Cuticle oil: what to choose and how to use?

Care of the cuticle is one of the main stages of any manicure. The skin near the nail is very thin and delicate, it is prone to overdrying and various microtraumas. To prevent the occurrence of such unpleasant phenomena, you should constantly care for your skin, and one of the most effective means for this is special cuticle care oil.

For a start, let’s see what the cuticle is and how to get rid of it.

The cuticle is the skin located near the nail. It performs a protective function, prevents the accumulation of pathogenic microorganisms and their reproduction. The cuticle consists of 2 layers:

• alive - that is, the one that is located in the area of ​​growth;
• inanimate - the top cornified layer, it should be removed.

To do this, resort to several methods:

• traditional circumcision - the effect of this method of processing is noticeable immediately, but as a result, often burrs appear, and the skin around the nail becomes coarse;
• chemical method - in this case special acid compounds are applied to the cuticle, which “eat away” dead cells.

Both of these options are effective, but, as popular wisdom says - the problem is better to prevent than to treat it. So in the case of nails. It is much more effective to carry out timely prevention and regularly use nail oil and cuticle, which helps prevent the formation of various growths and leads to an overall improvement of the nail plate.

Cuticle oil is an oil based product designed to nourish, soften, moisturize, and stop inflammation and strengthen the skin around the hole. In addition, it performs a number of functions:

• nourishes the nail due to the fact that it is applied quite close to the main matrix;
• prevents the formation of painful burrs;
• disinfects and has a pronounced anti-inflammatory effect;
• softens withered skin;
• relieves inflammation, which often occurs after a manicure;
• accelerates the growth of the nail plate.

Cuticle oil is available in several basic versions.

Professional formulations are products sold among nail studios and beauty salons, they are intended for salon procedures. In this case, the release form can be absolutely any: bottles with brushes, pipettes or applicators, sticks.

Natural oils are essential oil components that are sold in all pharmacies, they are used for home care procedures. Of course, not every oil can be used for the treatment of nails - here it is necessary to give preference to saturated compositions, such as peach, apricot, shea, as well as tea tree and many others.

Means for cuticle are divided into categories depending on the scope of use.Some options contribute to the full restoration of the cuticle, while others, on the contrary, are used to remove it. Removal compounds act quickly - they corrode the upper coarsened layer of skin and completely dissolve all the excess epidermis. However, it should be noted that this is not always harmless - there are drugs, the abuse of which simply causes damage to the nail bed, which, in turn, causes a change in the shape of the nails and an increase in the fragility of the plates.

Depending on the form of release there are several types of products.

• Solid oils - thanks to the special conditions of production, they penetrate quite deeply into the nail plate, making it more radiant. Such tools are optimal for hands in a very neglected state. They soften the cuticle much more efficiently than many others, and the result lasts much longer.
• Liquid - very easy to apply, because they have a special drip dispenser and brush. Such compositions have a high concentration of vitamins, so that the skin around the nail is quickly regenerated.
• Creamy - in these funds usually include paraffin, petrolatum and essential oils. They quickly penetrate the very depth of the nail, nourish and moisturize it. However, this form is considered less effective than the previous two.

The greatest effectiveness in the care of nails and cuticle can be achieved only if the composition contains a complex of useful components.

The following oils are most commonly used:

• grapefruit - contributes to the removal of inflammatory manifestations;
• rosemary - effective antimicrobial agent;
• thyme - helps to soften the skin around the nail;
• lavender - causes increased nail growth;
• cedar - strengthens the nail plate;
• tea tree - characterized by pronounced antimicrobial properties;
• almond - it has long been used in home nail care, but to a greater extent it works as a prophylactic rather than a curative, for example, it is not capable of getting rid of cracks on the cuticle;

• Castor oil - everyone knows the properties of this oil in hair care, but very few people know that this preparation is indispensable for nails, it nourishes and moisturizes, but is suitable only for dry skin;
• Coconut oil - this composition perfectly replaces wax when polishing nail plates and helps to soften the cuticle, while only drugs manufactured in Thailand have proven effectiveness;
• jojoba - has high concentrations of beneficial substances - vitamins and beneficial trace elements, has a powerful moisturizing and nourishing effect, nourishes the skin around the hole and relieves all inflammations;
• sea ​​buckthorn - A good care product that stimulates cell regeneration, and the antimicrobial properties of this product are well known since ancient times.

Today, the market for cosmetic products is a fairly wide range of cuticle oil with different efficiencies, so choosing the best one is not so easy. Based on the analysis of consumer feedback and the opinion of experts in the nail industry, experts compiled a rating of the most effective means.

This oil for the care of the cuticle of the American brand, which for several years consistently included in the list of the strongest drugs. The use of the drug has a softening and effective moisturizing effect, allows you to completely get rid of the cornified part of the cuticle within 20 minutes after rubbing the composition.

Avon cosmetics company produces a product based on lavender and eucalyptus oils, thanks to which the cuticle gets the required moisture and nutrient saturation. This allows not only the treatment of the cuticle, but also significantly smooth the surface of the nail plate.

Care product from this brand contains jojoba oil, as well as apricot kernel extracts and vitamins A and E. This combination of useful components causes a pronounced anti-inflammatory effect and protects the nail plate from keratinization and excessive drying. Regularly using "Smart enamel" after a cut manicure, you protect the skin around the nails from the occurrence of cracks, growths and peeling.

This oil is created by a high-tech formula based on oil vitamin F and E with the addition of herbal ingredients. The composition moisturizes and protects dead skin from aging. The use of this composition allows to reduce the damage that the procedure of mechanical manicure causes to the nails, and in addition, the oil evens the entire plate of the nail and gives it a healthy shine.

This oil is from the same manufacturer, but produced in the form of a pencil. It has a more enriched composition, which, in addition to vitamins, includes calcium, panthenol, keratin, as well as additives of other natural oils, which makes it possible to achieve effective nutrition, moisturizing and softening the cuticle. This oil has the property to be deeply absorbed and thereby ensures the saturation of the nail with all the necessary beneficial substances.

The basic ingredient of this composition is peach seed oil extract, which makes the nails perfect. In addition, the oil contains a lot of vitamin E, as well as linoleic acids, due to which it becomes possible to achieve maximum moisture and nutrition in the area of ​​the nail bed. The oil is well absorbed, so the nails after treatment get a beautiful shine, look healthy, strong and strong.

As the brand name suggests, the main component of the treatment complex is argan oil, which is known for its ability to quickly restore fragile and brittle nails, as well as soften the cuticle. This product contains only natural ingredients that provides complete protection against adverse external influences.

This drug is optimal for women who often use a coating of persistent gel polish. This oil penetrates rather deeply into the structure of the nail plate and adjacent skin areas, nourishes and at the same time prolongs the time that the coating is worn.

There are many recipes for making nail oil and cuticle do-it-yourself at home. The advantages of self-care product in this case is related to the ability to include the ingredients that you need.

Let us dwell on the most common recipes.

Take 2 spoons of apricot kernel oil, add a couple of drops and oil of wheat germ and myrrh, as well as lavender. All how to mix and rub into the wells and nail plate once every 7 days.

2 tablespoons of apricot and almond oil mix, add 3 drops of geranium oil and roses. This tool should be rubbed daily overnight. In addition to the treatment of the cuticle, this mixture helps to improve the overall appearance of the nails, making them much smoother and healthier.

If the cuticle is inflamed, then you need to take 2 spoons of almond oil and 10 drops of tea tree squeeze, mix everything and put in the refrigerator. Warm up slightly before applying and apply to affected area with light rotating movements.

To make a burr preventing agent, you should mix 5-6 ml of olive and grape oil, add 4 drops of lavender and tea tree oil and squeeze a vitamin E capsule. This tool should be applied after the manicure.

If you plan to prepare the composition for repeated use, then you need to mix olive oil, lemon juice and any essential oil if desired and pour it into a varnish jar. In this case, you can easily and easily apply the drug to your nails with a brush every day for the night, just before using the contents of the bottle should be thoroughly shaken.

The principle of using and applying oil directly depends on the tasks that you set for yourself. If you need oil as a prophylactic, then it should be applied immediately after the manicure as the final stage of treatment. In this case, one drop of the drug is applied to each well and rubbed 30-40 seconds. This massage contributes to a deeper penetration of oil into the cuticle and, accordingly, increases the effectiveness of its main components.

If you have too thick and dry cuticle, you can apply the composition many times with an interval of 4-5 hours. In addition, it will be quite useful to steam the nails in the bath before applying the care product - this will contribute to a deeper moisturizing and nourishing nail plate. With the same purpose, after processing, you can wear cotton gloves. This procedure is best done at night. Oil can be applied before any housework during which hands come into contact with household chemicals or water.

Reviews on the use of oil for the cuticle is always the most positive. This oil is recommended for all women for whom the beauty and tidiness of manicure is fundamental. Such a composition not only contributes to the rapid softening of the cuticle, but also saves from cracking and painful burrs. In addition, the oils have the most beneficial effect on the nail plate, nourish it, strengthen it, and contribute to increased strength. Means for the cuticle give the nails a healthy and radiant appearance, as well as strengthen and promote the rapid growth of nails.

Manicure specialists also note that applying oil can significantly facilitate the processing of the nail, to achieve a perfect appearance, which will remain so for quite a long time.

On the means to moisturize the cuticle, see the following video.