What Does Cuticle Oil Do? Why it’s the Secret to Stronger, Healthier Nails

Keeping your nails strong and healthy is one of the keys to a beautiful-looking mani, and cuticle oil is a really handy product to have in your gel nail arsenal. But have you ever questioned what the real benefits of cuticle oil are, and whether it actually works?

Cuticles are the dead bit of skin that grows from the bottom of the nails over the nail bed. The bit of skin at the end of the nail is actually called the proximal fold – this is what most people think is the cuticle. 

The skin is very delicate, so it's important to take care of it and do what you can to keep it healthy.

Always keeping your nails hydrated and moisturised helps to protect them from drying out or cracking. It also means that as your nail grows out, they’ll be healthier as they grow, too.

Cuticle oil is designed to do exactly that – keep your cuticles hydrated and nourished.

As the name states, this product is a mixture of oils, sometimes with added vitamins, like vitamin E, which you apply directly to your cuticles to add moisture to the cuticle skin and nails.

Cuticle oil helps to replenish and nourish the cuticle skin surrounding your nails. This helps to keep the cuticles and skin around the nails soft, healthy and hydrated, protecting them from drying out, cracking or splitting.

It also helps reduce the appearance of hangnails and cuticle build-up around the edges of your nails, keeping them looking tidy and clean. If the skin around your nails starts to become damaged, there's a risk of infection, so taking care of your cuticles is really important.

Plus, cuticle oil can also help promote nail growth by nourishing the skin and creating an environment for healthy nails.

This hydrating oil really does have many benefits, which is why you'll always find it in our Mylee Kit Case!

Some of which we've listed in the table below:

Nourished cuticles are easier to push back during your polish prep.

One of the main reasons we recommend using cuticle oil regularly is that it makes pushing back your cuticles much easier.

As part of your typical nail prep routine, you should push your cuticle back using a Metal or Wooden Cuticle Pusher to prevent the gel polish from lifting off your nail plate. Having nourished and softened cuticles makes it easier to push your cuticles back, meaning you can prep your nails quicker for a longer-lasting mani.

There are many different types of cuticle oils available, from varying application methods to the ingredients used, but they all work to help nourish the skin around your nails.

Cuticle oil can come in a bottle with a dropper, a rollerball applicator or a brush pen.

Each of these has its own benefits; for example, the dropper bottle is great for all-over application, whereas the roller-ball is good to take on the go.

Almond oil (like our Sweet Almond Nail & Cuticle Oil) is the most popular choice for cuticle oil, as it's a natural product and absorbs quickly. It conditions the skin and nails, leaving them feeling soft and hydrated.

But which cuticle oil should you be using, we hear you ask? Well, we've got two incredible options that work to keep your cuticles hydrated, nourished and in good condition.

Our Sweet Almond Nail and Cuticle Oil comes in a 50ml bottle with a dropper lid, making it easy to apply the oil directly onto your nails. It's enriched with sweet almond oil, grapeseed oil and sunflower oil to nourish the nail and cuticle area.

For throwing into your bag for on-the-go hydration, our Cuticle Oil Roller Pen is the perfect product.

This handy rollerball pen has an easy-to-use applicator with the same oil blend as our bottled cuticle oil, so your cuticles will be nourished all day long.

You should use cuticle oil even if you don't wear gel polish, but it's even more important for those of us who do.

Making sure the cuticle skin and skin around your nails are in good condition helps to minimise the chance of the gel polish lifting, extending the life of your mani.

Plus, the oil adds back any moisture lost from the curing process and helps to ensure that the skin remains healthy.

It's really important that you don't use cuticle oil before your gel polish application; otherwise, the polish won't adhere to your nail plate.

As part of your nail prep routine, you should clean and sanitise your nails using our Prep & Wipe solution and a lint-free wipe to remove any trace of dirt or oil on your nail surface.

Alternatively, you can go in with our new Nail Prep Dehydrator to fully dehydrate the nail of any oils before going in with your base coat layer.

If oil is present, the gel polish won't stick properly. Instead, you should be applying cuticle oil after doing your gel nails and in between manis to keep your cuticles hydrated and healthy.

If you're not already using this nifty product as part of your nail care routine, it's time to start!

Like we mentioned earlier, you should never use cuticle oil on your nails before applying gel polish, or the polish will never stick to your nails.

But you can apply it afterwards.

We recommend doing this every time you do your nails and once or twice a day in between.

This way, you'll consistently keep your cuticles hydrated and nourished, keeping your nails healthy and your mani looking flawless.

Adding cuticle oil to your nail care and gel nail routine is a really important step to ensure your nails stay in the best condition and help prolong the life of your mani.

Take your pick from our Sweet Almond Nail and Cuticle Oil or Cuticle Oil Roller Pen, and apply daily to keep your cuticles hydrated and nourished.

Plus, we have a great selection of nail care tools for prepping and perfecting your mani, so be sure to check those out too!