There’s nothing quite as uncomfortable or as embarrassing as dry and broken nails. It’s not just the nail part that suffers, because odds are your fingertips are also riddled in sore cuticles and dry skin.
Dry skin around your fingernails, broken cuticles, and thinning nails can be a result of various factors.
These include general wear and tear, constant exposure to water or chemicals, medications and treatments, illnesses, and nervous habits like biting your nails.
If you want to give your nails some well-deserved TLC, you might need to find an oil to heal your weakened nails and dry cuticles.
Here is our guide to help you find the best oil for nails!
Cuccio Naturale Cuticle Revitalizing Oil
First up on our list is the Cuccio Naturale Cuticle Revitalizing Oil. This is a fantastically versatile product designed to alleviate the symptoms of dryness, whether it’s caused by overworked hands, the cold, or a skin condition.
The oil features a vitamin-infused formula that is both completely paraben-free and cruelty-free, making it both an eco-friendly product and a gentle one on your sensitive skin.
One of the key ingredients is mango, a naturally occurring fruit filled with rich fatty oils, vitamin A, and vitamin C – all of which help to support the quality of skin and combat the effects of aging.
Safflower and sunflower oil are also infused into the product, encouraging a layer of moisture to heal dry and cracked cuticles. This is the best way to promote healthy cuticle regrowth and heal those pesky hangnails.
The application is easy with this oil – simply rub it directly onto your fingertips, and the effects should work overnight. Not only does it heal cuticles, but the oils help to strengthen thin nails to prevent breakage.
When testing this product, we appreciated its versatility.
We found that it can be rubbed all over the user’s fingers and hands if they are struggling with dryness or cracked skin, which is ideal for those working in harsh environments or during the cold winter months.
Pros
- Restores dryness – Works to combat cracked and damaged skin from dryness
- Versatile – Heals cuticles, thin nails, and dry skin on the fingertips
- Natural ingredients – Formula filled with natural oils to moisturize and heal the skin
Cons
- Bottle shape – Dropper applicator doesn’t work well with bottle shape, so spillages may occur
Bee Naturals Nail And Cuticle Oil
If you’re looking for a travel-friendly cuticle and nail oil to bring on the road, then this is the product for you. Gone are the days of lugging around a hefty bottle of oil that could spill in your bag!
The Bee Naturals Nail And Cuticle Oil comes in a conveniently small bottle, much like a regular nail polish bottle, that is secure and small enough to carry in your purse throughout the day.
Don’t fret – a smaller bottle doesn’t mean the product runs out within a matter of uses. A little oil goes a long way, so this bottle is designed to last for several months.
As for the oil inside, the formula consists of safe, naturally derived ingredients including olive oil, castor oil, sunflower oil, avocado oil, and more.
The oil is also infused with lemon, tea tree, and lavender essential oils to create a gentle and comforting smell. Plus, these essential oils are fantastic healers.
This oil works to heal hard cuticles, thin nails, and dry, damaged fingertips within the first use.
As it’s an oily product, it’s recommended to apply this in the evening and allow it to dry before you sleep, or to wear gloves overnight to keep the oil in place.
When testing this product, we appreciated the spa-like atmosphere with the calming and pleasing infused scents of essential oils.
Pros
- Travel-friendly – Small and secure bottle is ideal for carrying in your bag or purse
- Pleasant scent – Spa-like aroma thanks to infused essential oils
- Natural ingredients – Filled with natural and essential oils to make nails stronger and cuticles softer
Cons
- Brush applicator – While a fine applicator, the brush might arrive split if packaged improperly
Sally Hansen Vitamin E Nail And Cuticle Oil
Cuticle and nail oil isn’t generally expensive, but if you’re looking for a super affordable option, then make sure to check out Sally Hansen’s nail treatment range.
Sally Hansen’s nail and cuticle oil is a particularly beneficial product for those with dry nails, rough cuticles, and pesky hangnails.
Sally Hansen is a leading brand in affordable nail care, and this product is no exception. This oil is infused with vitamin E, aloe vera, and apricot kernel amongst other natural and safe ingredients.
Vitamin E helps to retain moisture in the nail bed, aloe helps to strengthen nails, and apricot kernel prevents the skin from drying out. Ideal for those cold winter months.
Within a single use, users will begin to notice the benefits of this oil. As with any cuticle oil, you’ll have to allow enough time for it to sink into the skin properly, so make sure not to rub it off before sleeping.
This is a fairly small bottle that can easily slip into your purse for treating your nails on the go, but remember that a little goes a long way.
When testing this product, we found the only downside was that it doesn’t come with an applicator. We recommend applying the oil to your fingernails with a Q-tip to control the amount of oil coming out.
Pros
- Rejuvenating formula – Filled with oils to provide moisture and restore dry nails
- Travel-friendly – Small bottle can fit easily in any purse
- Works fast – Results start to show within the first use
Cons
- No applicator – Doesn’t come with an applicator, be careful not to pour and spill the product when applying
Pura D’Or Organic Nail And Cuticle Oil
The key to a good nail and cuticle oil is finding one filled with organic ingredients. Not only is an organic formula good for the environment, but it’s also far better for your skin than a bunch of harmful chemicals.
The Pura D’Or Organic Nail and Cuticle Oil is filled with a blend of honey, jojoba, biotin, vitamin E, and almond milk.
Biotin is one of the best ingredients in the world for healing and strengthening nails, which is why this oil is particularly good for nail biters and those who wish to promote nail growth.
While almond milk might sound like a rogue ingredient, it’s actually high in vitamin B, iron, calcium, and protein. This helps to keep your nails, cuticles, and fingertips rejuvenated and hydrated whilst restoring any damage.
It’s worth noting that while this product is organic and marketed as vegan, it does contain honey, so it depends on your personal opinion whether you would classify it as vegan or not.
The bottle is a decent size and comes with a handy dropper, allowing you all the control when applying the oil to your fingertips.
A little goes a long way, so you’ll only need to use 1-2 drops per finger at a time. It is recommended to apply this oil at least once a day to receive the best benefits of the treatment.
When testing this product, we appreciated how it helped to speed the recovery time between manicures. This is great for those who love to get their nails done but care about the health of their nails and cuticles.
Pros
- Organic formula – Filled with organic, natural ingredients and no chemicals
- Promotes growth – Not only strengthens nails but also quickens healthy growth
- Handy applicator – Dropper helps control how much oil is used
Cons
- Potentially not vegan – Honey is a key ingredient
Honeyskin Nourishing Nail Care Cuticle Oil
There’s nothing quite as horrible as thin nails that break whenever they bend. Newsflash – nails aren’t supposed to bend so that they crack under the slightest pressure! If your nails do this, then it’s time to check out this nail oil.
Honeyskin’s Nourishing Nail Care Cuticle Oil is ideal for those who struggle with constant breakages.
To give your nails and cuticles time to heal before the next manicure (or even the next day of work), rub a drop of this oil in your fingertips every night. Within the first use, your cuticles will be softer and nails will become less bendy.
The formula of this nail oil contains natural ingredients, including sunflower oil and safflower oil, which are both beneficial in strengthening and hydrating nails and cuticles.
These nourishing oils help to heal and restore the cuticles, with each use strengthening your fingertips even more.
This oil is also infused with tea tree, rosemary, and manuka oil to create a gentle, spa-like aroma.
When testing this product, we liked how the lightweight and liquid-like consistency meant that a little goes a long way. The handy dropper applicator helps to control how much oil you’re using.
Pros
- Strengthens nails – Restores dry cuticles and encourages stronger nails
- Natural ingredients – Nourishing oils and infusions are gentle on the skin
- Pleasant aroma – Spa-like scent thanks to natural infusions
Cons
- Consistency – Thinner consistency compared to other oils, so make sure to not use too much
Buyer’s Guide
Picking an oil for nails and cuticles might sound like an easy task. You just pick up the first one you find online or in a store, right? Not quite.
Here are the main factors to consider when finding the best oil for nails.
Formula
Most importantly, you need to spend the time to make sure the ingredients in the formula are non-toxic and free from parabens and other harsh chemicals.
Nails, cuticles, and hands in general are highly sensitive parts of the body, not to mention dry and damaged nails.
To avoid making matters worse, only buy nail oils filled with natural ingredients, such as (but not limited to):
- Sunflower oil
- Safflower oil
- Aloe vera
- Avocado oil
- Biotine
- Honey
- Olive oil
- Apricot kernel
- Vitamins A, C, and E
It’s also worth checking if the product is cruelty-free and/or vegan. Most nail oils are cruelty-free and vegan, but as some contain honey, you might want to reconsider if you’re committed to buying vegan cosmetic products.
Benefits
Above all else, the benefits of the nail oil have to be beneficial enough for you to use it over and over again. Nail oils are designed to be applied daily, so there’s no point rubbing an oil into your fingertips if it doesn’t work.
Fortunately, you won’t have to wait too long to tell if an oil is good or not. The majority of nail oils will provide results after the first use, but you will only notice long-term results from long-term use.
Benefits include softer cuticles, stronger nails, lack of breakage, damage restoration, reduction in hangnails, and shinier nails.
Consistency
While this isn’t really a dealbreaker, each nail oil will have its own consistency. This all comes down to personal preference, because some might prefer thicker oils to thinner ones.
However, thicker oils typically take longer to dry, while thinner ones are generally harder to control during the application process.
Applicator
Every nail oil product comes with its own applicator, and it’s worth knowing about these applicators.
Dropper applicators are generally the most common in nail oils, and these work like any regular dropper, wherein you can control how many drops of oil go onto your nails.
Some nail oils come with a brush applicator, much like a regular nail polish applicator, which also helps to control how much oil you use.
However, these can be unreliable depending on how they’ve been packaged, because you might end up with split brushes. Plus, if your skin is incredibly sensitive, you might not want to use a brush to apply the oil.
Some nail oils don’t come with an applicator at all, which is a recipe for an oily disaster.
Instead of pouring the oil directly on your fingers (which is a surefire way to waste product), we recommend dipping a Q-tip into the oil and applying the product to your nails that way.
Bottle
While it might not seem like a huge deal, the size and shape of the nail oil bottle is worth thinking about. Some bottles are smaller than others, while others come in slightly stranger shapes.
While the bulkier bottles hold more product, these are generally the hardest to carry in makeup bags and purses as they take up so much space.
Scent
Most nail oils will come with an aroma, which is a lovely bonus for many. Just make sure the aroma is achieved through an infusion of natural essential oils (such as lavender, rose, jasmine, lemon, or tea tree) rather than chemical fragrances.
These essential oils will also help to heal your nails and cuticles.
However, not all buyers want a nail oil that comes with a scent. Still, if you want the ultimate self-care experience, opt for one with a lovely aroma to feel like you’re having a spa treatment!
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Coconut Oil Good For My Nails?
Coconut oil is one of the most versatile ingredients in the kitchen cupboard. Yes, coconut oil is good for your nails!
Coconut oil is filled with fatty acids that, when applied to dry or damaged skin, helps aid the natural skin barrier to heal and restore itself. The same goes for nails and cuticles, as the oil hydrates and rejuvenates dryness and breakages.
Not only this, but coconut oil helps to cure toenail fungus and aids the pain of ingrown toenails!
Is It Good To Put Oil On Your Nails?
Oil is an underrated product to put on your nails.
Various cuticle oils are filled with natural and essential oils, all of which are filled with vitamins and nutrients designed to protect, restore, and strengthen nails, cuticles, and the skin around your nails.
For those who are aging, dealing with illnesses, or taking medication that leaves dry and weak nails, then oils are a necessary product for the health of your nails.
Is Vaseline Good For Nails?
Is there anything Vaseline can’t do? That’s right, Vaseline is good for your nails! Vaseline is a healing product that helps to hydrate, restore, and soften dry and broken skin, which includes your cuticles and the skin around your nails.
In fact, Vaseline is also handy for painting your nails. Simply apply a layer of Vaseline around each nail before applying the nail polish, and it will capture any polish that goes outside the nail.
Is Vitamin E Oil Good For Nails?
Vitamin E is one of the best oils for your nails. It can be taken either in oil form directly onto the nails, or you can take the vitamin as an oral supplement.
Vitamin E helps to prevent yellow nail syndrome, which is where nails become yellow and are prone to cracking and peeling.
Even if you don’t have yellow nail syndrome, vitamin E helps to reduce these symptoms before they develop into something potentially worse. This is why most nail and cuticle oils will contain vitamin E.
