It’s winter, which means that many of us are working hard to stay warm and make sure our elbows and hands are not ashy when we leave the house. When moisturizing your hands, it can be easy to forget about your cuticles. But if you keep your cuticles well-moisturized throughout winter, come spring you’ll have laid the groundwork for the perfect manicure. Below are three easy cuticle moisturizer treatments that you can make in minutes and add to your evening routine.
First, a few general tips. For each recipe below, apply to your cuticles at night before bed. For extra penetration, after you apply to the cuticle bed, rub in with a buffer. Make in small batches and store in any container. If you store in a container that you have to dip your hands in, only keep each batch for a week or so, then make a new batch to prevent possible bacteria and other germs from festering.
The Lavender in the Coconut
- 2-3 Tablespoons of melted coconut oil
- 3 drops of lavender essential oil
- We all know coconut oil pretty much does everything, but lavender oil likewise has a TON of uses. One of the reasons lavender is useful as a cuticle treatment is that lavender is known to reduce stress. So, putting lavender oil on your hands before bed kills two birds with one stone – it moisturizes your cuticles and provides a soothing scent to help you destress from your day and wind down for bed. Lavender oil is also a natural antioxidant so it helps ease signs of aging in skin. Some people feel that coconut oil is too heavy, to use on their face and or notice that it clogs their pores. For that reason, I prefer to use it on my hands and other non-facial body parts.
Moroccan Delight
- 2 tablespoons of Argan Oil
- 6 drops of tea tree oil
- Argan oil (the Argan tree is native to Morocco) has a high Vitamin E and fatty acid content. This makes it an amazing moisturizer and softener for tough cuticles. Tea tree oil has anti-microbial and anti-inflammatory properties so it can help fight against bacterial and fungal nail infections. If you have a job that exposes you to germs (think – healthcare industry), or if you live a larger city where you are constantly touching doors, escalator rails, etc., I would recommend this mixture.
The Lemon Drop
- 3 Tablespoons of P\petroleum /Jelly
- Lemon Juice – one squeezed lemon or ¼ cup lemon juice
This is the easiest and most cost-effective of the three. Almost everyone already has petroleum jelly in their house. It’s great for hands because it’s a wonderful moisturizing product. Lemon juice has two benefits. First, the Vitamin C in lemons is a known anti-oxidant which is an anti-aging ingredient and can help prevent wrinkles in hands. Second, the citric acid in lemons is an exfoliant which is a gift for rough skin. Musicians or people who work with their hands may find a lot of benefit from this recipe.