Creative Nail Solar Oil
I don’t bite my fingernails, although I used to as a kid. Instead, I bite the dry skin and cuticles around my fingernails. I know. Self-cannibalism: gross.
A good manicure will prevent that sort of thing, but I don’t do manicures these days. I’m fussy about my toenails being polished and so on, but I can’t really stand polish on my fingernails. It makes them feel tight, like they can’t breathe. Do you know what I mean? About the non-breathing fingernails? No? You say your own fingernails do not, in fact, have lungs?
ANYWAY, for the cuticle/dry skin issue, I have a tiny jar of miracle oil that always, always does the trick. It’s called Solar Oil, and you paint it on with a brush, then rub it in. It smells deliciously wonderful (the product description says it contains jojoba, rice bran oil, sweet almond oil, and vitamin E) and after I apply it, my fingernails stay moisturized for at least a day or two. Supposedly this stuff keeps your actual nails from becoming brittle, in addition to preventing the tempting-and-disgustingly-chewable cuticle/skin areas.
I haven’t seen it for sale in drugstores before (I got mine from a hair salon), so I’m not positive where all it might be carried, except of course by our friend Amazon. Despite the slightly silly pricetag (nine bucks for some goddamned oil?), I’ve had my bottle for YEARS, literally, so a little goes a long, long, long-ass way. Yes, olive oil might work too, but I promise this stuff smells much nicer.
Link: Creative Nail Solar Oil
Ballpark price: $8.75
Posted: September 26th, 2006 under Skin care, Personal care, Personally recommended by Linda.
Comments: 26
Comments
Comment from orangepeacock
Time: September 26, 2006, 12:14 pm
My fingernails have lungs, too. I HATE that feeling.
Comment from Leah
Time: September 26, 2006, 12:28 pm
I’d be afraid that the yummy-smellingness would make them even more appetizing, says the nailbiter.
Comment from Roseann
Time: September 26, 2006, 12:56 pm
I believe one of the chain drugstores carries it. It would have to be one of these; Walgreens, Rite Aid or CVS, since those are the only ones I have ever been to.
When I have lapsed back into my gnawing habit, this helps me to stop it already and let them grow.
If I’m not chewing my nails, I’m pick, pick, picking at the cuticles and skin around my nails, often until I bleed. Sexy, no?
Comment from Audrey
Time: September 26, 2006, 1:26 pm
I have used Solar Oil. I like it, but I love, love, love Burt’s Bees Lemon Butter Cuticle Creme. It’s right up there with TiVo in terms of products that have changed my life. About $5 for a 0.6 oz. tin. It also smells really good. It works great overnight.
Comment from Linda
Time: September 26, 2006, 1:31 pm
Comment from Zoot
Time: September 26, 2006, 1:50 pm
I have tried the Burts Bees stuff and the cuticle cream from Bath & Body Works and neither of them help my dry/painful cuticle issues. SO - this is definitely on my list of Things To Try. Thanks, Linda.
Comment from Jen
Time: September 26, 2006, 6:31 pm
I will have to try this stuff. I’ve been using the boring Sally Hansen apricot stuff, and it helps my cuticle ripping some. I’ve used the Burt’s Bees, and I find it way too greasy. How would this and the Burt’s Bees compare in… greasiness? If that makes sense.
Comment from Linda
Time: September 26, 2006, 7:43 pm
Comment from Melissa
Time: September 26, 2006, 8:57 pm
Wait. WAIT. The reason my cuticles literally BEG to be ripped off… is because they’re dry? And not because of psychosexual masochistic sublimation?? You mean there’s a biological REASON that I compulsively and crudely remove my own cuticles?? Leaving a raw, bloody lesion that causes manicurists to reel back in disgust???
I guess this is sad, but I’m only 19 and I always thought all cuticles eventually peeled away from the nail like mine. And that everyone else was just resisting the urge.
I guess I’m gonna go buy some of that stuff. Thank you, sundrybuzz, for changing my life!!!!!! (quote me on that?)
(free stuff?)
Comment from thejunebug
Time: September 27, 2006, 3:12 am
I am totally adding this to my next Amazon order. Thanks for the tip, Linda!
Comment from Swistle
Time: September 27, 2006, 6:44 am
My fingernails don’t have lungs, but they do have weak muscles: fingernail polish feels “heavy” to me. Yes, two thin layers of paint and my finger muscles are taxed, please don’t kick sand on me.
Comment from zu
Time: September 27, 2006, 7:01 am
Thank you, guys. I thought that I am all alone. But now I see that there are other people who have blood on their hands - fingers. 
And ALSO - my fingernails have lungs.
Comment from paige
Time: September 27, 2006, 8:34 am
I am so relieved to hear that other people like to nibble on their cuticles.
Comment from Erin
Time: September 27, 2006, 10:43 am
Ulta - I think that’s what the place is called - carries it too! I just contemplated buying some so I noticed it.
Comment from samantha Jo Campen
Time: September 27, 2006, 12:41 pm
I’m a self-cannibalizer too. And I use this stuff and it totally rocks!
Comment from dani
Time: September 27, 2006, 2:37 pm
agreed on the lungs/heaviness thing. i very rarely agree to have my fingernails painted. in fact, i only paint the toes once or so a year because of the same reason. well, that, and when i take off the toenail polish, even if it has only been less than a week, my toenails turn yellow. not cute.
anyway, this posting could not have been more timely; LAST NIGHT i was applying my burt’s bees lemon butter cuticle creme, and wondering if there wasn’t a better product out there. it doesn’t really absorb. and well, it gets on stuff. like my dog. and my cat. and i hate when it gets UNDER my nails.
ew.
Comment from stormy
Time: October 1, 2006, 2:38 am
Linda, come here, shhhh… let me tell you a secret.
I am a Lush! Freak. Ok, I’m a Lush Freak! Ever heard of Lush products? Well, you’re about to enter a world of no return girlieville, I tell ya!
I’ve used solar oil for many years and have always loved the smell. Well, when I found Lush a while back, I found a loverly hand cream that smells JUST LIKE solar oil. It’s called ‘Smitten’.
Email me if you want to try a sample, and I’ll hygienically scoop some out for you and send. You will be forever hooked on these products. Don’t say I didn’t warn you!
Much love and love the new Buzz!
Comment from donita
Time: December 31, 2006, 12:38 am
my psychiatrist said recently that my cuticle picking and biting and pulling skin away could be a form of self mutilation as a way of defining myself. As in: I know from this tiny little pain I am causing myself that I do have a boundary, that I do exist, that I am here and this is where I am. As opposed to being, as he puts it, an egg without a shell, defined only by the people around me, most of whom sense that I can be easily walked on. So I say let’s define ourselves by our beautiful cuticles, our well-hydrated fingers and feet, and our well-defined boundaries. The cheapest I’ve found Solar Oil is $21.95 for 4 ounces at a Web site that has transdesign in the name. My mother used to say that hospitals buy it in drums and apply it to burn patients with paint brushes, but I don’t know what it’s called in medical supplies. thanks for having this site.
Comment from Kali
Time: March 29, 2007, 2:50 pm
HEHE I think that people say human flesh tastes the BEST haha well how much is this stuff on average?????? please Email me @ sweetkm25@yahoo.com if you would like to tell me
Comment from izciqfjgrp
Time: July 3, 2007, 12:34 pm
Hello! Good Site! Thanks you! wgeqdfsbbtulm
Comment from bob
Time: April 20, 2008, 2:11 pm
i think the best part of biting off the cuticles and the skin around my nails is being able to chew on the skin. therefore, i find it helpful to pop in a stick of gum when i start biting at my nails. i hate the damn pain that i inflict when i rip the skin off my fingers, but the satisfaction of getting rid of that dry piece of skin is so great. god, i hate this bad habit. im definitely going to try this product. Ive also used orly cuticle cream…works well and definitely helped me stop for a bit.
Comment from Maddy
Time: July 29, 2008, 6:30 am
i bit my cuticles all the time and it caused my fingers to look pretty gross. but the Solar Oil makes them un-biteable. i took a bottle from my sister just to “borrow”. but now im never giving it back.
Comment from Jacqueline
Time: August 13, 2008, 8:44 pm
The above comments provided me the solace I needed as I too have been battling the bloody cuticle peeling syndrome. Today I decided to purchase Eucerin’s Daily Moisturizer and for the first time in years my cuticles felt like they were healing from the aggressive cuticle peeling I managed to do this last week. I certainly had to rub it generously onto my cuticles but it was worth it. The inflammation felt like is was actually reducing.
In the last month I have been obsessively reading “Don’t go to the Cosmetics Counter without me” and found that it provided some interesting insights to why even expensive products contain ingredient that can irritate the skin cause inflammation and potentially reduce the skin’s ability to heal itself. The book weighs more than a bible and has certainly answered some of my concerns about the health of my skin.
The mini Solar Oil product was provided to me free with purchase at a local salon. It smells nice and moisturizes my skin, but just wasn’ts enough for me. Oh cruel cuticles.
Comment from Kerry
Time: October 9, 2008, 1:33 am
Hi,
I used Solar Oil for years. Used to use a bit daily from my mums bottle.
I have vey tough brittle cuticles and Solar Oil does help but I have to apply it a few times every day.
I recently had my nails done for a wedding and the lady used La Femme Cuticile Oil. It has such a yummy Vanilla smell and so far has been the best cuticle oil I have ever had on my nails.
It sort of soaks in very evenly and make your nails and cuticles look and feel perfect.
I would advise anyone who religiuosly uses Solar Oil to try and get hold of a bottle of La Femme Cuticle oil. Like me, you will be glad you did.
Comment from Paula
Time: October 21, 2008, 5:14 am
Hi, I am ashamed to say I am a picker and nibbler too (and I pick the skin off my lips - another bad habit I can’t stop)
I’m pleased to hear that there are others out there!
Will massaging the oil in actually help my nails to grow as well as making nicer cuticles?
Comment from Irem Snc
Time: December 21, 2008, 3:53 pm
My first bottle of it was a small one that was given as a free sample in the biggest Douglas of Munich. I have been biting the area around my fingernails since I was like 6 or 7. But now I use the oil after my manicure and it works wonderfully for me.
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