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Byrdie / Sabrina Jiang
Get ready because we’re about to let you in on a beauty insider secret. The reason your nails always look so good after a professional mani has nothing to do with the way they’ve been painted or shaped—it’s all about how your cuticles have been cleaned up.
As a thin layer of skin at the bottom edge of your nail, the anatomical function of the cuticle is to protect the nail bed. But when it comes to aesthetics, if that bit of skin is left unchecked it will continue to grow out and can quickly start to get dry and cracked. So should you cut your cuticles or simply push them back? Well, it's an age-old debate that, quite frankly, we believe boils down to personal preference.
That being said, we rounded up the best cuticle removers out there, from liquids to pushers to trimmers. So even if you don’t have time to hit the salon or DIY a full manicure, you can at least clean up your cuticles to make your nails look fresh.
Read on to find the best cuticle removers on the market.
Best Overall
butter LONDON Melt Away Cuticle Exfoliator
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Amazon
Free of irritating chemicals
Softens skin
No clipping required
Pricey
Liquid cuticle removers work by exfoliating and essentially dissolving away dead skin, and this is one of our favorites. All you have to do is swipe it on, give it a few minutes to soften and break down those beat-up cuticles, then gently push them back and wipe off any excess. Bonus points for the fact that this formula is free of seven different types of questionable chemicals commonly found in nail products.
Price at time of purchase: $18
Type: Liquid | Active Ingredients: Carrageenan, potassium hydroxide | Size: 0.4 fl. oz. | Cruelty-Free: Yes
Best Budget
Blue Cross Cuticle Remover
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Amazon
Good value
Softens skin
Thin consistency is easy to work with
Can irritate sensitive skin
For just a few dollars, you get a big ol’ bottle of this effective formula (which consistently pulls in great reviews from satisfied shoppers). It’s infused with moisturizing lanolin, so this will not only eliminate excess cuticles but also keep the area around your nail bed nice and hydrated.
Price at time of purchase: $9
Type: Liquid | Active Ingredients: Carrageenan, lanolin | Size: 6 fl. oz. | Cruelty-Free: No
Best Drugstore
Sally Hansen Problem Cuticle Remover
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Amazon
Works on tough cuticles
Includes cuticle sticks
Good value
Contains parabens
This low-pH formula is ideal to use when you’ve let your cuticles go. You do need to leave it on for a bit longer—anywhere from three to five minutes—and wash it off afterward, but for cuticles that are in really rough shape, it can’t be beaten. We also appreciate that it comes with several manicure sticks to help you push back cuticles after you soften them.
Price at time of purchase: $9
Type: Liquid | Active Ingredients: Mineral oil, witch hazel, imidazolidinyl urea | Size: 1 fl. oz. | Cruelty-Free: No
Best Professional
ProLinc Cuticle Eliminator
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Amazon
Can be used on gel and acrylics
Works quickly
Effective formula
Formula may be too strong for some
You may have seen this bottle at your local nail salon; it is, in fact, a professional formula. It works lightning-fast and is especially ideal on even the thickest of skin—think the cuticles on your toenails (yes, you have them there too). Also nice: It’s safe to use on gel polish or acrylics.
Price at time of purchase: $18
Type: Liquid | Active Ingredients: Potassium hydroxide | Size: 4 fl. oz. | Cruelty-Free: Yes
Best for Stained Nails
Orly Cutique Cuticle Remover
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Amazon
Helps clean up stains
Beautiful packaging
Good value
A little sticky
“This is my personal favorite because it both removes cuticles and also gets rid of stains,” says celebrity nail artist Elle Gerstein. It’s why this is the ideal option to reach for after you’ve been sporting dark polish, which can often leave your nails discolored and dingy afterward. To reap those brightening benefits, simply swipe it onto the cuticle and the nail, rub the nail with a cotton pad, then rinse.
Price at time of purchase: $10
Type: Liquid | Active Ingredients: Potassium hydroxide, sesame seed oil | Size: 0.6 fl. oz. | Cruelty-Free: Yes
Best Fast-Acting
Sally Hansen Instant Cuticle Remover
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Amazon
Gentle formula
Works quickly
Easy to use
Can be a little drying
No time for a mani? No problem. Another of Gerstein’s picks, this speed demon gets the cuticle-eliminating job done in just 15 seconds. Couple that with the fact that the formula is also infused with aloe and soothing chamomile, and you’ve got yourself a real winner.
Price at time of purchase: $16
Type: Liquid | Active Ingredients: Potassium hydroxide, aloe, chamomile extract | Size: 1 fl. oz. | Cruelty-Free: No
Best Splurge
Deborah Lippmann Cuticle Remover
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Amazon
Includes dropper
Works quickly
Softens skin
Pricey
Yes, a bottle of this may cost more than a professional manicure, but one, it will last you a long time, and two, it does work. Gerstein loves the exfoliating formula, which breaks down dead, dry skin, and is ideal to use every few days to keep your cuticles in check. We also appreciate the dropper applicator, which makes it easy to apply just the right amount onto each nail.
Price at time of purchase: $20
Type: Liquid | Active Ingredients: Potassium hydroxide, lanolin | Size: 0.5 fl. oz. | Cruelty-Free: Yes
Best Splurge, Runner-Up
Ten Over Ten The Cuticle Eraser
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Maisonette
Beautiful packaging
Vegan
Effective formula
Expensive
Call us shallow, but we’d be willing to shell out for this pick just because of the chic-looking bottle alone. Happily, the formula is no joke either, effectively softening and smoothing cuticles with just a few drops. So much so that the brand says it only has to be used weekly, though some reviewers note that if you have super dry or ragged cuticles, you may want to use it more often than that. Bonus points for the fact that it’s vegan, cruelty-free, and salon-tested, too.
Price at time of purchase: $22
Type: Liquid | Active Ingredients: Potassium hydroxide | Size: 0.5 fl. oz. | Cruelty-Free: Yes
Best for Sensitive Skin
Olive & June Cuticle Remover
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Amazon
Softens skin
Nourishing, oil-based formula
Beautiful packaging
Not as potent as other options
You may not realize it, but even the skin around your nails can react to certain ingredients and be prone to irritation. If that’s something that happens to you, try this choice, which is both dermatologist-tested and fragrance-free. Made with avocado, argan, and jojoba oils, the formula also helps moisturize and nourish.
Price at time of purchase: $10
Type: Liquid | Active Ingredients: Avocado, argan, and jojoba oils | Size: 1 fl. oz. | Cruelty-Free: Yes
Best for Dry Nails
CND Cuticle Eraser
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Ulta
Exfoliates without over-drying skin
Hydrating formula
Strong scent
If your nails are dry, be wary about using formulas that contain ingredients such as potassium hydroxide and sodium hydroxide, both of which have a high pH and can cause more dryness, says Gerstein. Instead, seek out options that rely on exfoliating AHAs like this one. This pick is also packed with aloe, apricot kernel oil, glycerin, vitamin E, and panthenol, all of which are very moisturizing and conditioning.
Price at time of purchase: $11
Type: Cream | Active Ingredients: Sweet almond oil, chamomile, malic and lactic acids | Size: 0.5 fl. oz. | Cruelty-Free: No
Best on Amazon
Super Nail Cuticle Softener and Remover
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Amazon
Affordable
Helps clean up stains
Large bottle
Contains sulfates
Gerstein’s just one of many fans of this top-seller. Happy shoppers rave about how well (and fast) it works to dissolve and soften dead dry skin. And we’d be remiss not to mention the super affordable price tag, too.
Price at time of purchase: $10
Type: Liquid | Active Ingredients: Sodium lauryl sulfate, lanolin | Size: 8 fl. oz. | Cruelty-Free: Yes
Best Trimmer
Seki EDGE Flat Slant Tip Cuticle Nipper
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Amazon
Easy to use
Works efficiently
Made of high-quality stainless steel
Expensive
Like we said, trimming your cuticles is often frowned upon, but there’s no denying that it does make for a very clean-looking manicure. Not to mention that even those who don’t promote nipping will agree that sometimes you just need to snip off a hangnail. Enter this Japanese-made stainless steel trimmer. The extra-sharp flat edge makes it easier than ever to snip off dry skin.
Price at time of purchase: $21
Type: Tool | Size: 4.25 x 2.5 x 0.5 in.
Best Pusher
Tweezerman Dual Sided Pushy
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Amazon
Comfortable to hold and use
Won't scrape or scratch nails
Dual-sided
Made of high-quality stainless steel
Curved side is a little thick
Pushing back your cuticles is arguably the fastest way to make your nails look better; enter this convenient tool. The soft-touch handle makes for a comfortable grip, while the dual-sided, two-size tips make it easy to reach every part of your nail. They also have buffed edges to keep the process comfortable. Just make sure to apply some type of cuticle remover, cream, or oil to soften cuticles before pushing them back.
Price at time of purchase: $17
Type: Tool | Size: 2 x 1 x 3 in.
Best Gel
Le Mini Macaron Bye Bye! Cuticle Remover
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Ulta
Mess-free
Hydrating formula
Not as fast working as other options
Non-drippy, non-sticky, and non-greasy, this water-based gel remover has what we think is the dream texture. It stays put when you apply it and has the added benefit of containing glycerin so that your cuticles get a little dose of hydration, too.
Price at time of purchase: $12
Type: Gel | Active Ingredients: Potassium hydroxide, glycerin | Size: 1.76 fl. oz. | Cruelty-Free: Yes
Final Verdict
The best cuticle remover overall is Butter LONDON Melt Away Cuticle Exfoliator, an amazingly effective formula without the potential for much, if any, skin or nail irritation. Its inclusion of vegan and skin-softening ingredients, like Iris moss, makes it a fan favorite. Got sensitive skin? We get it. Exfoliating ingredients carry the potential for dryness and irritation, but we love that Olive & June's Cuticle Remover uses a nourishing oil blend to smooth and hydrate rough cuticles.
Meet the Expert
Elle Gerstein is a celebrity nail artist in New York City and Los Angeles. Her clients include Jennifer Lopez, Charlize Theron, and Blake Lively.
What to Look for in a Cuticle Remover
Active Ingredients
According to Gerstein, most formulas, especially salon-quality ones, rely on either potassium hydroxide or sodium hydroxide. This helps to dissolve dead skin with its high alkalinity. They can be drying, especially if they’re over-used, so alpha hydroxy acids (glycolic and lactic) are another option.
Hydrating Ingredients
The addition of plant-based oils and humectants like glycerin can help prevent dryness and soften the skin around the nail.
How We Researched
To compile this list, our team of editors and contributors spent hours researching the best products on the market in this category, evaluating their key features—like ingredients, shade range, or design—in addition to reviews from customers and other trusted sources. We then used this research to assign a star rating from one to five (five being the best; one being the worst) to certain products on the list.
Why Trust Byrdie
Byrdie contributor Melanie Rud has over a decade of experience in the beauty industry, writing for some of the biggest magazines and websites out there. While she has yet to master the art of the DIY mani, she is a pro at cleaning up her cuticles.
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