Cuticles are a funny little bit of the body. Oh so tiny, but potentially so problematic. I suppose they do suffer quite a lot of abuse between hand washing, nail tending, and all the other mean things that happen to your hands, so I’m not surprised they complain from time to time. Anyhow, this lovely lemony cuticle butter (inspired by Lush’s Lemony Flutter) will help soothe and pamper your cuticles, along with any other bits of unhappy skin.

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The first thing you might be thinking is “wow, Marie, that sure is a lot of ingredients”, and you would be right. That is quite a lot of ingredients. It’s actually less than the original uses, surprisingly enough. Anyhow, that’s why I’ve also provided an abbreviated list of ingredients that will do the trick without gutting your pocketbook.

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This cuticle butter is thick and intensely moisturizing thanks to all the butters and heavy-duty oils it contains. Shea butter is great for healing, and rice bran oil is loaded up with Vitamin E MT-50 (USA / Canada). Lanolin is a favourite for chapped skin, and avocado oil contains vitamins A, B1, B2, D, and E.

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A bit of honey and vegetable glycerine (USA / Canada) helps prolong the moisture as both are humectants—they draw moisture from the air to your skin. Lastly, a bit of lemon juice and lemon essential oil help brighten up cuticles, while lavender and chamomile soothe. Because of the lemon content, don’t put this on and then head out into the sun.

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Lemony Cuticle Butter

6g beeswax (USA / Canada)

8g unrefined shea butter (USA / Canada)
2g mango butter (USA / Canada)
2g virgin coconut oil
2g lanolin
Or 14g unrefined shea butter (USA / Canada)

4g avocado oil
2g castor oil (USA / Canada)
4g rice bran oil
Or 10g avocado oil

2g raw honey
2g vegetable glycerine (USA / Canada)
2g lemon juice

5 drops 5-fold lemon essential oil
3 drops lavender essential oil
2 drops chamomile essential oil

Combine the beeswax, butters, and oils in a small dish and melt over simmering water. Remove from the heat once melted and let cool.

Combine the honey, vegetable glycerine (USA / Canada), and lemon juice in a small dish. Place the dish in the leftover hot water to warm through, stirring to combine.

Once the oils have cooled to room temperature, add the honey mixture and whisk to emulsify.

Whisk in the essential oils and decant into a 60mL/2oz tin. Massage into angry cuticles and dry skin.

If you don’t like the smell of lanolin, feel free to substitute more unrefined shea butter (USA / Canada).

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