After cuticles have soaked, push them back gently. Brush away stray pieces of dead skin with a buffing disk.
Fill a bowl with warm water. Add one-half teaspoon of sea salt and one sliced lime. Soak hands for ten minutes.
Mix one tablespoon of hydrogen peroxide with two tablespoons of baking soda. Brush on nails with a small toothbrush. Rinse immediately.
Dip a nailbrush into equal parts lemon juice, white vinegar, and water. The water should be warm. Brush over stained or yellowed nails, wait a few seconds, then rinse.
IF YOU’RE REALLY ON THE RUN, HERE’S AN INSTANT FIX THAT WILL ALSO SOFTEN YOUR CUTICLES.
Rub a drop of olive oil to each nail to revive the topcoat’s sheen.
CITRUS CUTICLE SMOOTHER
Soak fingertips in one cup warm water combined with the juice of a lemon. After five minutes, the citric acid will soften ragged, hard cuticles so that you can push them back with a cloth.
REMOVE EXCESS CUTICLE
Scrub excess cuticle away with toothpaste. It works to soften and get rid of ragged edges.
Smooth the skin by rubbing petroleum jelly or bag balm (available in the skincare section of most drugstores) to lock in moisture and soften rough edges.
HEAL RAGGED CUTICLES
For a freshly manicured look, combine a bottle of cuticle oil with a cup of hot water. Wait sixty seconds, and then brush over your cuticles. The water and the oil combine to provide instantly smoother cuticles.