Review: Baroness X - Vegan Matte Cuticle Balm - Caramel Pecan Cinnamon Rolls

I've tried many cuticle moisturising products over the years but not one that claims to be matte. This particular one has been known to be called 'swatchers balm'. While I do swatch nail polish I actually wear it for a few days rather than swatch - photo - remove - repeat.

Claims to be:

- Cruelty free

- Free of common allergens

- Vegan, no beeswax

- 85% organic

I had been applying it with my finger as the heat from my finger melted the balm enough to use however because I have longer nails it will become harder to apply like that and so I will be using a small brush.

This particular scent is Caramel Pecan Cinnamon Rolls described as "soft salted caramel cinnamon rolls with chopped toasted pecans". I found it smells very sweet, with a slight nut scent. The scent reminded me of the smell you get hit with when you walk in to a candle shop, particularly that of Collectables.

The balm is less oily looking than a normal cuticle oil, the scent lasts for a couple of hours on me even with hand washing and sanitising. It sinks in quickly which means you remove the white cast left by remover and so you can photograph the polish. Overall I like the product, and will continue to use on a day to day basis. For an overnight product I will continue using a traditional cuticle oil for intensive moisturising.

  

Topic Tuesday: Favourite Cuticle Oil

Over the past decade I have used a lot of different cuticle oils and creams. While my new years resolution has been to DIY my own, I want to use up the ones I already have first.

The Barry M So-Cuticle cuticle oil was nice, but it changed consistency during the winter to be thick and clumpy. Which is to be expected in a product containing so much coconut oil.

At the moment I really like using Rainbow Connection cuticle oil. The bottle is skull shaped which is a bonus, however the product itself is really good. It comes in various scents as well, I have tried Honey I Wash The Kids which is a scent dupe for Lush's Honey I Washed The Kids, and Comforter which again is a scent dupe for Lush's The Comforter.

  

Review: Born Pretty Store - Cuticle Pen - Pineapple Scented [#39329]*

Born Pretty Store have a range of cuticle oil pens in various scents, almond, lavender, coconut, peach and this one which is pineapple oil.

It comes packaged in a cardboard box, and the pen itself is silver. To use this pen you have to twist the end in order to make the oil come down in to the pen bristles. The first time it takes a lot of twisting to make it happen.

I've brushed the cuticle oil around my cuticles in the below picture, I also use it under the length of my nail. This one is scented of pineapple, sinks in to the skin quickly and the scent doesn't last.

I use a cuticle oil at least once a day, it helps to increase the circulation around your nails, which helps your nails to grow. I think it also helps the cuticle area look a lot more visually appealing.

I have a 10% off discount code if you would like to use it;

Born Pretty Store - 2ml
$4.99

  

Review: Barry M - So Cute-icle (Cuticle Oil)

After using up my Leighton Denny Slick Tips pen I needed a new cuticle oil. As you can't see how much you have left of that pen I needed something I could buy in store, so I ended up buying Barry M's cuticle oil.

So Cute-icle comes in a 10ml nail polish style bottle

The brush is flat, wide and rounded at the tip

Coconut scented

What did I like?

+ See through packaging so you know when you will run out

+ Convenient packaging

+ Liquid-y formula so gets in to the cuticle areas

+ Heavy and moisturising oil

What did I not like?

- The black writing on the lid comes off really easily leaving black smudges on your hands

- The brush bristles are quite stiff, which is good for polish application but not so much for oil

- Very strong coconut scented

+ Not the right packaging for on the go

+ Intense formula which isn't good for on the go

Overall

This is an okay cuticle oil, I like to use it while I am sitting not really doing much as it can get everywhere. I still need to use a cuticle cream for more heavy duty moisturisation but with those they have to be used before bed as they are so intense. Not one for on the go but serves its purpose. I like it enough to use it all up and I think I would repurchase this again if it came in a different scent.

Something to note

After owning this and using it for some time I noticed that the formula changed, it went from a clear runny oil to a thick and chunky one. I think the reason for this is the colder weather, because as soon as it was warmed it turned back in to a smooth oil formula again. This must have a high concentration of coconut oil in it as this happens with any other branded coconut oil.

 

Review: OPI - Avoplex Nail and Cuticle Replenishing Oil

 OPI - Avoplex Nail and Cuticle Replenishing Oil

I like to use a cuticle oil 2 or 3 times a day around my cuticles and underneath the nail length. I had been using Leighton Denny's Slick Tips. I use a cuticle oil to help my cuticles be moisturised as well as to help my nails to be able to bend, the ideal is strong nails but nails which can bend somewhat without breaking.

Avoplex smells fresh and clean, I'd like to say it smells of cucumber but it doesn't say in the ingredients it has this in.

The texture of this is thicker than slick tips, feels quite silicone like although it doesn't list this as in the ingredients.

It sinks in to the skin quickly and doesn't leave a sticky or oily residue. I also find this doesn't aggravate my eyes if I get it near them, not that I would recommend putting it in your eye but for accident prone people like me it does happen.

Collection 2000 - Electric Dreams // Jacava - Vanilla Slice

Avoplex contains vitamin E, avocado, sunflower, sesame and kukui nut oils.