I Tested 15 of the Best Cuticle Oils—My Nails Have Never Been So Healthy

I've previously written about how I grew my nails, and, trust me, I've tried so many products to get my thin, brittle nails to thrive. I tried supplements, nail-strengthening polishes and… eating a lot of cheese in a bid to top up my calcium levels. But, it turns out, the very best cuticle oils offer all of these nail-boosting benefits in one easy step—and I'd been overlooking them entirely.

In my job as a beauty editor, I continue to learn new hacks every day. If there's one lesson I'm planning to never forget, it's that a cuticle or nail oil is essential for healthy nails and happy cuticles. In fact, every top nail expert I've spoken to would tell me that it is the single best thing you can do to keep your nails and cuticles in good condition. So naturally, I listened and decided to put some of the best cuticle oils to the test.

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(Image credit: @browngirlhands)

It was only when I started applying a cuticle oil religiously that I started seeing results. Once or twice a week wouldn't cut it. Instead, I applied a cuticle oil morning and night, and I'd carry a cuticle-oil pen in my bag to hydrate my nails on the go or keep one handy on my desk at work. After around four weeks, my nails were transformed. Not only were my cuticles in top condition, but I noticed that my nails were growing thicker and stronger with less breakage.

"Dehydrated and brittle nails are more prone to breaking or chipping, so keep nails nourished by applying oil-based cuticle products and hand creams daily," says session manicurist, Ami Streets. "Apply a drop on each cuticle before massaging it in. Nighttime is best, as it gives the oil time to be properly absorbed," she says. Taking time to massage the oil in will encourage blood circulation, which will help boost the health of your nails and cuticles overs time too.

Read on below to find the best cuticle oils that I tried to help give your cuticles and nails a boost.

The 15 Best Cuticle Oils We Tested, Listed:

1. Best Overall: CND Solar Oil
2. Best Cuticle Oil for Damaged Nails: Templespa From Strength to Strength Nail & Cuticle Treatment Serum
3. Best Salon-Standard Cuticle Oil: O.P.I Pro Spa Nail & Cuticle Oil
4. Best Travel Cuticle Oil: Chanel L'Huile Camélia Hydrating & Fortifying Oil
5. Best Natural Cuticle Oil: Nailberry Little Treasure Cuticle Oil
6. Best Expert-Approved Cuticle Oil: Dior Huille Abricot Daily Nutritive Serum
7. Best Luxury Cuticle Oil: La Mer The Renewal Oil
8. Best for Damaged Cuticles: Margaret Dabbs Nail & Cuticle Serum
9. Best Affordable Cuticle Oil: Essie Nail Care Apricot Cuticle Oil
10. Best for Dry Nails: The Body Shop Almond Nail And Cuticle Oil
11. Best for Brittle Nails: Nails Inc Superfood Repair Oil
12. Best for Nail Growth: Susanne Kaufmann Nail Oil
13. Best for Nails and Hands: Manucurist Huile Verte
14. Best for Gel Manicures: Mylee Nail & Cuticle Oil Roller Pen
15. Best for Brightening Nails: Beauty Pie Cuticle Therapy

1. Best Overall: CND Solar Oil

2. Best for Damaged Nails: Templespa From Strength to Strength Nail & Cuticle Treatment Serum

3. Best Salon-Standard Cuticle Oil: O.P.I Pro Spa Nail & Cuticle Oil

4. Best Travel Cuticle Oil: Chanel L'Huile Camélia Hydrating & Fortifying Oil

5. Best Natural Cuticle Oil: Nailberry Little Treasure Cuticle Oil

6. Best Expert-Approved Cuticle Oil: Dior Huille Abricot Daily Nutritive Serum

7. Best Luxury Cuticle Oil: La Mer The Renewal Oil

8. Best for Damaged Cuticles: Margaret Dabbs Nail & Cuticle Serum

9. Best Affordable Cuticle Oil: Essie Nail Care Apricot Cuticle Oil

10. Best for Dry Nails: The Body Shop Almond Nail And Cuticle Oil

11. Best for Brittle Nails: Nails Inc Superfood Repair Oil

12. Best for Nail Growth: Susanne Kaufmann Nail Oil

13. Best for Nails and Hands: Manucurist Huile Verte

14. Best for Gel Manicures: Mylee Nail & Cuticle Oil Roller Pen

15. Best for Brightening Nails: Beauty Pie Cuticle Therapy

This article was originally published at an earlier date and has since been updated.

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Eleanor Vousden
Beauty Editor, Who What Wear UK

Eleanor Vousden is the beauty editor for Who What Wear UK. She was previously deputy editor at Hairdressers Journal, health writer at Woman & Home and junior beauty editor at beauty website Powder. She has also contributed to Wallpaper and Elle Collections with written and styling work.Working as a beauty journalist since 2015 after graduating in fashion journalism at the London College of Fashion, she has been highly commended at the BSME Talent Awards for her work on Powder and also contributed to the title winning Website of the Year at the PPA Awards.Eleanor’s journalistic focus is to provide readers with honest and helpful beauty content. Through words, video and live broadcast, she has interviewed several celebrity makeup artists, hairstylists and top dermatologists throughout her career, as well as celebrities such as Sarah Jessica Parker and Scarlett Johansson. She has a particular interest in finding solutions for acne and eczema, which she has experienced firsthand. She has also amassed a large collection of fragrances and can never say no to a new candle.When she’s not writing or testing the latest beauty product or treatments, she’s on the seafront in her hometown of Brighton and Hove, where she lives with her partner and her miniature dachshund.