10 best cuticle oils that will rejuvenate your nails

Ask the top UK manicurists what their go-to cuticle oil is and it’s almost certain that they’ll tell you it’s this one. It’s one of the fastest-working cuticle oils out there that gets the job done really well. It contains 21 (yes, 21!) essential oils that are lightweight enough to penetrate the skin and get to work deeply moisturising the cuticles and surrounding skin.

It claims no greasy residue is left over but by definition, it’s an oil so it does leave a slight greasiness. This isn’t a bad thing; it’s actually what you want in a nice, lightweight oil to deeply moisturise. If you aren’t a fan of oily fingertips, read on for other formulas that might suit your preferences better. But you won’t be instantly left without any residue so don’t expect that. The oil has a lovely citrusy scent, making it a nice addition to your hand care routine without being overpowering.

If you need a quick remedy for your nails, apply this three or more times a day and in just a few days you’ll notice a significant improvement.

Considering they’re such a must-have product in any nail care routine, cuticle oils can be pretty pricey — particularly if you’re using them as often as experts recommend. We can always count on trusty Boots to come through with a bargain — and that’s no different with cuticle oils. The eight-in-one name suggests you might get eight various uses out of it, or that it contains some magical ingredient that the others don’t, but this isn’t the case. Instead, it’s a fantastic, budget-friendly oil that’ll work to moisturise your cuticles leaving a delicious citrus scent.

The dropper is small meaning you can dispense a good amount of product onto each nail without wasting any extras. A little goes a long way and soaks into the skin surprisingly well considering that it’s a dropper oil formula. This is a great one to saturate your nails before bed to give them a dose of moisture while you sleep.

Disliking oily textures isn’t an excuse to not use a product to help your cuticles, you’ve just got to find the right formula. This is where Beauty Pie’s cuticle therapy comes in handy. This has a serum texture (definitely misleading for it to be called an oil in the product description), which feels lightweight on the skin and soaks in almost instantly. It’s a great one to use during the day if you want to be diligent at applying product to your fingertips without getting a greasy keyboard or steering wheel.

Among its ingredient-packed formula, the serum contains castor oil, glycerin, sweet almond oil and bakuchiol to soften those cuticles and prevent hangnails. Unlike many of the other oils, this one can actually hydrate the skin around the nails as well as moisturise them. The scent is clean and soapy; ideal if you don’t want a citrus-packed fragrance. Need some serious nail TLC? Apply this prior to an oil for maximum nail attention.

The first thing to note about this cuticle pen is that it’s different from every other oil out there so don’t go in expecting a liquidy pen. It’s actually more of a felt-tip type applicator, making it so unique.

An ideal pick for those who dislike that oily feeling when applying a regular dropper or brush cuticle treatment. It dispenses just enough product so that your cuticles get the benefits from the oil without any surplus going all over the place; making it great for on-the-go.

It also works well as a spot treatment for areas of your cuticle or surrounding skin (like a particularly stubborn hangnail) that’s dry without drenching your entire nail. You can use the felt tip applicator to gently push back your cuticles as you apply, too.

Definitely the most expensive on the list, this is one we recommend keeping with you for on-the-go versus having by your cabinet to slather on before bed. The ingredients list is a little more extensive than others – it contains macadamia nut oil, mongongo tree nut and mays corn germ oil, working together to keep the cuticle skin moisturised and looking healthy. It has a classic earthy scent, which you’ll either love or want to pass on.

There are pros and cons to being a roll on. The main benefit is that it’s great for on-the-go and dispenses a decent amount of product with few swipes needed. However, this format makes it difficult to really coat the nails if you’re looking for a deep condition, but it’s great for when out and about.

OPI knows nails, so it’s no surprise that the cuticle oil is brilliant. It has a nice texture straddling between an oil and a gel, giving it all of the moisturising, lightweight properties of an oil without sliding around everywhere; the formula stays where you apply it, which is a huge bonus. If you’re someone who doesn’t like cuticle oils for that reason and want a formula that you can truly take and use everywhere, this is the one for you. The formula is packed full of impressive ingredients that cuticles love, including avocado oil, sunflower oil, cupuacu oil and grape oil.

Another total classic in the nail world is CND and the cuticle oil is one of the brand’s best-known and much-loved products. The main quality to note about this cuticle oil is that it works fast. By using it two to three times a day, you’ll notice huge improvements within three to four days. Douse your cuticles in this pre-bedtime, making sure to go to the free edge and underneath. It’s lightweight but feels intensely moisturising. It has a marzipan scent, which is great for those who want something other than citrus. Typically, this is a cuticle oil people try and then stay loyal to for years and years – we can easily see why.

Thanks to the cocktail of ingredients, including jojoba, grapeseed, olive oil and sesame oil with amino acids, BHAs and vitamin E, this is a hard-working cuticle oil. The dropper applicator makes it easy to coat every nail, which is ideal for pre-bed application.

Since it has a dropper applicator, it can be a little difficult to control exactly where you’re putting the oil. For that reason, we’d recommend using it for overnight use. That way you can be generous with your application, massage into cuticles, slap on some hand cream and let it work its magic while you sleep.

If coconut isn’t your thing, there are seven other scents to choose from, including pineapple, grape and strawberry. It’s definitely the most fun cuticle oil out of the bunch.

Peacci cuticle oil is one the best and most reliable on the list. It works brilliantly to quickly repair and moisturise even the most sad cuticles. Since it contains paraffin, it is pretty greasy by nature. The brand has done a fantastic job formulating a lightweight end result but this one is best for at-home use to ensure you don’t get oil residue everywhere when you’re out.

It has the longest bottleneck of the bunch, which makes it really easy to use if you struggle with fine motor skills. It also has a fun peachy scent, to match the name, making it stand out from the rest when it comes to scent.

Shea oil is the star of the show here with a 30 per cent inclusion in this formula. With the addition of sweet almond oil, castor oil, grape oil and apricot oil (to name a few), it packs a punch of moisture whilst still being really lightweight. Similar to OPI’s formula, this one is almost like a gel-oil hybrid, being moisturising enough to get to work on the cuticles but not greasy and slippery enough that it goes everywhere. It stays exactly where you apply it.

The handy brush tube applicator makes it really easy for both by your bedside, in your handbag, at your desk or in your car — basically anywhere you’re going to remember to apply. At nighttime, top this cuticle oil off with a generous layer of the L’Occitane shea butter hand cream (£19, Amazon.co.uk) and you’ll be saying goodbye to any dryness within hours.