If washing and sanitizing your hands is causing irritated skin and painful hangnails, it's more than likely your at-home manicure is looking a little worse for the wear. That's why you likely keep a half-used tube of hand cream in your bedside table, but if your nails are still dry, it's time to bring in reinforcements.
Instead of slathering on lotion, there's a more concentrated treatment to save you from dry patches and brittle nails. All you need is a cuticle oil that absorbs easily, smells nice, and treats your nails — plus the skin surrounding them — with a little extra TLC. We've rounded up the best reparative cuticle oils, all of which will soothe parched skin and ensure a strong manicure clear through summer. Grab your favorite, ahead.
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OPI ProSpa Nail & Cuticle Oil
This dermatologist-developed oil is formulated with a blend of conditioning plant oils that dry cuticles will readily drink up.
Sally Hansen Nail Treatment Vitamin E Nail & Cuticle Oil
You don't need to spend a lot on your cuticle treatment when this top-rated Sally Hansen offerings — infused with vitamin E and aloe — is just $5.99 at Target.
Orly Argan Oil Cuticle Drops
Ulta reviewers swear by this stuff to combat dry, cracked cuticles and brittle, breakage-prone nails. We suggest making it part of your bedtime routine and keeping a bottle next to your toothbrush to encourage the habit.
Essie Apricot Cuticle Oil
The mix of cotton seed and soybean oils in this apricot-scented treatment seals in moisture to rehydrate cracked cuticles and keep nails smooth and shapely.
Tenoverten The Rose Oil
Standing out among the rainbow of tenoverten glossy polishes (there are over 50 different shades), this little pen is the brand's best-seller by a landslide. People love that the oil smells faintly of roses, is infused with natural botanical oils and vitamin E to soften dry, cracked cuticles, and comes in the form of handy pen with a soothing rollerball tip. (P.S. Tenoverten also launched a Celery Oil this year, if you're more green juice than florals.)
Deborah Lippmann Cuticle Oil
This oil may be lightweight, but it works hard: Just brush a thin layer over your nail beds, use your fingers to gently massage it in and around your cuticles, and over time, you'll see stronger, shinier nails that are magically resistant to peeling.
CND SolarOil
It's a salon staple for a reason. At under $10, CND's brush-on formula has won legions of fans with its accessible price point and deeply nourishing blend of jojoba oil, sweet almond oil and vitamin E.
Olive & June Cuticle Serum Duo
Let's face it — the only way we're going to remember to apply cuticle oil twice daily is if it's easy. This Olive & June pen is just that: With just a twist, the foam tip becomes saturated with non-greasy serum that can be dabbed around your nail bed, providing instant hydration in five seconds flat. Plus, this kit comes with two pens, one for your bag and one for your bedside table.
French Girl Organics Nail + Cuticle Oil
Another roll-on formula, this one smells like lemon slices and fresh-cut roses, is infused with organic hydrating botanicals like argan and tamanu oils, and sinks into nail beds instantly, leaving hands buttery soft.
Jurlique Nail and Cuticle Treatment Oil
This cuticle oil is a quick fix and a preventative treatment held in a single glass dropper. Because it's infused with avocado oil, which is rich in fatty acids, the treatment sinks into the nails, delivering immediate softness, while also protecting the skin from moisture loss and dehydration from frequent washing.
Nails Inc. Superfood Repair Oil
If you have broken nails, peeling cuticles, and a hangnail (or three), this repair oil will fix all your issues overnight. Just drop a few beads of oil over the base of your nail beds twice a week, and you'll have visibly stronger, healthier nails by next week.