Hands are one of the first things people notice about us, and we’re not talking about that proverbial perfectly firm or too-limp handshake. Manicured, well-taken-care-of hands and nails say a lot about a person. In business environments, it means you’re a professional. In every-day situations, it signals that you take care of yourself and thus are likely to take care of all other aspects of your life. Yes, these judgments of our hands are made in just a few seconds at just a glance at your cuticles! To make sure you leave the best first impression we have compiled a list of the best cuticle cream available on the market.
Also, did you know your cuticles are natural barriers to keep bacteria from entering your body? Another reason to keep them moisturized and protected! But we need not run to a professional manicurist all the time. Who has the time? Because there are some amazing creams for treating hands and cuticles on the market that make us swoon and make the cute-cuticle-care chore something we look forward to taking care of. Bring on the dream team for Insta-good hands!
Comparison Table
|
Product |
Image |
Price |
|---|---|---|
 |
||
 |
||
 |
||
|
Deborah Lippmann The Cure Ultra Nourishing Cuticle Repair Cream |
 |
|
 |
||
|
Yes to Coconut Hydrate & Restore Protecting Hand & Cuticle Cream |
 |
|
|
Julep Your Cuticles Look Thirsty Caudalie Hand and Nail Cream |
 |
|
 |
||
 |
||
 |
What Are Cuticle Creams and What Do They Do?
Creams made to treat cuticles are made to address issues like ragged or dry skin around the nail bed but they also strengthen nails, to tackle things like breaking, peeling, chipping, cracking and more. And they deliver much-needed moisture for a smooth, silky appearance. Hand creams are key in hot, dry weather and cold winter weather, to keep delicate skin moisturized and smooth but don’t forget about your cuticles.
We reviewed the following ten products based on our parameters of product features, pros and cons, price, and where to buy. Our beauty review team chose some of our favorite high-end, go-to brands such as Christian Dior and Caudalie alongside some cool newcomers you may not have heard of. Here are our ten picks for tender tips at a glance, but be sure to read on to get the hands-on scoop and discover your new favorite cream for cuticles!
Top 10 Best Cuticle Creams
- Christian Dior Crème Abricot
- Eve Lom Cuticle Cream
- Burt’s Bees 100% Natural Lemon Butter Cuticle Cream
- Deborah Lippmann The Cure Ultra Nourishing Cuticle Repair Cream
- Poshe Aha Cuticle Care
- Yes To Coconut Hydrate & Restore Protecting Hand & Cuticle Cream
- Julep Your Cuticles Look Thirsty Fast-Absorbing Cuticle Creme
- Caudalie Hand and Nail Cream
- Clinique Deep Comfort Hand And Cuticle Cream
- Hard As Hoof Nail Strengthening Cream
Christian Dior Crème Abricot
Features
A luxurious emollient for brittle nails in tres chic packaging from one of our favorite luxury brands. As you can most likely tell from the French term “abricot,” Dior enlists the power of the apricot to take care of your nail needs. This luxe salve is all about fortification to keep nails strong and supple, now and in the inclement-weather future. The nourishing cream is designed to boost healthy nail growth, improve nail strength and nurse cuticles back to health. Apply before bed and dream your way to better nails.
Pros
- This product isn’t merely a softening cream; it also nourishes nails to strengthen them and make them healthier and more beautiful
- Non-greasy yet super rich and moisturizing
- Packaging is luxurious and gorgeous
Cons
- Christian Dior Crème Abricot
Eve Lom Cuticle Cream
Features
You may not have heard of Eve Lom, but this enterprise has been around for over 25 years! You can find it in stores such as Sephora and Neiman Marcus. Their initial claim to fame was an award-winning facial cleanser, but now you can get all of your skincare needs from this brand.
This cream is designed to keep your cuticles in top-notch, smooth-and-soft condition via an intensive plant-based moisturizer suitable for all skin types. This product features a powerful combo of oils and minerals including Chamomile & Yarrow Oil (to soothe), Sweet Almond Oil (improves the barrier function and soothes), Zinc (Heals the cuticles) and Copper (Strengthens and Lengthens the nails). It has a lovely, delicate scent.
Pros
- We love this soothing and nourishing plant-based combo featuring chamomile and yarrow oil, sweet almond oil, vitamins, copper and zinc
Cons
- Ingredient mix.
Burt’s Bees 100% Natural Lemon Butter Cuticle Cream
Features
We’ve long been fans of Burt’s Bees because they have such a wholesome, 100 percent natural approach and vibe. The rich lemon butter formula, with its convenient waxy texture, boasts sweet almond oil, cocoa seed butter, vitamin E and sunflower oil, all on a mission to moisturize and soften your compromised cuticles while nourishing brittle nails and preventing future breakage.
Pros
- We love the little portable tin that’s perfect for carrying in a purse and using anytime on-the-go
- We adore the deliciously clean and fresh lemon scent along with the 100% all-natural power ingredients to pamper your nails from tips to toes
Cons
- Portability – beauty on the run
Deborah Lippmann The Cure Ultra Nourishing Cuticle Repair Cream
Features
This fix for a perfect manicure is courtesy of celeb and fashion manicurist Deborah Lippmann, who has created polishes for stars such as Lady Gaga, Kim Kardashian, Gwyneth Paltrow, and Lena Dunham. Her ultra-nourishing repair cream enlists the power of shea butter, red algae (among other essential elements), vitamins A, C, and E, plus raspberry stem-cell extract to smooth and moisturize dry cuticles and fortify nails prone to breakage and brittleness. It does double duty as it repairs and protects your hands, cuticles, and nails. Dab on daily to relieve dry cuticles, and repair and protect your pretty digits.
Pros
- This pampering option with its potent ingredient mix has nabbed the ALLURE Best of Beauty award for “Best Cuticle Creams” several times
Cons
- Most glam and celebrity clout
Poshe Aha Cuticle Care
Features
Nourish your nails and nail beds back to radiant health with this fast-absorbing cuticle care cream. Dry, cracked, peeling cuticles will be a thing of the past thanks to Poshe’s triple targeting: speeds up natural exfoliation, hydrates and moisturizes cuticles, promotes natural healing. Cuticle care at your fingertips thanks to an easy dispenser.
Pros
- The price. It’s a steal! Perfect for those seeking a more quickly absorbing cream
Cons
- Best price – it’s a steal
Yes to Coconut Hydrate & Restore Protecting Hand & Cuticle Cream
Features
We can only say yes to Yes! Boasting delicious coconut oil, shea butter, passion fruit, banana extract, and guava extract, this silky hand and cuticle rescuer hydrates cracked and chapped skin, and repairs and prevents future cuticle disasters in even the most abrasive weather. It’s also received kudos from Allure magazine as their 2016 Best of Beauty Award Winner! It’s also an Amazon bestseller.
Pros
- A soothing balm for cracked, dry hands and nails, “Yes” is non-greasy, potent yet gentle for sensitive skin
Cons
- Scent – the combo of coconut and wax immediately transports us to the beach
Julep Your Cuticles Look Thirsty Caudalie Hand and Nail Cream
Features
Thirsting for cuter cuticles? It might be time to serve them a tall glass of Julep! Lizard skin no more thanks to a deliciously potent melange of Honey, Shea Butter, Vitamin B5, and Salicylic Acid to heal and hydrate damaged and dry cuticles in a cinch. It absorbs quickly and leaves no trace — unlike a real Julep which might give you a headache. Kidding aside, this little powerhouse is free of harmful ingredients like parabens or sulfates, and is cruelty-free, as are all of Julep’s products.
Pros
- Busy bees that we are, we like a cream that absorbs into our cuticles fast so we can go on texting, typing, and lifting craft cocktail glasses, or whatever else floats your beauty boat
- The ingredients are fantastic: honey to soothe and heal damaged cuticles, Salicylic Acid to do away with away dead skin cells and rich Shea Butter to deliver optimal moisture penetration
Cons
- Cruelty-free and chemical-free nail care!
Caudalie Hand and Nail Cream
Features
Caudalie is a great brand we’ve loved for years. It’s a French skincare company that’s highly regarded for its grape-based skincare products, featuring the power of Resveratrol. Their hand and nail cream is as quality as all of their beauty and wellness offerings. It’s an antioxidant-rich, moisturizing cream with a silky finish and lasting comfort for both dry hands and brittle nails. Its active ingredients include Vitis Vinifera (Grape) Seed Oil and Vitis Vinifera (Grape) Seed Extract, but also more familiar players such as shea butter and avocado oil. It’s scented with Lonicera Caprifolium (Honeysuckle) Flower Extract.
Pros
- The power of the grape has become a key resource in the skin care and beauty game
- It leaves no greasy residue and smells divine
Cons
- Grape-based products
Clinique Deep Comfort Hand And Cuticle Cream
Features
This lavish recovery hand cream conditions and improves the appearance of dry cuticles and nourishes both skin and nails, restoring the skin’s moisture barrier against environmental wear and tear. They design the rich cream to improve your cuticles’ ability to keep hydration via ingredients including Gentian Root Extract, Chamomile, Wheat Germ Extract, Barley Extract and more. The oil-free formula absorbs quickly and is fragrance-free to prevent skin irritations for sensitive types.
Pros
- This heavy lifter in cuticle care richly restores the skin’s moisture barrier with powerful ingredients
Cons
- A sense of rich comfort
Hard As Hoof Nail Strengthening Cream
Features
Your nails and cuticles don’t have to hoof it with this nail strengthening cream that promises to “Stop Splits, Chips, Cracks & Strengthen Nails.” Hard As Hoof uses a proven formula they designed over 25 years ago to address even the most severe cases of cracked, split, chipped, thin and fragile nails, and rough, suffering cuticles. The cream fortifies so nails can grow to smooth new lengths and improved strength. It’s coconut-scented!
Pros
- Weak and damaged nails are no match for the hardening power of the Hoof
Cons
- Can be applied over your nail polish
The Verdict
Image by StockSnap from Pixabay
Our beauty team had a hard time picking a winner. There are just so many good beauty creams that do wonders for cuticles to choose from. One thing we can all agree on is that any cream is better than no cream at all when it comes to caring for your hands, nails, and cuticles. Even if your cuticles look rather smooth, a dab of cream adds a hydrating, finishing and polished touch.
Gel manicures can thin nails so much that it takes months to recover from paper thin, cracking nails, and even regular manicures and pedicures just don’t do enough to keep up with our daily moisture and care needs. We love the luxury of Caudalie and Deborah Lippman, and we’d recommend these two brands for the posh types. Burt’s is perfect for wholesome, health-conscious beauties, while Julep has the comforting benefit of being totally cruelty-free! Sometimes we go for cute or elegant packaging because these cuticle dream creams, whether rich or fast-absorbent, have something to offer!
