A Gentle Nail Cuticle Treatment For Sensitive Types

This time of year dry skin is definitely a thing. And since we are all constantly washing and sanitizing our hands these days they can really suffer. Choosing moisturizing products like hand wash and sanitizers can help and of course reapplying moisturizers whenever possible. But I still find my hands and nails can really get dry causing my nails to chip and split.

So over the years I've tried a few different nail and cuticle treatments but the one I absolutely love just happens to be a great option for both sent sensitive and sensitive skin.  

I began using Mineral Fusion Nail Cuticle Treatment Oil a couple of years ago and it's become a favourite product in our house. It's not only hypoallergenic but it's formaldehyde, DBP, Camphor, Toluene and cruelty free. It hardly has any scent at all and it doesn't leave your skin or nails feeling greasy. It absorbs well and leaves everything feeling soft.

The bottle actually looks like clear nail polish and it goes on very easily with the included brush. I like to let it sit for a minute or so before massaging it into fingertips and nails. (Tip: It works great on your toes too.) It's also one of those products that gets great reviews and it's reasonably priced averaging about $9.00-$11.00. Some other brands can easily reach $25.00 or more.

I think Mineral Fusion offers a great line of nail care products. I use their nail polish remover (by far the best remover I have ever used) as well as their nail polish which is a brand that actually lasts the longest for me. In the summer time I always wear nail polish on my toes. I only have to reapply or touch up polish every 3-4 weeks. With this brand I've found that I can apply dark colours to my toes and the polish doesn't stain like other brands have done in the past. (Because yes, I sometimes forget to add a base coat.) 

Their nail polish is also formaldehyde, Toluene, Camphor, and dibutyl phthalate free. These specific chemicals are commonly found in nail polish and can cause all sorts of issues including allergic reactions.  Formaldehyde for example helps harden nails but it can cause eyes, skin, throat ,and nose irritation. High levels of exposure can cause more serious health concerns including the possibibilty of some types of cancers.*

Toluene is a colorless liquid used as a solvent. Exposure can cause eye and nose irritation, dizziness, headache, dilated pupils, tears, muscle fatigue, insomnia, and even inflammation of the skin.

Synthetic camphoris considered toxic. Frequent and long time exposure can cause things like headaches, nausea, dizziness.
Dibutyl phthalate (aka DBP) is a plasticizer that makes nail polish flexible. It's a known human respiratory toxicant and a possible human developmental toxicant.

Of course there are other options to cutical treatments. If your just looking for something simple there are some great oils that you can use. Vitamin E oil, Coconut oil, Sweet Almond oil, Jojoba oil, Olive oil, Caster oil and even Sunflower oil are all great options.

 




Sources:
*epa.gov/formaldehyde/facts-about-formaldehyde
ewg.org/skindeep/ingredients
shape.com/lifestyle/beauty-style/best-cuticle-oils
well.ca
goodhousekeeping.com/beauty/nails/g32174058/best-cuticle-oils/
thehealthy.com/beauty/nail-care/nail-polish-toxic-ingredients/
lesalon.com
isabellasclearly.com
cdc.gov/niosh/topics/toluene/default.html
esthersnc.com/nail-beauty/say-no-big-3#:~:text=DBP%20or%20'dibutyl%20phthalate'%20is,gel%20and%20children's%20bubble%20bath.