It may not seem like it at times, but dry cracked skin and some nail breakage is normal. But it can get to a point, if left untreated, that it can painful or even bleed. If left for too long, your nail can become more brittle and break even easier.This is where nail hydration comes in. Sure, you can moisturize your hands, but there’s a better solution for your nails and the skin around it—cuticle oil. What’s even better is it’s quicker than applying lotion. To apply cuticle oil, just take a single drop on the nail and rub it in. That’s it. You can also put a drop under the nail to help hydrate the hyponychium (the skin just under the free edge of your nail). Cuticle oil will help increase the circulation around your nails, stimulate growth, and create a barrier to prevent daily damage to the area. This is great, but there is a question that needs to be answered: why do the ingredients matter in cuticle oil? 

Why Do Ingredients Matter?

There a lot of ingredients that go into making cuticle oil. When done properly, like diluting essential oils the correct amount, they won’t cause any harm. But if done improperly, side effects like skin irritation to an allergic reaction (contact dermatitis) can happen. Below is a list of ingredients that can be in cuticle oil. When reading an ingredient label or list, they are generally ordered from highest amount found in the item to lowest. For example our All Natural Cuticle Oil starts with a Safflower Seed Oil base. Read on to see the benefits. 

The Ingredients

Pictured: LOUD Natural Cuticle Oil

This list is also what’s in LOUD’s own Natural Cuticle Oil. All the ingredients have been diluted properly and are safe for your nails and skin.

1. Safflower Oil (Cathamus Tinctorius Seed Oil)

Thanks to its high level of linoleic acid, it's excellent for helping to balance the sebum levels in the skin. And with its light, non-greasy consistency, safflower oil is absorbed quickly into the skin, making it an excellent moisturizing facial oil suitable for all skin types.

2. Cottonseed Oil (Gossypium Herbaceum Seed Oil)

Cottonseed oil contains high concentrations of vitamin E, fatty acids, and antioxidants that have many benefits for your skin, including: Moisturizing, anti-inflammatory properties and anti-aging benefits.

3. Jojoba Oil (Simmondsia Chinensis)

A non-fragrant emollient extracted from the seeds of a perennial shrub. It has been shown to enhance skin’s restorative properties and can also provide topical skin-soothing benefits. Simmondsia chinensis (jojoba) seed oil is a rich source of numerous fatty acids and antioxidants.

4. Camellia Oleifera (tea) Seed Oil

Studies have found Camellia Oleifera Seed Oil increases collagen production within the skin and promotes hydration. This nutritive oil is prized for its ability to absorb quickly into the deepest layers of the skin leaving it hydrated, highly moisturized, with a non greasy feel. Additionally, Tea Seed Oil has been shown to have UV blocking properties, making it an excellent addition to sunscreens.

5. Argan Oil (Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil)

Due to its high vitamin and its essential fatty acids, Argan oil helps strengthen and moisturize the nails and cuticles. Argan oil is also rich in vitamin E which helps protect your skin and cuticles from damage.

6. Tea Tree Oil (Melaleuca Alternifolia Oil)

Has anti-bacterial, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant properties.

7. Vitamin E (Tocopherol)

Vitamin E is a fat-soluble, essential nutrient with anti-inflammatory properties. Vitamin E helps support the immune system, cell function, and skin health. It’s an antioxidant, making it effective at combating the effects of free radicals produced by the metabolism of food and toxins in the environment.

Wrapping Up

If you’re experiencing any breakage or cracked skin around your nails, cuticle oil is the way to go. It’s revitalizing and will prevent further damage from happening. LOUD’s Natural Cuticle Oil is fantastic at doing this, on top of being natural. I hope you found this information helpful!

You can find LOUD’s cuticle oil here.