I’m one of those people who needs a good moisturizer during the winter or my hands dry out, crack, and run the risk of bleeding. This even includes my poor cuticles! I have had the worst case of hangnails recently, so I decided to come up with a formula for a cuticle cream that would help my fingers stop catching on all the laundry.
Let’s go look at the ingredients and why I picked them.
Macadamia Nut Oil has superior massage properties and contributes nice texture to lotions. It also adds a lovely drag and glide that I think is a great addition to any product.
Emulsifying Wax ensures that my cream will not separate.
Stearic Acid gives the cream some body without making it waxy.
Hydrovance is my humectant selection for the long term moisturizing. You can use any humectant, so don’t feel limited by my choice!
Ivy Extract and Calendula Extract are included for their skin soothing properties. These extracts have also been noted for their abilities to combat dry and scaly skin.
Liquid Germall Plus is my go-to preservative because it has a low required usage rate. (Which means money saved!) It also is compatible with most cosmetic ingredients, so I don’t have to worry as much about a failed preservative.
Let’s go make this cuticle treatment cream!
SUPPLIES
IngredientsWater |
EquipmentScale |
RECIPE
Recipe in Percentages
65% Water
22% Macadamia Oil
5% Emulsifying Wax
2% Hydrovance
2% Ivy Extract
2% Calendula Extract
1% Stearic Acid
0.5% Liquid Germall Plus
0.25% Bourbon Geranium Essential Oil
0.25% Carrot Seed Essential Oil
3.53 ounces:2.29 ounces Water |
100 grams:65 grams Water |
INSTRUCTIONS
Weigh all ingredients except the additives (Ivy Extract, Calendula Extract, Liquid Germall Plus Preservative and Essential Oils) into a microwave safe container. Heat in the microwave using short time bursts until everything is melted.
Blend the ingredients to a smooth, creamy consistency using the immersion blender. Add the additives once the temperature drops to approximately 120° F in the mixing bucket.
Stir gently until completely mixed. Pour into containers and allow to cool completely before labeling.
NOTES
This is a heavy duty and thick cuticle cream that follows the idea of a little going a long way! It does take some time to absorb if too much is applied. I would apply this when you have a few moments to pamper your fingers to have the best results! I think this cream feels great!
Cuticle Treatment Cream on a finger.
Weighing the Emulsifying Wax.
All ingredients are ready to be melted!
Melted ingredients before mixing.
Mixed lotion as it begins cooling.
 Adding the additives. |
 Bottled Cuticle Treatment Cream. |
I really need to try this, I’m pretty sure I have all the ingredients. I too have terrible hangnail problems in the winter and make it worse by nibbling. Thank you for the timely solution!
This looks like it would be great for my fingers in this cold Utah weather. I was wondering, though, if you had the recipe in ounces and/or grams? Mine shows up with all three in percentages. I’m sure I could figure it out eventually if I turned my brain on. Thanks!
Whoops! I fixed that!
Can glycerin be substituted equal parts for Hydrovance?
Yes. You can substitute Liquid Glycerin for the Hydrovance in the same amounts.
I would love to learn more about extracts. When do you use them and how do you know what percentage(s) to use in your recipe?
I use the descriptions of the extracts in our catalog. The descriptions give me ideas for the use of the specific extracts. Most of the extracts have recommended usage rates in the description. https://www.thesage.com/catalog/Extracts.html
I hope this helps!
I was just starting to research some cuticle creams, my cuticles look awful right now, so it’s embarrassing to tell people that I make soap and lotion!! My almost 2 year old has terrible cuticles and hang nails from chewing on his fingernails!! Any idea of an edible additive or essential oil that tastes bad? I keep thinking that if I had something like this to repair his “owies” and make it taste bad, maybe he will stop chewing his nails!!! The recipe looks great, and I even have everything on hand, so thanks! 🙂
I think if you use Bourbon Geranium, you will find he will stop chewing because the taste is odd. Good luck!
THANKS!!!
Hi, two questions? Is this the “uncorrected” recipe? Is it still good? When I try to order carrot seed eo, it says lower 48. Do you really not ship it to Alaska? (Three questions, it’s early :<). I need that carrot seed oil.
This recipe is now corrected. It is wonderful! Carrot Seed Oil can go to WA and then up by barge but not through the postal system. Sorry!