My cuticles are a constant struggle. Without a good cuticle remover, they snag, aren’t very photogenic in their natural state, and cause my manicures to lift and chip. Cuticle removers are actually a little controversial. While most of us would rather our cuticles get out of the way of our nail polish or gel polish base coats, snipping and scraping can hurt and, in the end, they’re not as effective when used without a remover.
Remember to always follow up any nail care routine with a quality cuticle oil. Keep scrolling for more cuticle care and cuticle remover use tips below.
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1. EDITOR’S CHOICE: ProLinc Cuticle Eliminator
Pros:- Strong remover using potash
- Works fast
- Contains glycerin to moisturize
- Gel is easy to work with
Cons:- May be too strong from some
- Needs to be washed off with soap
- Moisturizing but still drying
This Prolinc cuticle remover only needs to sit for 45 seconds before it’s ready for you to start pushing. It uses potash as its main ingredient, a strong base that will dissolve stubborn cuticles and make them much easier to remove.
Just make sure you wash it off with soapy water because potash isn’t kind to skin if left on too long. The gel consistency is easy to work with and contains glycerin to prevent any drying effects. I like that it doesn’t have a strong smell and that it works so quickly.
Find more ProLinc Cuticle Eliminator information and reviews here.
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2. California Mango Cuticle Softener
Pros:- Gentle cuticle softener
- Uses mango enzymes
- Contains aloe and compfrey extract
- Smells great
Cons:- Only softens your cuticles, won’t dissolve them
- Contains sulfates
- Fruity smell isn't for everyone
This may be the gentlest remover on here. The California Mango Cuticle Softener doesn’t use strong bases or acids to break down your cuticles and instead uses the natural enzymatic process of mangoes.
Mangoes and pineapples both contain enzymes that can dissolve proteins which is why they make your mouth feel funny when you eat a lot of them and why you can use pineapple extract as a meat tenderizer.
This cuticle remover uses the enzymatic power of mangoes to make your cuticles easier to push back. It won’t quickly break down the dead skin like some others do, but it will make them softer and more manageable.
It contains aloe vera and glycerin to hydrate and extract of comfrey and acai to nourish your nails. I’d still wipe this off, but it’s much less imperative that you wash your hands immediately with this one which is a plus for some people. As a bonus, it smells amazingly fruity and tropical.
Find more California Mango Cuticle Softener information and reviews here.
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3. Cuticle Away by Creative Nail Design
Pros:- Professional strength
- Uses sodium hydroxide
- Contains aloe vera
- Trusted nail brand
Cons:- May be too strong for some
- Drying
- Too thick to spread quickly
Cuticle Away is a professional strength cuticle remover that uses sodium hydroxide to break down the dead skin of your cuticle. As a thick gel, it’s easy to work with and a common choice for nail salons.
To balance out how drying sodium hydroxide can be, CND includes aloe vera gel to soothe your nails and return some moisture. It’s also used to help break down calluses as it works to soften the built up dead skin.
It’s a fast and effective treatment. You place the gel on your cuticle wait a moment to let it do its thing then wipe off the excess. Use your tool of choice to remove the cuticle.
As soon as you’re done, you want to wash it off with soap and water. This is strong, effective stuff. If your nails are dry afterward, follow it with a quality cuticle oil.
Find more Cuticle Away by CND information and reviews here.
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4. Esteemia Cuticle Away
Pros:- Medium strength
- Uses potassium hydroxide
- Moisiturizes with glycerin
- Softens cuticles quickly
Cons:- Not strong enough for everyone
- Known to sting
- Still drying
The Esteemia Cuticle Away remover uses potash as well though in a lower concentration. I’d categorize this as a medium strength cuticle remover that definitely softens cuticles dramatically but won’t dissolve them like professional strength cuticle removers.
This one also suggests a wait time of 45 seconds, and that’s all it takes to soften cuticles. If you want the product to do more than that, you have to push past the recommended time limit and I can’t really get behind that when we’re dealing with strong bases.
It’s a very thin gel that spreads easily but not so much that it will drip off your fingers. The narrow applicator tip makes applying it a breeze. Glycerin hydrates your nails to prevent drying. If you have really ragged, bleeding cuticles, this one is known to sting.
Find more Esteemia Cuticle Away information and reviews here.
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5. Sally Hansen Instant Cuticle Remover
Pros:- Medium to strong strength
- Uses sodium hydroxide
- Contains aloe vera and botanical extracts
- Easy to work with gel
Cons:- Too strong for some
- Opening is very narrow
- Pricier than some
This medium strength Sally Hansen remover uses sodium hydroxide to loosen and soften cuticles during your 15 second wait time. Aloe vera and extracts of green tea and chamomile nourish and condition your skin while sodium hydroxide works as a gentle chemical peel.
The opening is smaller so you have more control over the amount of product you’re using and it’s also good for calluses.
Find more Sally Hansen Instant Cuticle Remover information and reviews here.
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6. Deborah Lippmann Cuticle Remover
Pros:- Medium strength
- Uses sodium hydroxide
- Contains hydrating lanolin and Irish moss algae
- Two choices for applicators
Cons:- Not vegan (lanolin)
- Pricier than most
- Not strong enough for some
If you’re not sure what type of applicator you’re going to like better, the Deborah Lipppman Cuticle Remover comes with both a nail polish brush and an eyedropper. I like that you have the choice to see which method works best for you.
This one also uses sodium hydroxide but in a lower concentration so it is slightly gentler than others. You either paint this on your cuticles, or apply two drops to each nail, and wait two minutes before pushing your cuticles back. It softens your cuticles without dissolving them.
Deborah Lippmann uses Irish moss algae extract and lanolin oil to nourish and hydrate your nails leaving them shiny and supple. Lanolin is a oil that is derived from wool and is one of the oldest moisturizers out there. That said, it does mean this product isn’t vegan friendly.
It’s a great remover with a cult following, but it is a bit pricey.
Find more deborah lippmann Cuticle Remover information and reviews here.
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7. Cuccio Apple Cuticle Remover
Pros:- Gentle alpha hydroxy acid
- Moisturizing oils and aloe vera
- Nourishing botanicals
- Easy applicator tip
Cons:- Has a slightly strong smell
- Not strong enough for some
- No ingredient list
Cuccio’s Apple Cuticle Remover uses the AHA malic acid derives from apples to break down dead skin cells, softening your cuticles and making it them easier to lift and push.
This one is effective without being overly strong to the point of worrying you may overdo it.
My issue with the Apple Cuticle Remover is I can’t, for the life of me, track down an ingredient list. I have some skills in this area and can usually dig up a trustworthy ingredient list but I’ve had no luck with this one so I can’t definitively comment on the full contents of this cuticle remover.
I can say that along with malic acid, it contains aloe, almond oil, and grapeseed oil for hydration, as well as beech tree extract and vitamin E.
Its scent is a little strong and some aren’t a huge fan, but others say it reminds them of apples.
Find moreCuccio Apple Cuticle Remover information and reviews here.
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8. CND Cuticle Eraser Gentle Exfoliator
Pros:- Gentle action of AHA’s with a tiny bit of sodium hydroxide
- Used as a preventative treatment
- Contains moisturizers like aloe vera and apricot kernel oil
- Vitamin E and chamomile extract
- Doesn’t need to be washed off
Cons:- Not strictly a remover
- Not strong enough for some
- Slower acting
Another product from Creative Nail Design, Cuticle Eraser is less of a cuticle remover and more of a cuticle preventative. It’s packed with alpha hydroxy acids which break down the bonds that hold skin cells together which helps you shed dead skin.
Glycolic acid from sugar, citric acid from citrus fruit, lactic acid from milk, and malic acid from apples all join forces to chip away at built up dead skin and keep your cuticles from overgrowing.
This isn’t the product you want if you have serious cuticles that need to be removed lightning fast, but this is the product you want for after you’ve removed them. As a daily or twice daily treatment, Cuticle Eraser keeps your cuticles from growing back and smooths out the dreaded hangnail zone.
Vitamin E and chamomile extract nourish your skin along with aloe vera and apricot kernel oil. The second to last ingredient is sodium hydroxide, so CND has thrown in a little of the more caustic bases to help out with cuticle clean up, but considering this product isn’t meant to be washed off, it’s far from the main active ingredient.
Find more CND Cuticle Eraser Gentle Exfoliator information and reviews here.
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9. Julep Vanish Cuticle Softener & Remover
Pros:- Strong product using potash
- Contains moisturizer
- Very effective
- Free of DBP, camphor, formaldehyde, toluene, and TPHP
- Vegan friendly
Cons:- Not strong enough for some
- Too runny for some
- Contains petroleum
Vanish uses potassium hydroxide, also called potash, and another base called Trolamine to break down your unwanted dead skin. It comes in a neat bottle with an eyedropper lid.
The remover is a very thin gel that spreads well with the dropper so you have good control and you’re not applying too much.
Potash has a pH level of around 11 and Trolamine is around 10 so it’s not the strongest remover on the list, but it will definitely do its job. You apply this gel and you can immediately start using your tool to push back the now soft and pliable cuticles.
For others you may want to wait around a minute, but no longer than that because it really does seem to melt that stubborn dry skin. When you’re done be sure to wash your hands thoroughly.
To counter any drying effects from the potash, Julep includes hydrating petroleum but you’ll want to follow up with a quality cuticle oil.
Find more Julep Vanish Cuticle Softener & Remover information and reviews here.
What Is a Cuticle?
Funny story, what most people think of as their cuticle actually isn't. The transition between your nail and your finger is made up of three parts: your nail matrix, eponychium, and cuticle.
The nail matrix is the part you can't see. It sits below the surface of your skin and does the heavy lifting of growing your nails.
The eponychium is what many people think of as their cuticles. This is the lip of skin that touches your fingernail. It's the part of your nail that's prone to hangnails and splitting in when particularly dry.
Your eponychium is constantly shedding dead skin cells (like rest of your body) but these dead skin cells are shed down onto your fingernail forming a coating of dead skin that bridges the gap between eponychium and your nail plate.
That's your cuticle: the layer of dead skin that forms over the top quarter or so of your fingernail.
What Did Cuticles Ever Do to You?
There are so many products and methods to remove, push, nip, cut your cuticles because the key to a long-lasting manicure is having nothing between your nail and your nail polish.
If you paint over your cuticle, your polish will look lumpy and chip much faster. There isn't strictly a health reason to remove your cuticles if the way they look doesn't bother you unless they snag and tear on things like mine do.
How Do Cuticle Removers Work?
It depends on the brand, but for the most part a cuticle remover uses a substance with a very high pH to weaken the structure of the dead skin making them easier to remove. Anyone who has poked at their cuticles with an orange stick or cuticle pusher tool knows those little buggers are tougher than they look.
A pH scale refresher. It's a scale of one to 14 where seven is completely neutral. The lower the number the more acidic a chemical is and the higher the number the more base a chemical is. And the more excited you are about pumpkin spice lattes, the more basic you are. (Just kidding, there's nothing wrong with liking a coffee flavor. You do you, friend.)
For examples: cola has a pH of 3, water has a pH of 7, and bleach has a pH of 13.
Cuticle removers use chemicals (like sodium hydroxide) with a pH between 11 and 13 to dissolve skin cells. So, yes, cuticle removers are there to dissolve and break down skin cells.
These aren't standard hand creams and you usually need to wash them off with soap and water when they've done their job. They won't discriminate between live and dead skin cells so make sure you read the instructions and follow them.
Sodium hydroxide is also known as lye. You've seen Fight Club. Follow the instructions.
What If I'm Freaked Out Now?
Don't be.
Just like chemical peels, it sounds way scarier than it really is.
Soapy water has a pH of 12. If you leave your hands in soap for too long, your skin won't be happy either, but you use that every day.
The alternative to using cuticle removers is to use a sharp tool to cut or scrape them off. More often than not, this creates an open wound which leaves you vulnerable to infections of bacteria, viruses, and nail fungus. Softening your cuticles and pushing them back is actually safer.
Plus, some cuticle removers are gentler than others and I'll break down which products are high powered and which are mild.
Instead of high pH bases, some removers use acids which also break down dead skin cells. Alpha hydroxy acids (AHA's) and beta hydroxy acids (BHA's) are acids derived from food that break apart the bonds of dead skin gently so they are easier to shed.
Cuticle Remover Tip.
Do one hand at a time, that way you have better control of how long the product is sitting on your fingers.
What's the Best Thing I Can Do for Nail and Cuticle Health?
Moisturize
Your nails are thirsty, particularly after using cuticle remover, and you'll want to moisturize your nail plate and eponychium to keep them from drying out. Dry nails are brittle nails and don't have that glossy shine.