Here Are The Benefits Of Applying Cuticle Oil Every Day

That tiny layer of skin on your nail beds that you might pick at when you're nervous — those are your cuticles. They help to prevent bacteria from getting under our skin as our nails grow. Our skin can easily become dry and cracked, especially in cold weather, and because of the thinness of the cuticles as well as their constant exposure to environmental aggressors, our nail beds are often the first and most common victims of damage. But even when you don't have time to hit the salon, you can still take care of your nails at home, and the best way to show your cuticles some love is to apply cuticle oil.

Cuticle oils typically contain hydrating fruit, nut, or vegetable oils that absorb quickly in your skin. Most cuticle oils will contain a combination of different oils like jojoba oil, flaxseed oil, or safflower oil, and it's best that they also contain vitamins and antioxidants to keep your nails healthy. Nail experts at The Parlour Room specifically recommend looking for oils with Vitamin E, which will help repair dry skin. Cuticle oil offers some serious benefits, and it can be your nail life-saver.

There are many great tricks to grow out your nails, and cuticle oil is one of the best. Applying cuticle oil daily helps to increase blood circulation around your nails and stimulates growth, according to Healthline. Though the oil may not necessarily speed up their growth, it can certainly keep your nails from becoming brittle and breaking. Just like our hair, our nails are made of keratin. If you don't condition or protect your hair, it becomes brittle, dry, and prone to breakage. The same goes for your nails.

"Detergents and dish soap can make the nails dry and split. Our nails need lubrication, just like our hands and skin, during the winter months," dermatologist D'Anne Kleinsmith, MD tells WebMD. When you properly moisturize your cuticles, you are then less likely to be picking at the loose, dry skin around your nails. Before you think about cutting your cuticles or biting at them, try moisturizing them with an oil. Your nails will thank you later.

A dry nail bed is sure to bring along those pesky hangnails that always seem to show up. When hangnails are exposed to bacteria or fungus, they can become infected and inflamed, where you may notice redness, swelling, pain, and even pus (via Healthline). Cuticle oil can be a helpful tool in preventing hangnails in the first place by keeping the skin around your nails nourished.

Dehydrated cuticles can also cause redness and swelling of the skin behind the cuticle, known as chronic paronychia. Dr. Dana Stern, dermatologist and nail health specialist, tells The Zoe Report that "if the cuticle is chronically compromised, the nail will eventually grow irregularly and will potentially be weak and aesthetically compromised (white patches, bumps, thickening, discoloration)." It is safe to say that nobody wants to deal with painful nails. By keeping the nail bed hydrated and increasing circulation, cuticle oil can prevent a nail nightmare. 

You just painted your nails and — boom — you managed to chip them already. We all know the frustrating feeling. It turns out cuticle oil isn't only for nail health; your nail technician will put it on to make your gorgeous manicure last longer and shine brighter. The oil helps to keep the polish pliable, or more flexible, to prevent chipping and cracking.

There are endless cuticle oil options on the market, but Cuccio Revitalizing Cuticle Oil is a fantastic option which you can find on Amazon. If you're looking to save a few bucks, Sally Hansen's Vitamin E Nail & Cutile Oil is $6.49 at Ulta, and it has great reviews. Just a couple of drops of cuticle oil a day will make all the difference, so you will be ready to rock the most coveted nail trends of the year.