Cuticle Cream

Cuticle cream is one step below cuticle oils in terms of effectiveness in dealing with dried skin. Cuticle cream isn’t as effective on nails, cuticles and skin that have severe dryness damage. As mentioned in my Cuticle Oil section, cuticle oils should only be used with the most severe situations. Cuticle creams are also used to help soften cuticles in order to make them easier to manipulate.

Generally, cuticle creams are regarded as one step lower than cuticle oil while being one step higher in terms of effectiveness compared to normal nail and skin moisturizer. Cuticle cream normally also contains some active ingredients such as citric acid extracts which will aid in the absorption of the moisturizing agents into the cuticle, nail and skin. The moisturizing effect will make cuticles easier to manipulate during manicure procedures.

Most cuticle cream available should be of a thicker consistency compared to normal moisturizer and are also normally cream in color as opposed to white which moisturizers are. To apply the cuticle cream you must remember that it is quite potent and thus requires only a little to be effective. You should only place a thin film of the cream over the area of choice.

Generally cuticle creams are made from a mixture of absorbent vegetable oils and creams which when combined offer good moisturizing agents. A common ingredient that is generally used in cuticle creams for its moisturizing properties and its active ingredient making skin more flexible is avocado as pictured above.

Cuticle cream can be quite thick and thus might be a bit hard to apply. Preferably, the best way to apply cuticle cream is using a Q-tip to apply to hard to get areas like the side of the nail and the cuticle edges. You should also let the cream sit longer than normal moisturizers as it’s thicker and harder to absorb even with the citric acid extracts. If you are applying the cuticle cream for a manicure treatment, you should let it sit for at least 10 minutes before you attempt to manipulate the cuticles.

For deep moisturizing, unlike cuticle oils which can just be applied once before results are observable, with cuticle creams you need to apply it everyday until the afflicted area is back to normal. Application should preferably be after a shower so you hands are already clean.

A little know fact is that cuticle cream is very similar to feet heel moisturizer as both have a deep moisturizing requirement. They can be used interchangeably.