Cuticles, those small skins located at the base of our nails, can sometimes become dry and rough. They can give an unkempt look to the hands and don’t go well with a beautiful manicure. Mistreated or neglected, they can also painfully split. To maintain healthy and well-groomed nails, but also to take care of your hands, it is therefore necessary to give them special attention. This simple and cost-effective homemade cuticle oil recipe is just what you need! It combines natural ingredients rich in nutrients to revitalize and moisturize this delicate area very effectively. Follow these easy steps to get nourished cuticles, strong and healthy nails, and beautiful hands, all with ingredients you can easily find at home.
The recipe for cuticle oil
What you need:
15 drops of lavender essential oil
10 drops of eucalyptus essential oil
10 drops of grapefruit essential oil
5 drops of peppermint essential oil
Fractionated coconut oil (this is a more saturated version, but you can use regular coconut oil, olive oil, sweet almond oil, or argan oil)
1 ml of vitamin E oil
Empty and clean 10 ml roll-on bottle
Steps:
1) Fill the roll-on bottle with the essential oils.
2) Add the vitamin E oil to the mixture. You can use a dropper to measure.
3) Fill the bottle with coconut oil.
4) Close your roll-on bottle carefully and shake. It will need to be shaken before each use.
How to use your cuticle oil?
The most diligent will surely want to apply this treatment regularly. Make sure you tolerate it, as this oil is very concentrated in essential oils (15% dilution after all). Don’t hesitate to do a test to check for any allergic reaction or irritation after using any of the essential oils recommended here. If you do not tolerate them or have sensitive skin, you can use a mixture of vegetable oil and vitamin E oil or possibly use only lavender. This will also be less expensive!
If you have very damaged cuticles, we recommend using it every night or several times a week to nourish and treat them. Then, when their appearance improves, switch to one to two applications per week. During application, just massage the edge of the nails for at least a minute to activate the product and help the oils penetrate better. You can then, if necessary, push back the softened cuticles with a plastic or wooden stick. Finally, don’t hesitate to apply a little hand cream to seal in the moisture. In fact, gently massaging the cuticles with oil or a moisturizing cream stimulates blood circulation and promotes the growth of strong and healthy nails.
In addition to this oil, here are some other tips for taking care of your cuticles
Limit exposure of cuticles to water and detergents
First of all, avoid exposing your hands to harsh products. Limit the use of nail polish removers containing acetone. They can dry out the cuticles as well as the tips of your fingers. Opt for a gentle nail polish remover with ethyl acetate or an acetone-free remover. When doing household chores or using chemicals, such as detergents or cleaning products, also wear protective gloves to protect your hands and cuticles. Likewise, water can dry out the cuticles, so avoid prolonged exposure or frequent immersion in water. Use rubber gloves when washing dishes or other household tasks that require prolonged water exposure.
Good care in addition to cuticle oil
Make sure not to cut the cuticles. Cutting or trimming your cuticles can indeed cause injuries and infections, as they protect the skin from microbes. So, gently push back the cuticles with a wooden stick after softening them in warm water and with oil.
You can also consider gently exfoliating your cuticles once a week to remove dead skin and promote better absorption of moisturizing products. You can make your own scrub by mixing sugar with olive oil or honey. Also, consider using a moisturizing cream specially formulated for cuticles. These creams often contain nourishing ingredients such as vitamin E, aloe vera, or shea butter to help soften and hydrate the cuticles. Otherwise, use these pure ingredients to moisturize your dry hands.
The extra tip against those small skins
Know that a diet rich in vitamins and minerals promotes the health of nails and cuticles. Make sure to consume enough vitamins A, C, and E as well as biotin, zinc, and omega-3 fatty acids.
