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With so many options to choose from, both at the drugstore and online, trying to hunt down the best cuticle oil to keep your nails strong and healthy may feel overwhelming at first. But rather than hemming and hawing over all the bottles in the nail aisle, allow me to save you some time by pointing you toward one place you might not have looked yet: Etsy. If you’ve never used the small business platform to shop for beauty products before, don’t worry — I’ve already found one cuticle oil for $12 that’s legit and backed by glowing reviews.
New to nail care? Here’s the deal: experts have previously told noti.group that cuticle oil moisturizes your nails to prevent breakage, yellowing, hangnails, and more. It can even help make them stronger. The Cuticle Buddy portable cuticle oil, created by ShopNBM, is made with a seven-in-one formula that includes key hydrating ingredients like jojoba oil and essential oils like macadamia nut oil, wheat germ oil, and more that are rich in vitamin E.
The Cuticle Buddy oil comes in an 8-milliliter bottle that has a clip you can use to attach it to your bag or keys. The leakproof roller ball applicator makes it easy to spread the oil on your nails (the brand recommends three times a day for optimal results). The bottle also contains a floating chunk of obsidian to keep the oil well-mixed. The oil itself is cruelty-free, paraben-free, vegan, and naturally scented with your pick of 11 scent combinations that range from vanilla bean and blackcurrant to peppermint and blue cypress.
The best part? You can purchase 30-milliliter refill containers from ShopNBM, which the brand claims can refill your portable bottle almost four times, for a bargain price of $25 (about the cost of just two of the 8-milliliter rollers). This not only saves you from having to repurchase more often, but also gives you a chance to try a new scent if you’d like to mix it up.
Reviewers have gushed about the Cuticle Buddy’s non-greasy formula, leakproof packaging, and the impact of consistent use on their nails, reporting fewer hangnails. Over on Reddit, some users have taken to calling it a “holy grail” or their “new BFF,” as well as swapping recommendations for the best scents after finishing their bottles entirely (lavender and rosemary appears to be popular). Among the Etsy reviews, some have noted that shipping can take a few weeks, which is always a risk you run with ordering from a small business on Etsy rather than on a platform like Amazon, so keep that in mind if you’re hoping to have your cuticle oil arrive ASAP.
Ready for healthier-looking, stronger-feeling, and pleasant-smelling nails? Say no more — add the Cuticle Buddy to your nail routine and get ready to join the reviewers below in singing its praises.
“This product is genuinely so convenient and cute! I absolutely adore it. The little inclusions make it almost like a decoration. I keep it on my bag, so I always have it with me and I haven’t had any issues with oil spilling or getting on clothes. My nails seem to be peeling less which was my main goal. I also have less hangnails which is greatly appreciated. Overall, I think it’s a great product and would totally recommend :)” — Lauren
“I love Cuticle Buddy! No-mess packaging, easy to travel with, and the oil itself absorbs quickly and smells great! I’ve been using it for a week and already feel like my nails are stronger.” — Marlee
“I have been trying to grow my nails since taking off acrylics. Ugh. I live in the northeast, it’s winter time and all the hand washing makes it hard to accomplish that. I saw these cute nail oils and decided to try them. They are awesome. Love how they have the thing so you can attach them to your keys or I imagine whatever you’d like. And the scents are amazing. Thank you!!” — Lora
“this was a great stocking stuffer. the smell is not overpowering and the oil absorbs quickly, so there is virtually no mess. bonus: the packaging is sleek and functional.” — Adreanna
“I was skeptical after ordering this because I have a bad habit of shopping while intoxicated, but I think this might be one of my favorite silly-mode purchases!! The packaging was cool, and when I opened it and actually saw the products I was so surprised to see the stones inside! And the matching stone roller balls—such a cool idea!! I ordered lemongrass and lavender, they both smell wonderful, but more importantly they both feel wonderful on my skin! I will DEFINITELY be returning to NBM when I’ve gone through these!” — Sarah
Looking for more nail-care products? Keep scrolling for some expert-recommended options.
Amazon
An exfoliating sugar scrub
Amazon
A vitamin E-infused cuticle and nail oil
Nordstrom Rack
A peptide-infused oil treatment
Another of Pham’s oil treatment picks, Dermelect’s dual-formula Revital Oil features a protein peptide, an ingredient the brand claims can strengthen brittle nails. The rest of the nourishing complex is made up of essential oils like jojoba and argan seed along with glycerin, a dermatologist-approved hydrator for the skin.
Nail Labo
A pair of Japanese gentle-blade cuticle clippers
Amazon
A fortifying cuticle and nail treatment
Pham suggested this fortifying nail and cuticle treatment, a targeted shea butter-based cream that is packed with peptides, vitamins, essential hydrating nutrients and hyaluronic acid, a popular hydrator that draws moisture into the skin.
Kiehl’s
A cocoa butter-based lotion
Tokyo likes this cocoa butter-based lotion by Kiehl’s, a classic and non-greasy formula that aims to noticeably soften coarse and flaking skin. Aside from cocoa butter, Creme de Corps contains shea butter, a moisturizer with natural anti-inflammatory properties, and squalane, a botanically derived lipid that replenishes the skin’s barrier.
Amazon
A white truffle-infused serum spray
Nordstrom
A luxury fortifying nail cream by Dior
Pham chose this luxury nail cream, a manicure essential from Dior that can be applied to nails and cuticles in the evening and works its hydrating and fortifying magic all night long. The formula, which hails all the way from 1963, boasts an infusion of glycerin, apricot oil and seaweed extracts for a nourishing performance that’s stood the test of time.
Sephora
A multi-use barrier-repairing balm
Higuchi suggested another luxurious product from Dior. This versatile balm “[has] a very smooth texture, [is] long lasting and is easy to carry around,” she said. As Higuchi also pointed out, you can use this cream-like hydrator on more than just your hands and nails, but also on your lips or anywhere else you may be experiencing cracking, peeling or dryness. It contains centella asiatica extract, a soothing ingredient popularized in Korean skin care, plus hydrating hyaluronic acid and nourishing shea butter.
Amazon
A classic nail salon hand lotion
For a budget-friendly hand cream choice, Higuchi uses this CND lotion which she says makes skin feel softer and moisturized. Available in six different fragrances and packaged in an easy-to-dispense pump bottle, CND Scentsations quickly absorbs into skin and leaves behind a velvety and soft feel.
Amazon
A pair of gel-lined moisturizing gloves
After you’ve applied all of your nail and cuticle treatments, Higuchi suggests wearing gloves as an effective way to stave off dryness. These washable gloves are gel-lined and infused with nourishing ingredients like jojoba seed oil, olive oil and vitamin E. This kind of hydrating inner lining won’t snag on peeling or cracked skin like traditional cotton gloves.
Amazon
A cool-mist humidifier
[Notigroup Newsroom in collaboration with other media outlets, with information from the following sources]