The Best Cuticle Oil For Healthy Nails

After spending 18 hours of research, collecting feedback from buyers and hands-on testing. We believe that Bee Naturals Cuticle and Nail Oil is the best among the roster of products we reviewed. With its Tea Tree Oil acting as an antimicrobial agent to keep dirt from infecting hangnails, and soothing Lavender Extract, we couldn’t help but absolutely fall in love with it. Its brush applicator offers a smooth glide of just the right amount for each finger, and its formula absorbs quickly. [read more]

Let’s be realistic.

Not everybody has the luxury of setting aside precious time to get a manicure. We’re busy people, and sometimes we simply can’t because of other reasons.

Sometimes it’s out of our daily budget. Maybe we’ve got better things to do with our time. Heck, it could even be because our pets can’t stand the smell of fresh nail polish.

But that doesn’t mean we can’t enjoy some TLC on our tips and toes. That’s where cuticle oil comes in.

A bottle can be life-saving for tired nail beds, but with so many brands out there, it’s hard figuring out which one works for YOU.

No worries -- we’ve whittled down the best cuticle oil options, thrown in choice reviews, and scanned pros and cons of each brand in this article.

Ready? Read on, and hopefully find your cuticle oil pick!

Factors You Need To Consider Before Buying

There’s a lot of things to consider things to consider before buying a bottle of cuticle oil. Since the main goal of a cuticle oil is to keep cuticles moisturized, the first factor to be considered is the oil’s moisturizing abilities.

1. How long does it keep your cuticles and nail beds soft?

Does it dry off right after one swipe, or does it help your hands stay supple despite a whole day’s worth of work?

According to numerous health gurus and medical journals (like Livestrong.com and OrganicFacts.net), a good cuticle oil yields results of soft, tear-free cuticles after just a few days of usage, and that your nails stay strong and healthy even after going through one whole bottle. So keep an eye out for a formula that not only softens and heals damaged cuticles, but keeps them cut-free after continued use.

2. Which extracts are included in the formula?

Another important thing to consider is what’s in one bottle of oil. Cuticle oil is a combination of certain extracts to get certain effects: soothing, cooli​​​​​ng, ridge-repair, etc.

It’s important to know which go into the oil to avoid irritations from extracts you might be allergic to (like Almond Extracts or Tea Tree Oil, among others), and to get more bang out of your buck. A good cuticle oil brand displays all ingredients on the online catalogue and on the packaging it comes in. No list of ingredients, no go.

3.​ Is the oil scented?

Okay, this might not seem too important, but remember-- the smell of the cuticle oil lingers as long as it’s used, so it’s best to choose one with a scent you actually really like. Some scents might be overpowering, or worse, trigger allergies, so it’s best to be sure before committing to a certain kind.​

4.​ What else does the cuticle oil offer?

And since we’re on the topic of what separates a great cuticle oil formula from the run-of-the-mill ones, we also have to look at what else the oil can offer aside from healing split nails and moisturizing hands.

How We Assessed and Evaluated These Products

We got our hands on every and any cuticle oil we could find across the market based on rank from different product review sites, and based on recommendations from friends and family.

Naturally, our search earned us about more than 100 kinds and brands of cuticle oil, each with different oil blends, scents, and application method. Despite the obvious fact that there are literally pages upon pages of kinds of cuticle oil, getting this many results still shocked us.

We thought, wouldn’t it be better for you if we pared down all these results to just the ones that really stand out, to save time? And that we did. We created a criteria based on feedback and comments from users and vendors,, and used that to whittle down all the choices. Included in this criteria are the oil blend ingredients, scent, packaging and applicator, and additional attributes (like ease of application and antimicrobial qualities.)

We also checked out different review blogs for skin care products such as getthegloss.com and makeupalley.com to further see which cuticle oils make the cut for this article. And since the purpose of this list is to help you, the reader, out, we reached out to real-life buyers and skin care gurus to form unbiased opinions on each product featured.

Now, when we say “best”, we don’t necessarily mean the priciest of them all, or the one with the most prominent brand. “Best” for us means finding the balance between a good cost, high-quality performance, and most reputable reviews.

After careful selection, the remaining products are judged again to weigh pros and cons, which are also included with every review below. We’d like to remind you that the products featured in this article have been put through qualitative testing and research to ensure that our readers get as much information on each one without having to overwhelm them with a plethora of choices.

Our Top Picks

Let’s start off with Bee Naturals Cuticle and Nail Oil.

This cuticle oil contains Tea Tree extract, which is also widely used as a simple solution to acne scarring because of its high healing elements.

The cuticle oil is also antifungal, which is a great plus and can be used on toes.

It’s also an added bonus that it moisturizes quite well, too.

And since Bee Naturals is all about, well, being natural, we love how this formula is 100% cruelty-free and locally-made. It also includes Lavender Extracts and a punch of Vitamin E, which both have soothing and healing qualities so you can kiss dry nail beds and damaged cuticles goodbye.

The cuticle oil comes in a 0.5-ounce bottle with a screw-on top and a brush applicator. It’s also synthetic fragrance-free, which is great because users with sensitive noses can use it as well.

However, after an amount of research, we did find that the combo of Tea Tree Oil with Lavender and Lemon made for a pungent smell. To some people, a heavier scent might not be a total dealbreaker, but if you find it too distracting (especially after prolonged use), this product might not be for you.

Another flaw we found was that this cuticle oil did little to thicken or strengthen the actual nail. Even after days of usage, the state of cuticles improved and softened, but the nails would still develop ridges because nail thickness didn’t improve by much.

Overall, Bee Naturals Cuticle and Nail Oil may be a good option if you’re looking for a cuticle oil with a more vegan-friendly approach.​

The second of our list is CND Essentials Solaroil Nail & Cuticle Oil.

This a thinner cuticle oil compared to most kinds to avoid leaving a film of grease right after it has been swiped on.

This formula comes in a 0.25 ounce bottle with a screw-on top as well, and a specially-shaped brush to avoid excessive application.

Despite this formula being thinner, it strengthens nails and makes them thicker after a time of usage. The Almond Oil extracts create a shield-like coat on top of the nail, protecting it from splitting. The sweet, light scent is also a plus as the light blend of Almond and Jojoba Oil isn’t too overwhelming

On the flip side, we did find that it takes a longer time for results to come up after using this particular oil. Compared to the other cuticle oils on this roster, this one took the longest to yield positive results. And since prolonged usage is needed, it also leaves a thin, greasy build-up on the skin, which could be drying for some skin types.

All in all, CND Essentials Solaroil Nail and Cuticle Oil may be good for you if you’d rather use a thinner formula for your cuticles.​

Another cuticle with a thinner, more lightweight formula is Cuccio Revitalize Milk & Honey Cuticle Oil.

One 2.5-ounce bottle is also filled with Vitamin E that boosts skin cell growth, and makes skin stronger, softer, and well-moisturized.

This oil is imbued with Sunflower Oil extracts, which have been proven to brighten dark spots and discoloration of the skin due to scarring or allergic reactions

Another perk that comes with this oil is that it has a dropper applicator instead of the usual brush.

This helps with portion control, so you can avoid the pesky mess of excess oil on your fingers. And, hey, if your mind’s set about keeping a budget, the dropper also helps one bottle last longer because you can easily control just how much cuticle you use in one go.

On the other hand, the scent of this cuticle oil is heavier than the others. Upon research, we found that synthetic fragrances were used to recreate the milk and honey scent. It can double as perfumed oil, that’s how strong the synthetic scent is.

Another pitfall of this cuticle oil is its packaging. The round bottle is pretty sturdy and aesthetically-pleasing, but it wasn’t really travel-friendly. If you’re a person who needs instant relief on the go, this cuticle oil might not be for you (especially if you’d rather keep your skincare items in a travel pouch!).

Bliss Kiss Simply Pure Cuticle & Nail Oil To-Go Pen is a convenient fix for rough cuticles and painful hangnails when you’re traveling light.

Unlike the previous bottled cuticle oils that have brush and dropper applicators, this one comes in a brush pen applicator, which is great for those on the go all the time.

The 0.3 ounce tube and brush top ensure no leaks even after being shaken around in a purse or a pouch.

Another good thing about this cuticle oil is that it’s a combination of so many oil extracts in one tube, so you can count on a high moisturizing effect because of the concentrated oils inside.

From antimicrobial Jojoba, to revitalizing Grapeseed Oil, to Vitamins A and E, one tube packs a strong, healing punch. It also has a light fruity scent that won’t overwhelm even the most sensitive nose.

Despite all that, this cuticle oil also has some flaws. For one, since the formula is made with such a concentration of oils, it might not be for all skin types. We found that itching and redness may happen as a reaction to Vitamin A. Prolonged usage among testers may also lead to excessive peeling around the fingertips.

So if you’re looking for a cuticle oil that’s pretty light to carry around when you’re on the go, this might be the most convenient option.

The last on this list is the Essie Apricot Cuticle Hydrator. This cuticle oil comes in a 1.6 ounce bottle with a brush applicator.

This is one of the most popular brands of nail and cuticle care out there, so we expected a lot from this one.

Essie does not disappoint. This cuticle oil is composed of 75% Apricot Kernel Oil, which is used mostly in lotions and face creams to make skin appear smoother and more firm.

And with that kind of concentration of the extract in the cuticle oil, you can expect good moisture.

There’s no synthetic fragrances, and it’s completely DBP, Toluene, and Formaldehyde-free so it’s safe and non-toxic.

And since most of the oil is made from a fruity extract, the scent is equally as sweet. After a while of using this, your hands may start smelling like apricots (which can be good, because apricots are one of the sweetest-smelling fruits out there!).

However, we did notice a few setbacks. First, we noticed that it leaves a slight orange stain on nail polish and on the nail itself. Washable, but it’s unfortunate that it ruins a pretty good coat of nail polish.

Another flaw is that it might leave a burning sensation for more sensitive skin types. If your skin has an allergy towards apricot extracts, or if you have really sensitive skin, it might be best to consult your doctor before jumping in with this one.

Our Recommendations:

Editor's Pick: Bee Naturals Cuticle and Nail Oil

Bee Naturals Cuticle and Nail Oil has a formula that is synthetic chemical-free so it’s safe for frequent use. What also gives this cuticle oil the extra edge is its Tea Tree Oil extracts, which is a lifesaver for when scars from hangnails get unsightly. It’s also an antimicrobial agent, which helps fight off germ buildup and formation of fungi. Pungent scent aside, it’s a small price to pay for a healing cuticle oil.

Runners Up: Bliss Kiss Simply Pure Cuticle and Essie Apricot Cuticle Hydrator

Bliss Kiss Simply Pure Cuticle & Nail Oil To-Go Pen ranks second because of how convenient the packaging is. In a really fast-paced time, it’s good to have something to pamper our hands with when we get bits of free time. The cuticle oil has a really reliable formula that isn’t too greasy and takes care of hangnails. The tube is also refillable (big plus!), and the light scent is really pleasant.

CND Essentials Solaroil Nail & Cuticle Oil comes at a close third with its nail-strengthening attributes. We all love something with a little bit of extra, and this particular cuticle oil offers just that. Not only does it moisturize, it also protects the nail and surrounding skin.