A cuticle oil pen is a portable applicator you can use to apply oil to the cuticles and the skin around your nails. It usually contains a blend of oils inside a pen-shaped container with a brush or soft tip at one end.
Cuticle oil helps to moisturise dry skin around the nails and can make the nail area look smoother and better cared for. The pen makes it easier to apply a small amount without having to pouring oil out of a bottle.
How Does a Cuticle Oil Pen Work?
Most cuticle oil pens release the oil by twisting or clicking the base of the pen. The oil then moves into the brush or applicator tip.
You then sweep the brush around the base and sides of each nail. The oil can then be gently massaged into the cuticles and surrounding skin.
A new pen may need several twists or clicks before the oil reaches the brush properly for the first time. Once the brush is coated, only a small amount is normally needed for each nail.
What Is Cuticle Oil Used For?
Cuticle oil is mainly used to moisturise dry cuticles, as well as the skin near them. It can be helpful after washing your hands, removing nail polish or completing a manicure.
It may also be used:
- Around natural nails
- After applying gel polish
- Around acrylic or extension enhancements
- Before taking nail photographs
- As part of a regular hand-care routine
It must be clarified that cuticle oil doesn’t remove the cuticles, but rather softens and conditions the skin rather than cutting or dissolving it.
Is a Cuticle Oil Pen Better Than a Bottle?
A pen isn’t necessarily better than bottled cuticle oil, but it can be more convenient for a lot of people.
Cuticle oil pens are compact, easy to carry and less likely to spill inside a handbag or a manicure kit. The brush also allows the oil to be applied precisely around each nail.
A bottle may be more economical for frequent use and usually contains more product. Some bottled oils also use a dropper or nail-polish-style brush.
The best option depends on whether portability or the amount of product is more important to you.
Can You Refill a Cuticle Oil Pen?
Some cuticle oil pens are designed to be refilled, but many are disposable. Refillable pens normally have a removable end or reservoir that can be opened and filled with a suitable oil.
A sealed disposable pen should never be forced open, as this can damage the applicator or cause it to leak.
Check the manufacturer’s instructions before you ever try to refill a pen.
When Should You Use a Cuticle Oil Pen?
Cuticle oil can be applied whenever the skin around the nails feels dry. Many people use it once a day, although it can also be applied less frequently or after activities that dry the hands.
After applying the oil, allow it to absorb or gently massage it into the skin. Avoid applying it immediately before nail polish, gel or adhesive products, as oil left on the nail surface may interfere with your application of these products.
Do You Need a Cuticle Oil Pen?
A cuticle oil pen is not an essential manicure tool, but it’s quite a convenient way to care for dry cuticles and keep the nail area looking neat.
It’s particularly useful for travel, work or keeping in a handbag because it allows cuticle oil to be applied quickly without needing to carry around a glass bottle.