Review: It Girl Nail Art Luxe Cuticle Oils

(Press samples ahead!)

Hello!


One of the absolute must-have in my nail care routine is cuticle oil. I have one on my nightstand. I have one in my purse. I have one in the glove compartment of my car. But--not all cuticle oils are created equal.


For me, two issues are most important. I am a compulsive hand-washer--it drives me nuts to have anything on my hands that I can feel, so I have to have cuticle oil that absorbs into my skin quickly. Like, withing a few minutes type of quickly. I'm also very sensitive to smells--a scent that's too perfume-y or chemical-y will trigger a migraine for me. So certain brands of lotions and oils are instantly out for me.


I'm a fan of It Girl Nail Art's stamping plates and polishes--they're top notch quality, and I know everything that Nicole does, she puts her heart into and makes sure she puts out the best product possible. So, I had high expectations for her new line of luxe cuticle oils.


I made a video so you can see how I personally apply cuticle oil, and can see how these go on and absorb:

Her cuticle oil comes in two types of applicator, rollerball and brush. Let's start with the rollerball:

It Girl Nail Art Rollerball

It Girl Nail Art Rollerball

It Girl Nail Art Rollerball

Do you remember when lip glosses used to come in roller balls like this?? OMG, good times--NOT. Luckily, this applicator is much, MUCH more appropriate for cuticle oil; it limits the amount of oil that comes out at once, but still puts out a reasonable amount. I do one or two swipes around my cuticle and that gives me plenty to rub around my nail and up to my first knuckle.  These bottles come with 10ml of product.


Here's a look at the brush applicator:

It Girl Nail Art brush applicator

It Girl Nail Art brush applicator

It Girl Nail Art brush applicator

The brush application allows me a little more targeted application. When my cuticles are struggling more than usual, I can use the brush to really get down in around them, and get the oil between my nail and my cuticle a little more easily.  It's also good when you just need some oil on your cuticles, but the skin on your fingers is just fine, so you don't want to use a bunch extra.


You click the end segment of the applicator, and oil will come out of the tip through the brush. If you click a lot, you'll get a lot of oil. If you click just a little, you'll get just a little, so you have good control that way, too. You'll see in the video it can be a little deceptive to see when you've clicked enough the very first time, so err on the side of clicking too little until you see the oil coming out. This applicator contains 2ml of product.


The oils are made from apricot kernel oil, avocado oil, castor oil, grapeseed oil, vitamin E oil, and jojoba wax ester. There are no nuts anywhere near these suckers, and they are cruelty-free.

So how did these measure up? In terms of absorption, these are excellent. I apply rub in, and by the time I'm done with the last finger, the first is absorbed well enough that I don't have that icky ewww-there's-something-oily-on-my-skin feeling. After a few minutes, it's completely absorbed.


The effects are long-lasting. Unless I wash dishes or something like that, I only need to apply once a day to keep my cuticles looking good.


With respect to scent, I was very pleasantly surprised. I've tried three fragrances, Pina Colada, Lemon Sweet Tea, and Chai Latte (one of the new fall fragrances she just released). They're all yummy yummy to smell, just like the real thing, and even right out of the applicator they aren't overpowering. As the oil absorbs, the smell mellows into a lingering hint that makes me want to keep sniffing my fingers (which, in public, can draw you some odd looks, take it from me). The Pina Colada makes me feel like I'm on a Hawaiian vacation sipping cocktails by the beach. The Lemon Sweet Tea, which I was initially skeptical of, has turned out to be my favorite--there's a light citrus scent with just a hint of tea to give it a little backbone. And the Chai Latte--one of my favorite drinks to splurge on--makes me feel like I'm sitting in my favorite cafe gabbing with a friend.


I mentioned Nicole just released several fall fragrances: Apple Cider, Candied Ginger, Chai Latte, Cinnamon Roll, Pumpkin Pie, and Rosemary Fig. I love the idea of giving yourself a little dash of fall pampering with your favorite seasonal scent on your fingertips! Aromatherapy is real, my friends, and any way you can induce a little extra feel-good in your day is an excellent thing, I think. :)


You can find It Girl Nail Art luxe cuticle oils in their shop; you can also follow It Girl Nail Art on Instagram and Facebook for news and sales. I have a feeling Nicole's gonna have some awesome fragrances coming out for the winter/Christmas season...


Happy pampering!
M.