Tester feedback: “I’m an avid fan of Tenoverten’s nail studio, but when I don’t have time to get to downtown Manhattan, I spruce up my nails with an at-home mani that, of course, includes The Rose Oil,” says commerce writer Jennifer Hussein. “The rollerball tip provides precise application and emits a thin layer of oil that my nibbled cuticles slurp up in seconds.”
Key ingredients: rose flower oil, jojoba oil, argan oil, pomegranate oil, sweet almond oil, hemp seed oil | Fragrance-free: yes
Best Fast-Absorbing: CND Solar Oil Nail and Cuticle Conditioner
Why it’s worth it: CND’s Solar Oil Nail and Cuticle Conditioner is a nail-salon (and Miss Pop) staple for good reason: Over time and with regular use, the jojoba oil and vitamin E help restore and heal dry, cracked skin on and around your fingers and nails. This oil is also spiked with rice bran oil, which is rich in skin-smoothing antioxidants.
Tester feedback: “When I notice my cuticles looking ragged, manicure or no manicure, I reach for this stuff, which helps soften my skin and minimize peeling,” says Pai. “Plus, it dries almost instantly.”
Key ingredients: jojoba oil, vitamin E, rice bran oil, sweet almond oil | Fragrance-free: no
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Best for Dry Skin: MiniLuxe Nourishing Cuticle Oil
Why it’s worth it: If you’ve been swiping on different nail care oils and tinctures yet find your cuticles to be drier than sandpaper, it’s because those oils moisturize—as in, they provide a surface layer of temporary moisture to fill in cracks and not hydrate, which means actually binding water to the skin at a microscopic level. That’s why Melinda Conroy, DO, a board-certified dermatologist in Austin, TX, recommends the MiniLuxe Nourishing Cuticle Oil. Sure, it contains marula, castor, and olive oils to seal in and replenish moisture, but it’s also spiked with antioxidant vitamin E to actually hydrate the skin, making it feel smooth and soft for hours and not just when you first apply it.
Key ingredients: marula oil, vitamin E, olive oil, castor seed oil | Fragrance-free: no
Best for Sensitive Skin: Aquaphor Healing Advanced Therapy Ointment
Why it’s worth it: If your skin is sensitive, Austin, TX-based board-certified dermatologist Jennifer Gordon, MD, recommends soothing cuticle dryness and shielding sensitive skin with Aquaphor’s Healing Advanced Therapy Ointment. “It is protective, moisturizing, repairs skin barrier, and is hypo-allergenic,” she says. This drugstore darling is a versatile medicine cabinet staple for its mix of petroleum jelly, mineral oil, glycerin, and lanolin that acts as an all-in-one humectant, emollient, and occlusive to ensure your skin stays soft and plump.
