Cosmetic Cupcake

How I care for my cuticles is one of the most frequently asked questions I receive so here is my post for you finally. Being predominantly a nail blogger, I try to keep my cuticles and also my hands in presentable condition but alas I am waaaaay too lazy so I don't actually do much besides apply cuticle cream/oils! Below are the products I use and I thought I'd also show you what products I use for hand care as well as they go together ;) Please note - the products below work for me however they may not be suitable for you. It's a lot of trial and error and wasted $$ to find what works for you!


Now I use four different hand and cuticle products for different situations. For on the go I need something that is in a packaged in travel size and absorbs very quickly and isn't greasy; for work I like a product that's fast absorbing but also provides a barrier: at home I like products that smell nice and absorb quickly and overnight products that are VERY moisturising. This may seem a bit over the top but they all serve different purposes!


On the go - Burt's Bees Lemon Butter Cuticle Cream*:


Burt's Bees Lemon Butter Cuticle Cream* is ideal for on the go because it absorbs very quickly and doesn't leave a greasy residue. I hate greasy products when I'm out and about! I don't find it all that moisturising but it does stop my cuticles from drying out and it smells lovely and lemony. The texture is very waxy so it can be a bit hard to get out of the tin. It can be purchased from David Jones, Harrisons Pharmacies, Kleins Perfumery, Terry White Chemists and selected retail outlets for $14.95.

I actually prefer Beautysnapz Cuticle Conditioners* but I haven't pictured them here because I ran out and haven't restocked! =( I've reviewed them before though so check out my review here.

At work - Nfu Oh Cuticle Flower Oil (orange scented):


This beauty was gifted to me by my lovely friend Christina! Now some people are very against cuticle oils but my cuticles can get so dry and disgusting that they need the moisture burst that oils can give. Nfu Oh Cuticle Flower Oils smell divine and provide an instant moisture boost to my cuticles. Plus the bottle is just so damn sexy that it's worth using just for the bottle!! It sits pride of place at my desk x) I apply it when I've got a quiet moment; let it soak for a few minutes and then massage it in.

At home - Essie Apricot cuticle oil:


This was my very first cuticle oil I bought and I still love it! I use it in-between swatching as it leaves my cuticles looking lovely and moisturised. It smells fantastic too! Acetone does mean things to cuticles =( In between nail polishes I slather it on and then massage it in before wiping/rinsing off and swatching another colour.

You can purchase Essie Apricot cuticle oil from Myer and Hairhouse Warehouse stores nationally for $18.95.

Overnight - Lush Lemony Flutter cuticle butter:


My holy grail cuticle product! I adore this stuff so much ♥ The formula is really thick and it makes my cuticles lovely and soft. It's so nourishing and it works miracles! And the smell - lemony heaven! I slather it on my cuticles before going to bed and by morning I have soft, healthy looking cuticles.

You can purchase Lemony Flutter cuticle butter from Lush stores and online for $15.50.


Hand care is extremely important to me! Not only am I a nurse so have to wash my handsfrequently, I have 3 different skin issues - eczema, contact dermatitis and Raynaud's Phenomenon (not really skin but it affects my hands a great deal) which frustrate the crap out of me. Therefore I have to be extremely careful and make sure my hands are very well moisturised especially in winter. I'm lucky that I now work in a slightly more office based role but I still have to wash my hands more than the average person unfortunately.

On the go - EOS Everyday hand lotion (berry blossom):


I've trialed a few travel size hand creams over the years but none have really ticked all the boxes for me until I came across EOS hand lotion in HK this month. It's the best on the go hand cream I've tried so far as it's the perfect handbag size and absorbs very quickly. This one has a berry scent and I just love the packaging of it - it's so cute! You know I'm a sucker for cute packaging lol.

At work - OPI Avoplex High Intensity Hand & Nail Cream*:


OPI's Avoplex High Intensity Hand & Nail Cream* contains a blend of hydrating shea, cocoa, almond butters plus an "advanced Avocado Lipid Complex" to help keep hands and nails nourished and to protect skin elasticity and nail flexibility. It's rich and thick and I find it very moisturising for my poor dry skin! However it's not oily at all and doesn't take long to absorb into the skin which is fantastic. My hands get so super dry at work because of the hand washing and the air conditioning =( I really like the scent of the cream which reminds me of lemon tea and the 120ml tube is a great size to leave at your desk.

The 50ml tube can be purchased at selected salons and David Jones store nationally for $19.95 and the 120ml tube can be purchased for $29.95.

At home - I Am Papaya & Guava handbalsam:


I was gifted this awesome hand cream by lovely Moni! It smells SOOOOOOOOOOOOOO YUMMY. OMG it's so delicious I have to ration it when I use it because it's all the way from Switzerland! It absorbs immediately and did I mention how awesome it smells?!!!

Overnight: Neutrogena Norwegian Formula® Fragrance Free Hand Cream and cotton gloves:


Neutrogena Norwegian Formula® Hand Cream is THE BOMB. It is hands down my holy grail overnight hand cream. Its formula is unbelievably thick so a little goes a very long way. It is really moisturising and used with cotton gloves and Lush Lemony Flutter it turns my dry chapped hands and cuticles soft and supple. I use it pretty much every night in winter! You can also use it on other parts of your body that need help too. Any old cotton gloves will do the trick and you don't need anything fancy. I picked up these Ansell ones from the supermarket for a few dollars.

Neutrogena Norwegian Formula® Fragrance Free Hand Cream can be purchased from leading supermarkets, variety stores and pharmacies nationally for $7.99.

I hope this helps you guys out. Let me know if you have any questions or tips below in the comments! Thanks for looking as always =)

* Product(s) provided to me for consideration but this in no way influenced my review in any way. As always, my reviews are my 100% honest opinion. My Disclosure Policy can be viewed here.