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Best Non-Toxic Cuticle Remover in 2024
Updated:
Nov 18, 2024
Written by Camille May
Cofounder & Product Curator
+ 1 more
Medically reviewed by Olushola Awoyemi
PhD Environmental Toxicology
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What you should know when choosing non-toxic cuticle removers on Welpr:
- Only the cleanest products make it onto Welpr.
- We use a score called the Welpr Rating to rank each product.
- The Welpr Rating is based on math, not opinion, ensuring it's free from human bias.
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Find Non-Toxic Cuticle Remover
Third-party certifications are key indicators of a product's safety, ethics, and environmental impact. Click the icon to verify the certification.
Highlights aren't always verifiable, so you're trusting the brand when they say "lead free", etc. If the highlight icon is "clickable", it means we've verified the highlight.
User satisfaction is calculated using online reviews and a Bayesian average across all personal care and cosmetic products on Welpr.
Melt Away Cuticle Exfoliator - butter LONDON
Certifications
Highlights
User Satisfaction
Est. Price
$18.00
Pros & Cons
Pros Mentioned
- Effective
- Easy
- Professional
Cons Mentioned
- Pricey
Ingredients
Ingredients can vary by product variation and may change at any time by the manufacturer. For the most complete and up-to-date list of ingredients, refer to the product packaging.
To analyze individual ingredients, use INCIDecoder.
Ingredients: Water (Aqua/Eau), Butylene Glycol, Potassium Hydroxide, Chondrus Crispus (Carrageenan) Extract, Polyacrylamide, C13-14 Isoparaffin, Isopropyl Myristate, Laureth-7
Third-party certifications are key indicators of a product's safety, ethics, and environmental impact. Click the icon to verify the certification.
Highlights aren't always verifiable, so you're trusting the brand when they say "lead free", etc. If the highlight icon is "clickable", it means we've verified the highlight.
User satisfaction is calculated using online reviews and a Bayesian average across all personal care and cosmetic products on Welpr.
Hydrating, Moisturizing, Strengthening Cuticle Remover + Softener Cream - Blue Cross Professional Nail Care
Certifications
User Satisfaction
Est. Price
$5.99
Product Details
- Preferred choice of manicurists for 90+ years for cuticle care, enhancing nail beds’ cleanliness, brightness, and nourishment.
- Extra strength formula instantly dissolves excess dead skin and cuticles without the need for clippers, nippers, or cutters, providing immediate results.
- Developed for waterless manicures to prevent water absorption and swollen nail beds, ensuring a prolonged duration of manicures, polish, and nail art.
- Enriched with lanolin to support nail growth and strength, and also hydrates, moisturizes, softens, repairs, and nourishes nails and cuticles.
- Includes a precision cone-shaped applicator for ease of use; simply apply, gently push back cuticles, and wipe away.
- Safe for use with most nail types including natural, acrylic, gel, nail polish, and dip.
- Manufactured in the USA and part of a comprehensive nail care line that includes various specialized treatments.
Pros & Cons
Pros Mentioned
- Effective
- Moisturizing
- Affordable
Cons Mentioned
- Smelly
Ingredients
Ingredients can vary by product variation and may change at any time by the manufacturer. For the most complete and up-to-date list of ingredients, refer to the product packaging.
To analyze individual ingredients, use INCIDecoder.
Ingredients: Water, Potassium Hydroxide, Castor Seed Oil, Peg-75 Lanolin, Acrylates/Palmeth-25 Acrylates Copolymer
Third-party certifications are key indicators of a product's safety, ethics, and environmental impact. Click the icon to verify the certification.
Highlights aren't always verifiable, so you're trusting the brand when they say "lead free", etc. If the highlight icon is "clickable", it means we've verified the highlight.
User satisfaction is calculated using online reviews and a Bayesian average across all personal care and cosmetic products on Welpr.
Cuticle Remover - Deborah Lippmann
Highlights
User Satisfaction
Est. Price
$22.00
Product Details
- Waterless formula loosens and softens dry cuticles without the need for soaking.
- Lanolin-based formula exfoliates and removes dead skin cells without damaging nail beds.
- Designed for gentle application, suitable for travel and eliminates the need for cutting cuticles.
- Easy application process: liberally apply, push cuticles back, and wipe nails clean.
- Contains moisturizing ingredients like lanolin to prevent dryness and irritation.
- Recommended for weekly use to maintain soft and healthy cuticles.
- Part of Deborah Lippmann's extensive line of nail care and color products used by celebrity manicurists.
Pros & Cons
Pros Mentioned
- Effective
- Gentle
- Quick
Cons Mentioned
- Odor
Ingredients
Ingredients can vary by product variation and may change at any time by the manufacturer. For the most complete and up-to-date list of ingredients, refer to the product packaging.
To analyze individual ingredients, use INCIDecoder.
Ingredients: Aqua/Water/Eau, Potassium Hydroxide, Lanolin Oil, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Carbomer, Carrageenan, Glyceryl Stearate, Disodium EDTA, Dimethicone
Third-party certifications are key indicators of a product's safety, ethics, and environmental impact. Click the icon to verify the certification.
Highlights aren't always verifiable, so you're trusting the brand when they say "lead free", etc. If the highlight icon is "clickable", it means we've verified the highlight.
User satisfaction is calculated using online reviews and a Bayesian average across all personal care and cosmetic products on Welpr.
Instant Cuticle Remover - Sally Hansen
Certifications
Highlights
User Satisfaction
Est. Price
$4.97
Product Details
- Eliminate excess cuticles in 15 seconds
- Contains moisturizing Aloe and Chamomile to condition and soothe cuticles
- Ultra-fast cuticle remover
- Gentle gel formula suitable for cuticles
- Targets both rough, ragged cuticles and dry, weak nails
Pros & Cons
Pros Mentioned
- Effective
- Easy
- Fast
Cons Mentioned
- Inconvenient
Ingredients
Ingredients can vary by product variation and may change at any time by the manufacturer. For the most complete and up-to-date list of ingredients, refer to the product packaging.
To analyze individual ingredients, use INCIDecoder.
Ingredients: Aqua/Water, Potassium Hydroxide, Butylene Glycol, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Tetrasodium Edta, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Camellia Oleifera Leaf Extract, Chamomilla Recutita (Matricaria) Flower Extract, Propylene Glycol, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract, Sodium Hydroxide, Imidazolidinyl Urea, Phenoxyethanol, Methylparaben, Propylparaben, Citric Acid
Third-party certifications are key indicators of a product's safety, ethics, and environmental impact. Click the icon to verify the certification.
Highlights aren't always verifiable, so you're trusting the brand when they say "lead free", etc. If the highlight icon is "clickable", it means we've verified the highlight.
User satisfaction is calculated using online reviews and a Bayesian average across all personal care and cosmetic products on Welpr.
The Cuticle Eraser - tenoverten
Highlights
User Satisfaction
Est. Price
$22.00
Product Details
- Effectively targets overgrown cuticles and rough nail beds, smoothing them without the need for cutting or nipping.
- Designed to create a clean, smooth canvas for manicures or pedicures, facilitating salon-quality results at home.
- Application involves massaging into nail beds, pushing back cuticles gently, and wiping away residue.
- Formulated without dibutyl phthalate, toluene, formaldehyde, formaldehyde resin, camphor, ethyl tosylamide, xylene, and triphenyl phosphate ("Eight-Free").
- Made with natural ingredients, and is cruelty-free and vegan.
Pros & Cons
Pros Mentioned
- None
Cons Mentioned
- Painful
Ingredients
Ingredients can vary by product variation and may change at any time by the manufacturer. For the most complete and up-to-date list of ingredients, refer to the product packaging.
To analyze individual ingredients, use INCIDecoder.
Ingredients: Water, Potassium Hydroxide, Sodium Acryloyl Dimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate, Glyceryl Stearate, Dimethicone, Phenoxyethanol, Caprylyl Glycol, Carbomer, Hexylene Glycol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate
Third-party certifications are key indicators of a product's safety, ethics, and environmental impact. Click the icon to verify the certification.
Highlights aren't always verifiable, so you're trusting the brand when they say "lead free", etc. If the highlight icon is "clickable", it means we've verified the highlight.
User satisfaction is calculated using online reviews and a Bayesian average across all personal care and cosmetic products on Welpr.
Cuticle Remover - ella+mila
Certifications
Highlights
User Satisfaction
Est. Price
$10.49
Product Details
- Quickly softens and removes tough cuticles for cleaner, healthier-looking nails.
- Contains glycerin and jojoba oil to promote soft and moisturized nail beds.
- Formulated without harmful chemicals, supporting healthier, less brittle nails.
- Application involves massaging a few drops around cuticles, leaving on for 2-3 minutes, gently pushing back cuticles, then rinsing with warm soapy water.
- Enhanced with ingredients that lock in moisture, improve hydration, and increase elasticity.
- Vegan and cruelty-free, certified by PeTA.
- Free from 17 harmful chemicals including acetone, formaldehyde, and toluene.
- Made in the USA.
Pros & Cons
Pros Mentioned
- Effective
- Moisturizing
- Smooth
Ingredients
Ingredients can vary by product variation and may change at any time by the manufacturer. For the most complete and up-to-date list of ingredients, refer to the product packaging.
To analyze individual ingredients, use INCIDecoder.
Ingredients: Water (Aqua), Glycerin, Citric Acid, Phenoxyethanol And Ethylhexlgycerin, Carrageenan (Chondrus Crispus), Xanthan Gum, Hydrolyzed Jojoba Esters & Jojoba Esters, Polysorbate 20, Phytantriol, Hydroxpropylcellulose, Potassium Hydroxide, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract, Tetrasodium EDTA, Carica Papaya Fruit Extract, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate, Tocopherol
Third-party certifications are key indicators of a product's safety, ethics, and environmental impact. Click the icon to verify the certification.
Highlights aren't always verifiable, so you're trusting the brand when they say "lead free", etc. If the highlight icon is "clickable", it means we've verified the highlight.
User satisfaction is calculated using online reviews and a Bayesian average across all personal care and cosmetic products on Welpr.
Lemon Cuticle Remover - 10+ Free
Certifications
Highlights
User Satisfaction
Est. Price
$18.00
Product Details
- 100% Vegan
- Made from plants
- Non-toxic
Pros & Cons
Pros Mentioned
- Effective
- Natural
- Fresh
Ingredients
Ingredients can vary by product variation and may change at any time by the manufacturer. For the most complete and up-to-date list of ingredients, refer to the product packaging.
To analyze individual ingredients, use INCIDecoder.
Ingredients: Butyl Acetate, Ethyl Acetate, Nitrocellulose, Acetyl Tributyl Citrate, Adipic Acid/Neopentyl Glycol/Trimellitic Anhydride Copolymer, Isopropyl Alcohol, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Adipic Acid/Fumaric Acid/Tricyclodecane Dimethanol Copolymer, Stearalkonium Hectorite, Water, Myristoyl Pentapeptide-17, Glycerin, Soy Aminoacids, Hydroxypropyl Bispalmitamide MEA, Ethylhexyl Palmitate, Silica Dimethyl Silylate, Butylene Glycol, Sodium Hyaluronate, Pentylene Glycol, Biotin, Panthenol, Niacinamide, Apium Graveolens (Celery) Seed Extract, Tocopherol, Sucrose Acetate Isobutyrate, Trimethyl Pentanyl Diisobutyrate, Stearalkonium Bentonite, Diacetone Alcohol, Citric Acid, May Contain: Mica (CI 77019), Titanium Dioxide (CI 77891), Iron Oxides (CI 77491, 77492, 77499), Ferric Ammonium Ferrocyanide (CI 77510), Yellow 5 Lake (CI 19140), Red 6 Lake (CI 15850), Red 7 Lake (CI 15850), Red 30 Lake (CI 73360), Red 33 Lake (CI 17200), Red 34 Lake (CI 15880), Tin Oxide (CI 77861), Ultramarines (CI 77007), Blue 1 Lake (CI 42090), Violet 2 (CI 60730), Yellow 11 (CI 47000)
Third-party certifications are key indicators of a product's safety, ethics, and environmental impact. Click the icon to verify the certification.
Highlights aren't always verifiable, so you're trusting the brand when they say "lead free", etc. If the highlight icon is "clickable", it means we've verified the highlight.
User satisfaction is calculated using online reviews and a Bayesian average across all personal care and cosmetic products on Welpr.
Fresh Glow Cuticle Remover - Londontown
Highlights
User Satisfaction
Est. Price
$18.00
Pros & Cons
Pros Mentioned
- Effective
- Easy
- Gentle
Cons Mentioned
- Damaging
Ingredients
Ingredients can vary by product variation and may change at any time by the manufacturer. For the most complete and up-to-date list of ingredients, refer to the product packaging.
To analyze individual ingredients, use INCIDecoder.
Ingredients: Water, Glycerin, Glyceryl Stearate Se, Potassium Hydroxide, Tocopheryl Acetate, Carbomer, Phenoxyethanol, Mica, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea) Butter, Pullulan, Ceteareth-12, Glyceryl Stearate, Ceteareth-20, Cetearyl Alcohol, Cetearyl Isononanoate, Cetyl Palmitate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Isopropyl Titanium Triisostearate, Sodium Nitrate, Tin Oxide, Ci 77891
Third-party certifications are key indicators of a product's safety, ethics, and environmental impact. Click the icon to verify the certification.
Highlights aren't always verifiable, so you're trusting the brand when they say "lead free", etc. If the highlight icon is "clickable", it means we've verified the highlight.
User satisfaction is calculated using online reviews and a Bayesian average across all personal care and cosmetic products on Welpr.
Cuticle Off - ibd
Certifications
User Satisfaction
Est. Price
$6.67
Product Details
- Eliminates cuticles on hands and feet quickly and easily
- Suitable for use on both hands and feet nails
Pros & Cons
Pros Mentioned
- Effective
- Easy
- Professional
Cons Mentioned
- Thick
Ingredients
Ingredients can vary by product variation and may change at any time by the manufacturer. For the most complete and up-to-date list of ingredients, refer to the product packaging.
To analyze individual ingredients, use INCIDecoder.
Ingredients: Water, Polyquaternium-37, Butylene Glycol, Acer Saccharum (Sugar Maple) Extract, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis (Orange) Fruit Extract, Citrus Medica Limonum (Lemon) Fruit Extract, Royal Jelly Extract, Saccharum Officinarum (Sugar Cane) Extract, Symphytum Officinale Leaf Extract, Vaccinium Myrtillus Extract, Tocophersolan, Panthenol, Copper Gluconate, Magnesium Aspartate, Zinc Gluconate, Glycolic Acid, Lactic Acid, Benzoic Acid, Benzyl Alcohol, Dehydroacetic Acid, Phenoxyethanol, Salicylic Acid, Benzethonium Chloride
Third-party certifications are key indicators of a product's safety, ethics, and environmental impact. Click the icon to verify the certification.
Highlights aren't always verifiable, so you're trusting the brand when they say "lead free", etc. If the highlight icon is "clickable", it means we've verified the highlight.
User satisfaction is calculated using online reviews and a Bayesian average across all personal care and cosmetic products on Welpr.
Gel Cuticle Remover - Sally Hansen
Certifications
Highlights
User Satisfaction
Est. Price
$41.00
Pros & Cons
Pros Mentioned
- Gentle
- Effective
- Nourishing
Cons Mentioned
- Incomplete
Ingredients
Ingredients can vary by product variation and may change at any time by the manufacturer. For the most complete and up-to-date list of ingredients, refer to the product packaging.
To analyze individual ingredients, use INCIDecoder.
Ingredients: Aqua/Water/Eau, Trisodium Phosphate, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Polyethylene, Butylene Glycol, Laureth-7, Sodium Hydroxide, Urea, 1,2-Hexanediol, Caprylyl Glycol, Disodium Edta, Parfum/Fragrance, Hydrolyzed Wheat Protein, Simmondsia Chinensis (Jojoba) Seed Extract, Sodium Carbonate, Melaleuca Alternifolia (Tea Tree) Leaf Oil, Sodium Chloride, Phenoxyethanol, Edta, Propylene Glycol, Actinidia Chinensis (Kiwi) Fruit Extract, Potassium Benzoate, Potassium Sorbate, Citric Acid, Methylparaben, Ethylparaben, Fd&C Yellow No. 5 (Ci 19140), Fd&C Green No. 3 (Ci 42053)
Our Product Rating System
First, Camille (co-creator of Welpr) hand picks cleaner product options from a variety of sources.
Next, we collect information about each product's safety, consumer satisfaction, and eco-ethical standing.
Finally, we run all this information through an algorithm that calculates the Welpr Rating.
Welpr Rating:
5.0/5
Part 1: Product safety
We evaluate safety information from 3rd party organizations (e.g. EWG, Made Safe, etc.). Instead of relying solely on any one of these companies for safety information, we assess all of them.
Part 2: Consumer satisfaction
We scour the web for consumer ratings and reviews to verify products are not only cleaner options, but also effective. Products can either be Above Average, Average, or Below average for their respective category (e.g. cleaning products).
Part 3: Ethics & Environment
When you buy a product, you’re supporting that company with your dollars. We believe it’s important to support ethical companies, so we pool together certifications that verify a company's ethics and environmental impact.
Common Harmful Chemicals in Cuticle Remover
Chemical Name
Why it’s harmful
Sodium Hydroxide
Sodium hydroxide, also known as caustic soda or lye, is an odorless white crystalline solid that absorbs moisture from the air. It generates significant heat when dissolved in water or neutralized with acid which may ignite combustible materials. It is highly corrosive and is typically used as a solid or in a 50% solution. Sodium hydroxide is used to manufacture a variety of products including soaps, rayon, paper, explosives, dyestuffs, and petroleum products. Exposure to this substance may cause severe burns, necrosis, and pulmonary edema, depending on the concentration and exposure method.
Potassium Hydroxide
Potassium hydroxide 30-70% is a liquid that is highly corrosive to skin, causing second or third-degree burns even after brief contact. It is a hazardous substance that can also induce pulmonary edema, a condition characterized by excessive fluid in the lungs. The effects and properties of this chemical can be compared to those of Sodium hydroxide.
Phenoxyethanol
2-Phenoxyethanol is a hazardous substance toxic by all routes of exposure, and is used widely in products like cosmetics, soaps, and inks, among others. The effects of exposure to this faintly aromatic, colorless, oily liquid can include eye irritation, headaches, tremors, and CNS depression. It's crucial to rinse exposed eyes with tepid water for at least 15 minutes and to wash exposed skin thoroughly with soap and water in case of contact. The substance requires preheating before ignition can occur, and if involved in a fire, gentle water spray can extinguish the fire by inducing frothing.
Benzophenone
Benzophenone (BZP) is a photoinitiator, fragrance enhancer, and ultraviolet stabilizer, used in a variety of industrial applications. Despite not being registered as a pesticide in the U.S., it's involved in the production of insecticides and agricultural chemicals. Its toxic effects on humans are scarcely documented, but it presents little hormonal activity on cell lines. Animal studies show it possesses no estrogenic activity, but it can transform into derivatives with such activity under UV irradiation. It did not show reproductive toxicity or carcinogenicity in rats and mice, respectively, even at high doses. It can be bioactivated through specific enzymes. For aquatic life, fathead minnow larvae were more sensitive to BZP, ranking it in the middle of the toxicity order of six benzene derivatives.
Sources:
Benzophenone & Related Compounds, Chemical Profile: Benzophenone, Toxicological evaluation of benzophenone, Benzophenone – information sheet, Proposition 65 Warnings: Benzophenone, OEHHA: Benzophenone, FDA Removes 7 Synthetic Flavoring Substances from Food Additives List, Benzophenone-3, a chemical UV-filter in cosmetics: is it really safe for children and pregnant women? ,
Triethanolamine
Triethanolamine appears to cause occupational asthma and allergic contact dermatitis in machinists and photographers, as well as liver and kidney damage in animals with high-dose feeding. It's noted to be an irritant to the skin, eyes, and respiratory tract, with potential to cause skin sensitization, though the rate of skin sensitization in humans is low. Triethanolamine has low acute toxicity, with median oral LD50 values of 4,190-11,260 mg/kg in rats and 5,300-8,000 mg/kg in guinea pigs, and a median dermal LD50 greater than 2,000 mg/kg in rabbits. Triethanolamine is not carcinogenic, developmental toxicant, or toxic to the reproductive system. However, chronic exposure may lead to liver and kidney damage.
Sources:
Safety assessment of triethanolamine and triethanolamine-containing ingredients as used in cosmetics, Toxicology of mono-, di-, and triethanolamine, Campaign for Safe Cosmetics: Ethanolamine Compounds (MEA, DEA, TEA And Others), The Dirty Dozen: DEA-related ingredients, Chemical Profile, Special Chem, Safety assessment of triethanolamine and triethanolamine-containing ingredients as used in cosmetics
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