benefits of this oil," says Gonzalez-Longstaff. “It’s able to penetrate the nail bed even with a coat of polish. This oil is one of the best natural nail protectants on the market. It uses jojoba oil, vitamin E and almond oil. The scent is out of this world and your nails will show improvement within 2 weeks!"

This OPI nail and cuticle treatment is packed with conditioning oils, including grape seed, sesame, kukui, sunflower, and cupuaçu. You can expect relief from ailing cuticles within a week of daily use.

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7

Josie Maran 100% Pure Argan Oil

Josie Maran 100% Pure Argan Oil

Josie Maran's argan oil is so good, you'll want to put it on everything. The cold-pressed, high-grade oil is meant to be a face moisturizer, but its miraculous effects extend to your hair, body, and dry, flaky cuticles, too. 

8

NAILS INC. Superfood Repair Oil

NAILS INC. Superfood Repair Oil

Massage a few drops of this oil onto your nails and cuticles to feed them with nutrients. Sweet almond oil, argan oil, and rose hip oil work together to stop skin from peeling and cracking, and promote healthy nail growth. 

9

Sally Hansen Vitamin E Nail and Cuticle Oil

Sally Hansen Vitamin E Nail and Cuticle Oil
Now 37% Off

If nails and cuticles are feeling dry, or you want to speed up growth, vitamin E can help. This oil from Sally Hansen is enriched with it to add moisture back in, and make your manis look better than ever. 

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10

Qtica Solid Gold Cuticle Oil Gel

Qtica Solid Gold Cuticle Oil Gel

If you're on the run, then Gonzalez-Longstaff recommends throwing this cuticle oil in your purse before you head out the door. 

"It gently moisturizes nails and skin without leaving a greasy residue and comes packaged in a tube for easy transport,” she says. “This oil is also an antibacterial, as tea tree oil is one of its main ingredients."

11

Tenoverten The Rose Oil Cuticle Oil

Tenoverten The Rose Oil Cuticle Oil

For a pure formula without any red flags, pick up this all-natural cuticle oil. You won't find any toxins here — just the power of skincare saviors like jojoba oil, hemp seed oil, rose oil, and more to restore your cuticles back to their softer finish.

Plus, it's nongreasy, so nothing will slip and slide out of your fingers after applying this nourishing oil.

12

Dior Huile Abricot Daily Nutritive Serum

Dior Huile Abricot Daily Nutritive Serum
Now 72% Off

Willing to shell out a few extra bucks for better nails? Then meet the cuticle oil — or shall we say, “serum” — of your manicured dreams. This cuticle hero is super rich and penetrates deep into the nail bed to give a softer, smoother, flake-free feel to your fingers.

Plus, it strengthens your nails thanks to the intense blend of active oils, including argan oil, vitamin E, and apricot oil.

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13

French Girl Nail & Cuticle Oil

French Girl Nail & Cuticle Oil

Want to give yourself the Parisian beauty treatment? While we'd all love to hop on a (safe) flight to France for a manicure, we'd rather stick to this option. It has the energizing aromas of citrus and rose, and the roll-on formula is mixed with stellar botanicals like jojoba, evening primrose, sea buckthorn, and tamanu oils.

The results: moisturized cuticles, smoother hands, and not a rough patch in sight.

Headshot of Jennifer Hussein
Jennifer Hussein
Beauty Editor

Jennifer is the former beauty editor for BestProducts.com, where she’s testing out everything from the latest lip gloss to the craziest skincare trend sweeping the online beauty-verse. Her work has been featured in Allure, Byrdie, HelloGiggles, and more. When she’s not swatching eyeshadow all over her arms, you can find the NYC-based editor scouring for hours on end for vintage finds, eating pad thai, and hanging out with her cat, Chunks.

Headshot of Emily Belfiore
Emily Belfiore
Contributor

Emily is a contributor for BestProducts.com, where she’s searching the web for the greatest finds in fashion, beauty, and wellness. Her work has been featured in Allure, Byrdie, E! News, and more. 

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