Oil for nails and cuticles: the best strengthening and nourishing oils

Negative environmental factors, diseases, stress, poor diet, frequent extensions, and the use of low-quality nail polishes and nail polish removers immediately affect the condition of the nails and cuticles. The nail plate becomes dull and lifeless, the cuticle takes on an unhealthy appearance.

The appearance of these symptoms causes an immediate desire to help the nails and give them vitality. Beauty salon specialists can help solve the problem and offer a course of restorative and caring procedures. The effect of using professional procedures will not be long in coming (that’s why it’s professional cosmetics), but using home remedies for nails turns out to be no worse. You just need to learn to allocate a few minutes a day for yourself to your loved one. And your hands will thank you.

Today it is much easier for modern fashionistas to take care of themselves and, in particular, their hands. After all, the arsenal of care products can be replenished with both professional products and time-tested nourishing masks and essential and vegetable oils.

Rating of oils for nails and cuticles

Regular use of cuticle oil helps maintain healthy nails and keep your hands looking well-groomed between visits to the nail technician. When compiling the rating, we relied on the following product characteristics:

• Consistency;
• Smell;
• Effects;
• Compound;
• Adverse reactions;
• Applicator type;
• Packaging volume;
• Price;
• Mode of application.

When analyzing the nominees, an important role was played by the form of release - dry or liquid cuticle oil, brand and country of origin.

The best vitamins for nails

Features of using essential oils:

All oils are different, therefore, not all can be used in their pure form.
There are various recommendations that you should know before use. So, some oils are rubbed undiluted into the nails, the effect when used this way is stronger, but still, for example, highly concentrated esters are used in masks, mixtures, compresses, baths, etc.

Here, for example, is one way:

A cotton napkin is moistened with a mixture of base and ether (oil), which is heated to a certain comfortable temperature, after which it is applied to the nails and then wrapped around the fingertips. A plastic film and then a thick towel are put on top. This mask should be kept on for 15-20 minutes.

Applications using essential oils for nails are also very effective and are easy to do at home. They are usually made using bergomot oil, which, due to its properties, strengthens the nail plate: 3 potassium ether per 5 ml of base.

The procedure is done as follows:

First, wash your hands, then rub the prepared mixture into your nails, skin and cuticles, then wrap it in film and hold it for 5 minutes. Afterwards, wash off the mask with warm water without using soap and pat dry with a towel.

Oils for nail growth

Products from this group not only care for the cuticle, but also contain necessary substances that improve the condition of the nails and actively nourish the matrix. The TOP included 2 products that received the most positive reviews.

Novosvit Lemon butter

This is a nail growth activator from a Russian manufacturer. The manufacturer used vitamin E and C as the main active ingredients. Castor oil served as the base. It is an excellent conductor and almost immediately penetrates into the thickness of the plate and skin roll, delivering the biologically active components of the batter to the deep layers. The product nourishes the cuticle, restores the nail and accelerates its growth.

The butter is recommended for peeling nails and provides them with the necessary nutrition. With regular use, the effect can be noticed in the 3rd week. It is applied to the surface of the cuticle and plate 2-3 times a day, after which it is gently rubbed in. It is quickly absorbed and does not leave an oily sheen. The cream is packaged in a small (20 ml) plastic tube. Such a compact size allows you to carry it in your purse.

Advantages:

• Pleasant fragrance with lemon aroma;
• Fast absorption;
• Whitening effect;
• Relevant for daily use;
• Low price.

Flaws:

• It does not have any special effect on nail strengthening.

After using the product, the surface becomes more elastic and does not break when bent.

ECO Laboratory

The product is positioned as a “3-in-1” and solves several problems at once - it has an antibacterial, moisturizing and strengthening effect. Additional action - softening the cuticle, comprehensive nutrition, lightening and accelerating nail growth. Vitamins B and E are used as active components. Thanks to the latter, the coating becomes strong and dense, acquires shine, stops peeling and actively grows.

ECO Laboratorie contains rosemary extract, which provides an antibacterial effect. The ether perfectly heals microtraumas that accompany trimmed manicure, prevents the development of inflammation, destroys pathogenic microflora, and improves the condition of the matrix. The result is visible after the first use. Apply the product using a sponge. Jar volume – 90 ml.

Advantages:

• Convenient to use form;
• Pleasant aroma;
• Thick texture;
• Strengthening the plates;
• Low price.

Flaws:

• Quite greasy;
• It takes a long time to absorb.

The product is applied using a sponge, in the center of which there is a cross-shaped cut, where you need to place the tip of your finger and gently rub in the composition.

The best remedies for nail fungus

Nail care rules

• The first rule is regularity. It's like in the gym, if you work out haphazardly, there will be no effect.
• Do not choose iron files for manicure. Glass or ceramic nail files work well. You need to file the nail in one direction, otherwise it will start to peel.
• Watch the length of your nails. Reaching a certain length, they often break and flake, every girl notices this. Trim your nails promptly and smooth out sharp corners with a nail file.
• Pay attention to the color of your nails and whiten them regularly, but no more than 7 days in a row. Lemon works well for such purposes.
• Do the nail baths and treatments we talked about today.
• Monitor the condition of the cuticle, lubricate with oil and massage. It is not recommended to push back the cuticle, much less cut it, because it protects the nail from infection.
• Nails should take a break from polish and nail extensions.
• Do exercises with your fingers. This will improve blood flow and nutrition of the nail, and accelerate growth. If you type on a keyboard, that's great, if not, tap your fingers on the table.

Oils for strengthening nails

The main problem of weak nails is brittleness, ribbing, loss of healthy shine, and splitting. This indicates a lack of certain vitamins, in particular, representatives of group B. The editors of Vyborexperta.ru selected two nominees in this category, based on the characteristics of the products and user feedback.

Milv Fruit care

...Milv Fruit care fully meets the manufacturer's stated characteristics and contains beneficial essential oils for nails. In this regard, the tool is excellent. The only negative is that the shiny particles on your hands are not visible at all...

Expert opinion

Oil with a strengthening effect. Tocopherol is responsible for the therapeutic effect, which strengthens the nail, makes it shiny and prevents delamination. Vitamin A removes dryness, increased fragility, and hangnails. The composition also contains polyunsaturated fatty acids. Thanks to this, the product copes even with a very weakened matrix.

Milv Fruit care contains mastic tree resin, which gives the fingertips a well-groomed appearance and increases the thickness of the plate, increasing its strength. The recommended course of use is 1 month. With daily use, the cuticle becomes thinner and softer. The consistency of the product resembles water. That is why it is quickly absorbed and does not leave a greasy film. The product is suitable for regular use.

Advantages:

• There is a pipette for application;
• Fast absorption;
• Pleasant fruity scent;
• Small economical consumption;
• Instant hydration;
• Affordable price.

Flaws:

• The glitter is only visible in the bottle.

Arabia Professional

Vitamin complex made from natural oils of jojoba, olive and sweet almond. Its task is to restore the health of the nail and cuticle. The composition of the product moisturizes the skin around the nails, providing a protective effect. After using the product, dryness and cracking of the roller disappears, and the formation of burrs stops. It penetrates into the deep layers, nourishing the matrix with vitamins and antioxidants, making the coating and cuticle look healthy.

Aravia Professional Professional can be used to care for natural and artificial surfaces. The bottle dispenser is made in the form of a spout, which simplifies the application process. The consistency of the product is liquid. To treat cuticles on one hand, 2-3 drops are enough. The product is suitable for performing trim manicures. Packaging volume is 50 and 100 ml, we are talking about a glass bottle with a pipette and a plastic bottle with a dispenser.

Advantages:

• Economical consumption;
• Large volume;
• Pleasant scent;
• Softening the cuticle;
• Nutrition and care;
• Hydration.

Flaws:

• Too runny;
• It takes a long time to absorb.

The hole in the dispenser is quite large, but thanks to the air bubbles formed during pouring, the product flows out in not too large portions.

How to use it correctly

There are some steps to using this tool, which we will discuss below.

• Steam your hands in water that is warm and comfortable for you.
• Wash your hands with mild, cosmetic soap.
• Dry your hands.
• If the skin around the nails is rough, you need to file it with a soft buff.
• Apply the oil not only to the nails, but also to the skin around them; if necessary, apply the product to the affected areas of the hands.
• Rub the product into the skin of your hands with a light and massaging motion.
• Wait a little until the product is completely absorbed into the skin.
• Do the procedure daily in the morning and evening.

Antifungal oils for nails

Oils with an antifungal effect contain components that help destroy pathogenic microflora. Fungi tend to multiply quickly, so the product must work quickly and effectively. Tea tree essential oil works well with them. According to VyborExpert specialists, only one product meets these requirements.

Gehwol Med Protective Nail and Skin

This is the best cuticle oil with antifungal effect. Although it is classified as a medical product, the product can be purchased in specialized stores. The composition contains vitamins A, D and E, besalol and panthenol. Clotrimazole is responsible for the antifungal effect. Gehwol Med Protective Nail and Skin can also be used for treatment, then it is applied in a course twice a day.

The product contains chamomile extract and wheat germ extract. The first eliminates inflammation and has disinfectant properties. The second is responsible for nutrition and care. In general, Gehwol Med Protective Nail and Skin can be called a “3-in-1” product, as it strengthens, softens the cuticle and destroys fungus. It can be used both after manicure and pedicure. The drug is offered in a glass bottle with a spout-shaped applicator.

Advantages:

• Treats fungal diseases;
• Professional product;
• Can be used as a preventive measure;
• The applicator spout makes application easy;
• Fast absorption;
• Does not leave greasy marks.

Flaws:

• Quite a high price.

Gehwol Med Protective Nail and Skin can be used by both men and women.

Popular oil brands

Cosmetics are available in glass or plastic bottles equipped with lids with brushes or dispenser tips. Volume of one package: 7–10 ml. Among the proven oils, the following are popular:

• Cuticle Oil from Mavala: provides the skin with complete hydration, prevents the appearance of hangnails and cracks;
• Solar Oil of the CND brand with the scent of almonds protects hands from the effects of aggressive ultraviolet radiation, softens and nourishes the skin;
• Argan Oil Cuticle Drops from Orly: bottles with convenient dispensers that allow you to apply the oil evenly along the edges of the nails;
• Oils from Sally: provide basic care for skin and nails, saturate with moisture, nourish and vitaminize;
• The One from Oriflame: a popular affordable product for the restoration and regeneration of cuticle tissue, contains essential oils and vitamins.

An alternative to industrial care products is self-made products. They are easy to make if the necessary components are available.

Cuticle moisturizing oils

The use of decorative varnishes leads to increased dryness of nails and roughening of the cuticle. Oils with a moisturizing effect will help solve the problem. They contain vitamins, plant components, and amino acids. Burdock, grape and peach extracts are responsible for hydration and restoration. After studying market offers, we selected two nominees.

Belweder

The best oil for nails with a wide spectrum of action, it nourishes, moisturizes, softens the cuticle, has an antifungal and antibacterial effect. The composition consists of 75% jojoba, the remaining ¼ is vitamins B, E and A, castor oil, avocado and lavender. Belweder copes well with burrs and promotes the healing of microtraumas.

Using the product improves the condition of the cuticle, it stops growing to the nail plate and is removed much easier and faster. In addition, its growth slows down greatly. As a result, the plate looks healthy and shiny, and its surface becomes smoother and more well-groomed. The product is applied carefully thanks to the brush-shaped applicator. Belweder has a pleasant fruity aroma that does not cause irritation, and it dissipates quickly.

Advantages:

• Minimum consumption;
• Application brush;
• Does not spread;
• Fast absorption;
• Pleasant orange aroma.

Flaws:

• Quite a high price for a small volume.

Belweder can be used after a trim manicure as it helps in wound healing.

Mavala Cuticle Care Mavapen

The cuticle oil stick comes with a narrow brush that helps you apply it precisely to the desired area. Vitamin E is used as an active component, thanks to which the nail stops peeling and becomes stronger. The necessary care is provided by the extracts of olive, sunflower, almond, and wheat germ included in the composition.

You need to use the pencil 3-4 times a week. It is distributed over the cuticle using a felt brush applicator. After this, you need to massage your fingertips so that the product is absorbed. After 10 minutes, blot off the residue. The consistency of Mavala Cuticle Care Mavapen is not too greasy and has a pleasant, unobtrusive aroma.

Advantages:

• Spot application;
• Economical consumption;
• Softening the cuticle;
• Strengthening the nail plate;
• Whitening effect.

Flaws:

• Not suitable for daily use.

Thanks to its convenient format, Mavala Cuticle Care Mavapen can be carried with you everywhere, as it will fit even in a miniature handbag.

Comparison table of characteristics

In order to compare the presented products, we suggest looking at their characteristics in the table below.

How to choose nail and cuticle oil

When choosing a cosmetic product, you need to take into account the type of nails, because peeling plates need strengthening products, and those that “stand still” need accelerating growth.

Nail type

If the plates are peeling, you need to buy products with almonds, mastic tree resin, vitamins A and E, which strengthen the surface and prevent brittleness. In the case of dry and slowly growing plates, the care should include essential oils of lemon, jojoba, and olive. When choosing which nail oil is best for fungal infections, you should take a closer look at a product with besalol and panthenol.

Release form

Manufacturers offer several forms. The first is solid oils. They actively nourish the nail plate, penetrate the matrix, and soften the hard cuticle. The second is liquid. It is characterized by a high content of vitamins. Thanks to this, the nail and skin are restored much faster. The third is cream. It contains petroleum jelly, paraffin and esters, which instantly penetrate the tissue and have a nourishing and moisturizing effect.

Applicator

For beginners, it is easiest to apply the composition with a brush or roller. To save consumption, it is better to use a container with a sprayer, but then the surface can be contaminated. Spot application is most conveniently done using a thin spout or pipette. Any option is suitable for home use.

Effect

Oils are divided into groups depending on the result they give. Emollients make the cuticle soft and less susceptible to injury, cracks and hangnails. Products with a protective effect prevent bacterial and fungal infections. Restoring compounds moisturize the nail and eliminate its delamination. The last group is nutritious. They contain many vitamins that accelerate growth, eliminate delamination and white spots.

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What to look for when choosing

The choice of this product requires some compliance with the recommendations.

• Scope of use . Professional use requires a quality product purchase. Such products have a higher than average price and are usually sold with a pipette. Home use can be completely limited to a brush, it will even be more convenient: you don’t have to rub the product until completely absorbed, the brush will do everything for you.
• Compound . Choose a product with an exclusively natural composition. If you encounter some difficulties in such a choice, you can buy at the pharmacy, for example, shea butter, peach butter, almond butter or tea tree butter. They are 100% natural and effective.
• Best before date . Unscrupulous stores may offer for sale an expired product or a product approaching the end of its life. Be sure to check the expiration date, otherwise you can harm your hands and nails even more.

Which oil for nails and cuticles is better?

It is necessary to evaluate the composition, since the components included in it solve specific problems. For example, castor oil has a wound-healing, general strengthening, and anti-inflammatory effect.

Before you decide which cuticle oil is best, you should consider the benefits of each product:

• To accelerate the growth of not very long nails, the Novosvit Lemon butter activator is suitable.
• ECO Laboratorie will help you prepare for a manicure in a short time by starting the plate lengthening.
• If there are hangnails and a weakened matrix, you can use Milv Fruit care.
• For the care of surfaces that have just been freed from artificial manicure, Aravia Professional is recommended.
• Gehwol Med Protective Nail and Skin has proven itself well as a therapeutic agent with an antifungal effect.
• Belweder will help prevent cracking with its moisturizing and strengthening effect.
• To soften the cuticle, you should choose Mavala Cuticle Care Mavapen with olive oil.

When choosing a cosmetic product, you need to take into account pressing problems. For example, moisturizing or caring options will not help with fungal infection.