Some links on this page are monetized by affiliate programs - see disclosure for details.
Over time and with daily tasks including household chores like washing dishes, caring for children, typing on a keyboard, and performing other functions, nails and cuticles can look rough and ragged. While most people keep up with their nails by clipping them and polishing them, many neglect their cuticles, which is not a wise choice.
To keep nails completely healthy and looking their best, cuticle care is a must, and this can be done easily at home with a cuticle remover.
Introduction: What is a Cuticle Remover?
Contents
Your cuticles are located right at the base of your nail bed. Cuticles are a part of your skin, and they are in place to protect your nails. Part of keeping your nails healthy and looking their best is caring for this delicate skin. Cuticles may become rough, ragged, or even damaged without proper care.
A cuticle remover is designed to care for your cuticles, removing rough, dead skin and providing you with softer, smoother, and healthier skin. These products, in most cases, don’t completely remove the cuticle, still providing your nails with the protection they need to stay healthy. These products simply remove the rough, dead skin, much like exfoliators do for your body.
What are the Advantages of using a Cuticle Remover?
Proper nail care involves your cuticles, and removing the rough, dead, dry skin is essential to good health. Not only will your nails look great when you’ve properly cared for this skin, but you can always ward off infections which can be very painful, cause permanent damage, and can even be dangerous.
These products are essential for good health of the nails, and it is similar to products used in spas and professional nail salons.
How Do I Safely Cut My Cuticles?
Many people are apprehensive about cutting their cuticles. You can safely cut them at home, but you don’t want to do so often. Experts recommend using a cuticle stick every few days. By pushing your cuticles back, you should be able to minimize how much you need to cut.
However, sometimes you’ll need to cut cuticles or hangnails. Pushing cuticles back will reveal the excess cuticle to be cut. Before cutting, use a soft sponge to exfoliate the area. Then gently cut away the excess. Always cut small sections; don’t overdo it.
Be careful about cutting your cuticles. Stick to liquid removers and cuticle sticks as much as possible. If you feel you have excess cuticles which need extensive cutting, you should seek out professional treatments.
What are the Different Types?
Before you begin shopping for this product, it’s important to know what types are available for you to purchase. There are a few different kinds available at different price points. Some are easier to use, while some are reserved for professional use. You want to buy a product that works best for you, and the first step is knowing the differences between the different types.
Liquid removers
These products are applied directly to the cuticle to slough off dead, dry skin and leave the nails looking better than ever. These are the easiest and safest to use, and they are also typically the least expensive.
Cuticle sticks
These are used to push back cuticles that have extended past the nail bed, ideal for ragged, uneven cuticles. These are gentle and safe when used properly, and they can be used along with a liquid product for the best results.
Cuticle cutters
These are shaped like tiny scissors and are used to cut the cuticles and remove them completely. Once used in salons, these are typically avoided because they can lead to damaged cuticles and painful infections.
What are the Best Cuticle Removers on the Market in 2019?
Sally Hansen Instant Cuticle Remover
You don’t have to pay a fortune to have a salon-quality manicure. You can start with this product from Sally Hansen, a leader in nail care and beauty products. This remover works quickly to leave you with softer cuticles and nails that are more beautiful than before.
EVELINE COSMETICS Nail Therapy Professional
This professional product not only works quickly to remove dead skin from the cuticles, but it also leaves them softer and smoother than ever before. This product is easy to use, is extremely affordable, and is part of a whole line of nail products designed to give you healthy, stronger, and lovelier nails than ever before without spending a fortune at the nail salon or spa.
CND Essential CUTICLE ERASER
This salon-quality product is more expensive than the rest, but it performs triple duty to remove dead cuticle skin, leave skin softer than before use, and even prevent hangnails that are painful and can cause infection in your nails. This product is easy to use and is found in salons all around the world.
Features to Evaluate
Once you understand what this product does and have made the choice to purchase it for yourself, it’s time to start shopping. However, before you drop your money on the first product you see, it’s important to know exactly what to look for so you don’t end up regretting your purchasing or buying something you’ll never use. If you have used similar products in the past, you may already know what you’re looking for. However, if you’re new to purchasing these beauty products, here are four things you should look for before making your choice.
Price
Luckily, these beauty products are extremely affordable when purchased from a variety of different manufacturers. You should expect to pay around $5 to $10 for a basic remover that works well, while you may pay $20 or more for a salon-quality product that doesn’t just remove the cuticle, but softens the skin and helps keep your nails healthy and strong.
Bottle Size
To maintain the health of your nails, you’ll want to purchase a bottle that is big enough for multiple uses. If you’re buying a product for your salon and will use it many times a day, you need to buy a larger bottle. Measure the cost of the product to the amount you receive, as well as other benefits, to ensure you make a wise purchase.
Added Ingredients
If you have allergies or a skin condition, you’ll want to avoid products filled with a lot of chemicals that can cause a reaction and stick to products with natural ingredients. You can also look for products enhanced with things like green tea or aloe that keep your skin soft, smooth, and supple.
Steps Involved
If you’re in a rush, you don’t want to purchase something that takes minutes to work. There are many products on the market that work in just seconds. Make sure that you fully read the instructions to understand how the product works. Sometimes, multiple steps are needed, and if you’re in a time crunch, this may not work for you. If you’re short on time, look for a one-step product that works in just seconds.
Price
Sally Hansen Instant
This is a great deal for the bargain hunting beauty guru.
EVELINE COSMETICS Nail Therapy Professional
This is a great buy, providing professional results for less.
CND Essential CUTICLE ERASER
This is one of the more expensive products on the market.
Bottle Size
Sally Hansen Instant
One ounce of product is enough for multiple applications so your nails will always look their best.
EVELINE COSMETICS Nail Therapy Professional
The one-ounce size provides you with enough uses for several manicures.
CND Essential CUTICLE ERASER
This bottle contains a full 1.75 ounces, almost double the other products reviewed.
Added Ingredients
Sally Hansen Instant
This product comes chamomile and aloe to soothe and soften cuticles without harsh chemicals.
EVELINE COSMETICS Nail Therapy Professional
This contains natural avocado oil that is used to soothe, smooth, and hydrate cuticles.
CND Essential CUTICLE ERASER
This product contains alpha-hydroxy acids that gently smooth cuticles while keeping them healthy and moisturized.
Steps Involved
Sally Hansen Instant
This can be applied to the cuticle and works in just 15 seconds. When time is up, simply push back with an orange stick for beautiful nails in no time at all.
EVELINE COSMETICS Nail Therapy Professional
This treatment takes just 30 seconds to work. After treatment has been applied, cuticles are pushed back with an orange stick. This only has to be performed once a week, so it’s great for those short on time.
CND Essential CUTICLE ERASER
This product works in less than one minute. The best results are obtained when it is used with an orange stick after the product has been applied and removed.
Results: Find Out Which Products We Recommend
Best Affordable: Sally Hansen Instant
If you’re tired of paying lots of money for a manicure at the spa, you can get the same great effect at home starting with this product from Sally Hansen. Don’t let the price tag fool you, as this product works just as well as some of the more expensive products. In just 15 seconds, dead skin is removed to reveal more beautiful cuticles. Use with an orange stick, sold separately, for the best results.
This product is enhanced with aloe vera and chamomile to soften, soothe, and condition skin. It is also very effective for use on calluses when applied for one minute. In addition, this protects your from painful hangnails. This product is easy to use, very affordable, and is one of the top-selling removers on the market today.
Pros:
- It is very affordable
- Works quickly
- Softens, soothes, and protects
- It is very easy to use
- Comes in a large 1-ounce bottle for multiple uses
- Removes rough skin quickly
- Use on calluses
- It contains natural ingredients
Cons:
- On very rough, ragged, and thick cuticles, it does not give as good of results as more expensive professional products
Best Value for the Money: EVELINE COSMETICS Nail Therapy Professional
Get a professional product without the professional price tag with this purchase. This product is designed to maintain the health of your cuticles just like the professionals. This product does far more than just remove dead, dry skin from your cuticles. It soothes, hydrates, and protects with a unique blend of ingredients including avocado oil.
This product is easy to use and prevents tearing and damage to the cuticles. It just has to be used once a week, so it’s perfect for the busy user. It works very quickly, in just 30 seconds, and it is part of an entire line of products designed to keep nails looking their very best.
Pros:
- It has natural ingredients
- It is affordable
- Helps protect cuticles from damage
- Easy to apply and use
- Works very quickly
- It is a professional-quality product
Cons:
- Some users may be sensitive to some of the ingredients found in this product
The Best Cuticle Remover Overall: CND Essential CUTICLE ERASER
Nail salon owners have relied on CND Essential CUTICLE ERASER because of the fast and effective results seen on customers. You can get these same great results at home with this product, which comes in a 1.75 ounce bottle that’s large enough for multiple applications. All you have to do is apply this to your nails, remove it after 30 seconds, then push your cuticles back with an orange stick for cuticles that are smooth, hydrated, and protected. This is also a great preventative for hangnails.
This is gentle and is enhanced with alpha-hydroxy acids that gently slough away dead skin while leaving nails nourished and moisturized. This product is strong enough to work on thick, jagged cuticles but gentle enough for almost anyone. Although it is priced more expensively than other products, this professional-quality product contains almost double the amount of cream when compared to less expensive products.
Pros:
- Works very quickly
- It is very effective
- Gentle enough for most users
- It is professional quality
- Easy to use
- The bottle is large enough to use at home or in a salon
- It isn’t greasy
- Protects against hangnails
- When applied to nails, it leaves them looking shiny, glossy, and healthier than they looked prior to application
Cons:
- Smell may put off some users
- It is a bit more expensive than other products, although you get a larger bottle
- May need to apply multiple times per week to see results on thicker, unhealthier cuticles
In Conclusion
Keep your nails looking beautiful and healthy with the best cuticle remover like the CND Essential CUTICLE ERASER. This product is a professional quality product trusted by spas and salons for its ease of use, great results, and moisturizing and protection features. Its unique blend of ingredients works quickly yet gently, yielding the best results when compared to similar products.
Even though it has a more expensive price tag, it comes with almost twice the amount of product given by other manufacturers, making it a competitively priced product.