The Shea Nail and Cuticle Oil from L’Occitane is a quick-absorbing dry oil that claims to soften and condition the cuticles and nourish, strengthen and improve shine on the nails.

Ingredients: Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis (Sweet Almond) Oil, Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea) Butter, Vitis Vinifera (Grape) Seed Oil, Ricinus Communis (Castor) Seed Oil, Trihydroxystearin, Parfum/Fragrance, Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea) Butter Extract, Prunus Armeniaca (Apricot) Kernel Oil, Tocopherol, Tocopheryl Acetate, Benzyl Alcohol, Citronellol, Linalool, Coumarin, Limonene, Geraniol, Farnesol, Eugenol

Trihydroxystearin is a mixture of glycerin and fatty acids, used as an emollient and thickening ingredient. Shea butter is an occlusive and an emollient. This product contains 30% shea oil.

Directions: Press on the tube and apply to nails and cuticles with the brush and massage in.

This nail oil comes in a tube with a brush applicator for an easy, no-mess application. The oil is easy to get onto the brush and controls the amount of oil during application. The oil has a baby powder scent.

My cuticles are generally dry and get little hangnails. My nails are thin, bendy and peel easily, getting nicks on the sides of the nails. I’ve been using Shea Nail and Cuticle Oil for one month, in the evening, massaging over the nails and cuticles.

I did get a couple hangnails throughout the month.

I do not notice really any improvement in terms of hydration, softness or nourishment to the cuticle; my nails look a bit shinier, however. My nails feel the same, but do not peel as easily, though I have been more diligent in filing the nails regularly.

As a comparison, I used The Ordinary marula oil on my toenails and cuticles (which are much drier than my fingernails and cuticles) for the month and my toes felt moisturized and looked much better within about a week.

I would not repurchase the L’Occitane Shea Nail and Cuticle Oil.