The 6 best treatments to cure your painful AF winter cuticles

Date January 28, 2016

My friend’s sister has the most immaculate cuticles. No, seriously, check out her hands. She apparently comes by them naturally but for the rest of us, we have to pay our fingers special attention to get them looking that good. That’s especially the case in winter, when indoor heat and cold air are teaming up to siphon moisture out of us. Add hand washing in the mix—great for warding off the spread of germs but terrible for your skin—and your cuticles are sure to be as dry as a whiskey sour.

But we have a game plan for you. “It’s about getting at it before it starts,” says Leeanne Colley, owner of Tips Nail Bar and saviour to my own seasonally cracked fingertips. Use hand cream religiously every time your hands come into contact with water, being sure to extend it right down to your nails. Keep nails short; long talons (sorry Rihanna) can dig at the area where the nail meets the finger, creating an open wound. Gently push cuticles back, which will keep the area clean looking. And above all, embrace cuticle oils and balms. Applying them during the day and especially at night before bed, giving it more time to work while you sleep. Colley is a fan of Burt’s Bees Lemon Butter Cuticle Creme for its ability to coat the area, not just seep into the skin. Click to see more of the best cuticle treatments.