Dry and peeling skin around your nails is not only painful but can also make your freshly painted nails look shabby. The harsh winters also wreak havoc on your skin, making cracked cuticles hurt even more. If proper care is not taken, and it’s quite common to overlook your cuticles, they may even get infected and leave you in agonizing pain.
Since cuticles serve as a protective layer for the growing nails, it is important that you protect them in return by keeping them well-moisturized.
There are endless varieties of nail creams to choose from, but the ingredients found in them are pretty common and can be whipped up at home in no time to make your own DIY cuticle cream. All you need to do is scour your pantry and gather a handful of moisturizing and healing ingredients.
To get you started, here are the three best recipes to make DIY homemade cuticle butter, oil and cream. Choose the one that appeals to you the most and treat your cuticles to some TLC.
Contents
Method 1: Cuticle Butter
If you want your cuticle cream to be rich and creamy, then go with this recipe. The extra-virgin coconut oil serves as the nourishing agent here. It softens the skin and also forms an antibacterial layer on the cuticles to prevent infections. The beeswax helps to create a protective layer on the skin to retain moisture in the cuticles. There is also a blend of essential oils that soothe skin irritations and further protect the cuticles from infections.
Things you’ll need:
- Extra-virgin coconut oil (nourishes skin) – ¼ cup
- Beeswax (protects skin) – 1 teaspoon
- Eucalyptus essential oil (antiseptic) – 5 or 6 drops
- Grapefruit essential oil (softens skin) – 5 or 6 drops
- Peppermint essential oil (soothes skin) – 5 or 6 drops
Step 1. Melt and blend the beeswax and coconut oil
- Put 1 teaspoon of beeswax in a heat-safe glass bowl.
- Add ¼ cup of extra-virgin coconut oil to it.
- Put the bowl in the microwave and melt the ingredients on high for 30 seconds.
Step 2. Add the essential oils
- Add 5 or 6 drops each of eucalyptus, grapefruit and peppermint essential oils.
- Mix well and let it sit for 1 to 2 minutes. The oils should begin to solidify a little but not completely.
Step 3. Whisk the ingredients & store the cuticle butter in a jar
- Once the oils begin to solidify, use a hand blender to whip up the ingredients for 5 minutes. This will give the oils a butter-like frothy consistency.
- Spoon the mixture into an airtight container.
- Rub a small amount of the butter on your cuticles and massage for 1 minute.
Repeat 2 or 3 times a day, especially after you wash your hands, to keep your cuticles and hands healthy.
The shelf life of this DIY homemade cuticle butter is up to 6 months when stored in a dark and cool place.
Method 2: Cuticle Oil
If you prefer oil over cream, then make this simple cuticle oil using just three ingredients. The vitamin E oil is excellent for your skin and will deeply moisturize cracked cuticles. The grapeseed oil helps soften dry and flaky skin, while the lavender essential oil helps soothe skin irritation.
Things you’ll need:
- Vitamin E oil (deeply moisturizes skin) – 1 tablespoon
- Grapeseed oil (softens skin) – 1 tablespoon
- Lavender essential oil (soothes skin) – 10 drops
Step 1. Combine the three ingredients
- Pour 1 tablespoon of grapeseed oil into a bowl.
- Puncture and squeeze the oil out of 3 or 4 vitamin E capsules until you have 1 tablespoon of the oil.
- Add 10 drops of lavender essential oil.
- Mix the ingredients well.
Step 2. Store the oil blend in a dark bottle & use as needed
- Using a small funnel, transfer the oil blend to a dark-colored bottle that has a dropper.
- Put 1 or 2 drops of the oil on your cuticles and massage them for 2 minutes.
- Blot off the excess oil with a paper towel.
Repeat at least twice daily to keep your cuticles well-moisturized. The shelf life of the DIY homemade cuticle oil is up to 6 months when stored in a dark and cool place.
Method 3: Cuticle Cream
We saved the best for last. This cuticle cream uses a blend of all the nourishing and hydrating ingredients you can think of. There is shea butter, sweet almond oil, vitamin E oil, and some amazing smelling essential oils to moisturize and rejuvenate your dry skin and cuticles.
Things you’ll need:
- Argan oil (moisturizes skin) – 2 tablespoons
- Sweet almond oil (moisturizes skin) – 2 tablespoons
- Beeswax (protects skin) – 1½ tablespoons
- Shea butter (deeply moisturizes skin & binds moisture) – 2 tablespoons
- Vitamin E oil (moisturizes skin) – 1 capsule
- Sandalwood essential oil (soothes skin) – 20 drops
- Tea tree essential oil (antibacterial) – 10 drops
- Orange essential oil (softens skin) – 10 drops
Step 1. Melt the shea butter and beeswax in a double boiler
- Assemble a makeshift double boiler.
- Drop 1½ tablespoons of beeswax into the bowl.
- Add 2 tablespoons of shea butter to it.
- Let the two ingredients melt and blend together over medium heat.
- Once they turn liquid, remove the bowl from the heat and set it aside.
Step 2. Add the sweet almond oil and argan oil
- Add 2 tablespoons of sweet almond oil to the melted ingredients.
- Also, add 2 tablespoons of argan oil.
- Stir well to blend everything.
Step 3. Add the essential oils
- Squirt in 20 drops of sandalwood essential oil.
- Add 10 drops each of tea tree and orange essential oils.
Step 4: Add vitamin E oil & store the cream in a container.
- Puncture and squeeze out the contents of 1 vitamin E capsule.
- Give the mix one final stir and pour the prepared blend into a shallow container.
- Allow it to solidify completely before you use it.
- Put some of this cuticle cream on your finger and apply it all over your nails and cuticles. Massage for 1 minute to help it absorb completely into your skin.
Use it 2 or 3 times a day to keep your cuticles soft and healthy. The shelf life of this DIY homemade cuticle cream is up to 6 months.
Tips to keep in mind while trying these recipes
- Since essential oils can lose effectiveness quickly, store your DIY cuticle creams in dark-colored bottles or containers to extend their shelf life.
- Avoid using harsh soaps and detergents that can harm your skin.
- Wear gloves while doing the dishes or gardening to protect your hands from impurities.
- Exfoliate your hands weekly with a homemade scrub for softer hands.
- Also, if you want to grow your nails long and strong, check some of the remedies for long nails.