DIY cuticle oil should be an integral part of your nail care regimen, providing essential hydration, strengthening, softening, and protection from dryness, cracking, peeling and breakage.
Emilie Woodger-Smith shares this easy DIY recipe to show how easy and sustainable beauty can be achieved! Check out her Instagram account and blog for additional sustainable beauty advice!
Ingredients
Cuticle oil is an effective nail treatment designed to soften, moisturize and prevent dry or cracked nails. Available from retail stores or easily made at home using just a few basic ingredients, cuticle oil is an easy and cost-effective solution that will have your cuticles looking their best in no time!
There are various oils you can use when creating a cuticle oil recipe, but olive, coconut, avocado and jojoba oils are among the most effective. All contain essential fatty acids which nourish cuticles while stimulating nail growth.
Fractionated coconut oil is packed with essential fatty acids that can help strengthen and prevent dry, brittle nails. Furthermore, its antifungal properties and wound healing capabilities have also made it an excellent remedy.
The antioxidant properties in this oil may help accelerate nail growth while strengthening and protecting its bed, improving strength and resilience.
Avocado oil is an excellent source of monounsaturated fatty acids, carotenoids and vitamin E. Furthermore, its antifungal properties have proven useful in healing wounds on cuticles.
Rosehip oil makes an excellent cuticle oil option. Packed with vitamins A and E as well as linoleic acid that promotes skin health and nail wellbeing, rosehip oil offers great value.
Sunflower oil is an excellent source of fatty acids that can be used in cuticle oils to soften and moisturize cuticles, and also contain high concentrations of antioxidants to fight signs of premature skin ageing.
Essential oils offer another effective way of providing nourishment for both cuticles and nails while offering a delightful fragrance – lavender, geranium, and lemon essential oils are great choices to consider!
If you are unfamiliar with how to properly utilize essential oils, always consult a medical practitioner for guidance before beginning to use them. Some individuals may develop skin rashes from these treatments so take extra care when applying.
This cuticle oil recipe is super simple to create, combining three natural oils that will leave your nails feeling nourished, protected, and silky smooth! Perfect for those looking for an organic alternative to store bought cuticle oils – and in no time at all either!
Instructions
Cuticles should be an integral component of your nail care routine, from keeping the skin around your nails healthy to providing protection from chemicals or harsh weather which could otherwise break or crack them. Soft, healthy cuticles make your hands appear better while giving maximum benefit from any manicure!
If you want a simple way to keep your cuticles and nails hydrated, try creating your own cuticle oil! It’s simple to do and features natural ingredients that may provide more nourishment for nails and cuticles than commercial products!
To create your own cuticle oil, combine carrier oils with essential oils in a small glass bottle and shake vigorously before adding droppers or roller balls for easy dispensation.
Once your cuticle oil mixture is completed, you should store it for three to six months in a cool and dark location for optimal freshness and usability. To maintain maximum effectiveness over time.
Keep an eye on it to ensure the oils don’t become rancid and if there are any telltale signs, discard and replenish with fresh batches immediately.
As with any homemade product, using preservatives in cuticle oil can extend its shelf life, but the decision ultimately lies with you. Even without preservatives added, however, your cuticle oil should always be stored in a dark, cool, and dry environment so as to remain fresh.
Consider olive, avocado or jojoba oils when selecting your base oil as they all provide excellent nourishing and hydrating effects on cuticles and nails! Additionally, include vitamin E oil in your homemade cuticle oil blend as this vitamin promotes healing and regrowth.
Storage
Cuticles are delicate skin surrounding your nails that needs nourishment to stay looking their best. Cuticle oil can be an effective way to keep them soft and healthy.
Cuticle oils contain carrier oils, vitamin oils and essential oils as their core ingredients. Carrier oils soften the ingredients making them easier to apply directly onto skin and nails while vitamin oils protect cuticle and nail area against dryness, cracking or peeling.
Cuticle oil should last approximately a year when stored in a cool and dark area. However, if its recipe develops an unpleasant odor or changes color and consistency over time it should be thrown out and made again from scratch.
For storage of cuticle oil, two options exist: either a glass roller bottle or clear glass dropper bottle. While roller bottles make applying the oil easier to your hands, dropper bottles provide more control over how much cuticle oil is applied per finger.
Enhance your cuticle oil with essential oils by mixing in essential fragrances such as lavender, tea tree or lemon – creating your own personalized blend! Simply store these fragrances together in glass bottles.
Cuticle oil’s shelf life depends heavily on the oils you choose for its formulation, particularly essential ones that may be more fragile than carrier ones. Therefore, these should be stored in dark bottles away from direct light to extend its shelf life and ensure its efficacy.
Fractionated coconut oil is one of the most sought-after carrier oils for creating DIY cuticle oils, thanks to its high concentration of saturated fatty acids which make it soft and nourishing – ideal for cuticles!
Sweet almond oil is another versatile carrier oil to consider for use in making cuticle oil, offering skin-friendly emollience suitable for all skin types, including sensitive ones.
Jojoba oil is another effective moisturizer that works wonders on dry skin. You can use it alone or mix it with carrier and essential oils.
Shelf life
If your hangnails, reddened cuticles or split nails need help improving in appearance, it may be beneficial to try making natural cuticle oil at home using one of many available recipes. Making natural cuticle oil at home is easy!
Additionally, this recipe is very cost-effective and uses only all-natural ingredients that won’t irritate or otherwise negatively impact your skin.
Cuticle oil should be applied daily in order to help your cuticles look their best and should be stored in an airtight container for optimal use. It will keep its original shine for up to one year when stored properly and should be applied directly onto cuticles daily for best results.
Vitamin E will extend the shelf life of cuticle oils by slowing oxidation. Furthermore, it facilitates more even absorption, essential to keeping cuticles and nails moisturized and healthy.
Essential oils like lavender and tea tree are perfect for use in cuticle oil formulation, acting as anti-fungal agents to safeguard your cuticles and nails against infections while increasing blood circulation and encouraging nail growth.
Find essential oils at your local health food store – popular ones include jojoba, meadowfoam, fractionated coconut, watermelonseed moringa and high oleic sunflower oils.
When purchasing essential oils, make sure to read their label for information regarding shelf life and if there is an expiration date. Many essential oils will quickly deteriorate under direct sunlight or air exposure and become rancid quickly.
Oil bottles with too much headspace may shorten their shelf lives significantly, leading to oxidation and ultimately degrading their quality over time. If possible, try moving your oil to smaller bottles as this may prevent this issue and protect its quality.
Maintaining optimal conditions will give your oil maximum shelf life and avoid rancidity too quickly. In order to stay organized, write the date on which you received your oil’s label so you won’t lose track of its use!
When ready to use cuticle oil, apply a small amount to each finger and nail. Give it about two to three hours until it fully absorbs and dries, allowing you to use as often as necessary.
