I promise I’ll write you
Did you know that some gals carry hot sauce in their purses? It’s true! I saw an episode of Cheaters where a woman busted out her own personal bottle of Tabasco sauce at a restaurant. Her dedication inspired me — in an unrelated but equally silly way — to start carrying cuticle oil with me everywhere I go.
Why cuticle oil?
Because I wash my hands, a lot. Consequently, my cuticles look like shredded carrots, and regular hand lotion just wasn’t cutting it.
But then disaster struck when a bottle of cuticle oil accidentally opened in my purse… Oily phone = beauty grouch.
It put an end to my cuticle carrying until I came across this little miracle at Sephora last weekend: Sephora Brand Cuticle Pen ($12).
What is it?
Perhaps not surprisingly, it’s a click pen filled with moisturizing cuticle oil. 🙂
It comes in three different flavors — Healing Eucalyptus, Stimulating Lavander and Original. I have it in Original, which moisturizes and softens with shea butter and the oils of Aloe vera, jojoba, apricot and evening primrose.
As you can probably imagine, it’s not complicated to operate. Just twist the bottom of the click pen to deploy the oil through the brush at the opposite end, and paint with the oil-soaked tip directly on your cuticles.
Brush it good… brush it REAL good
Portable convenience
Easy to use, Sephora’s Cuticle Pen fits in my makeup bag for quick cuticle touch-ups anywhere, like while waiting for public transpo, sitting on the couch watching bad reality TV (hello, Cheaters!?!) or while you’re busy procrastinating (like me!).
CONFESSION: I even moisturized my cuticles while writing this post.
And there’s no risk (or, very little) of the pen accidentally spilling oil over all of the crap I lug around in my purse.
En Francais!
As for the oil itself, I like the consistency. It’s thicker and less runny than junk store cuticle oils I’ve used in the past, which means it doesn’t ooze all over my fingers when I use it.
Better than therapy?
I find the eucalyptus scent comforting, and the act of brushing the pen onto my cuticles is surprisingly relaxing when I’m tense.
It could be a little cheaper, though. The pens cost $12 a pop — not bad, but $6 would be better, of course. 🙂 Makeup and Beauty Blog Rating: A
Hungry, hungry hippo!
I’m starving like marvin’, yo! What’s for lunch?
Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,
Karen
Shells says
November 30th, 2009 at 2:32 pmLOL, “brush it good. brush it real good”
Karen says
November 30th, 2009 at 2:50 pmThis cuticle pen is only for the sexy people…
I still love that Salt n’ Pepa song!
Gina says
November 30th, 2009 at 2:51 pmive been looking for something for my yucky cuticles… i wish it was a little cheaper too 🙂
those crepes look delish! are they good?
.-= Gina’s last blog post… Give Thanks =-.
Karen says
November 30th, 2009 at 3:42 pmSO GOOD! And they’re easy to make. Just throw them in a non-stick pan for five minutes per side. 🙂
Marce says
November 30th, 2009 at 2:59 pmYUM! Smoked salmon? I’m so there…I wish I could get these buggas over here. I’d probably be eating one now.
Haay, a cuticle oil might work pretty well on my toes, they’re so dry! Sorry for the confession. Dry toes are gross 😀
Catch up later!
.-= Marce’s last blog post… Feeling MAC, MAC, MAC! =-.
Karen says
November 30th, 2009 at 3:43 pmMine are gross, too. I went to town on them last night with the cuticle pen while watching Project Runway (zzzz).
Marce says
November 30th, 2009 at 7:31 pmLOL, I love how sincere we are. How did that go? I bought a foot cream to see if it helps, I haven’t tried it yet since I’m always walking around bare foot and dirty feet + cream = gross. I’m thinking a natural alternative, since we don’t have Sephora here (how many times have I said this?); maybe almond oil will work OK?
.-= Marce’s last blog post… Feeling MAC, MAC, MAC! =-.
Karen says
November 30th, 2009 at 7:40 pmJojoba oil works well, and it’s cheap. 🙂
You could always throw on socks after you lube up your feet… I do that all the time!
T says
November 30th, 2009 at 3:28 pmshredded carrots! You made me giggle. 😀
Karen says
November 30th, 2009 at 3:43 pmYou know the kind I’m taking about, LOL! They’re so gross when they’re all dried out…
Glosslizard says
November 30th, 2009 at 3:46 pmCuticle pen sounds like a winner!
For lunch, open-faced turkey sandwich! Viva leftovers! 🙂
Karen says
November 30th, 2009 at 3:48 pmI am sad to report that there are no more turkey leftovers in my fridge. 🙁
Anh says
November 30th, 2009 at 4:10 pmI got this for Xmas two years ago. I thought it was okay. I might have to dig it back out again. I remembered that it tingled.
.-= Anh’s last blog post… itchy fingers =-.
Karen says
November 30th, 2009 at 5:29 pmHmm, interesting. Mine doesn’t tingle. Do you remember which one you had?
Stef says
November 30th, 2009 at 4:52 pmI love this pen! My friend poo-pooed me when she saw it in my Sephora basket (it’s not really the most fun purchase, I’ll give her that). But who’s laughing now that I have silky cuticles? HA!
Lunch was homemade turkey soup. My turkey just keeps on giving!
.-= Stef’s last blog post… Julie Hewett Organic Rose & Ruby Camellia Balm =-.
Karen says
November 30th, 2009 at 5:30 pmThat sounds delish… a perfect lunch for a cold fall day. 🙂
Catherine says
November 30th, 2009 at 4:57 pmI would probably love this hehehe. I actually have been so tempted by the almond one at The Body Shop, which also comes with a little cuticle pusher on the end, but just haven’t caved (or even tried it) yet. I’ll have to go investigate which one has a better texture next time I’m at the mall.
.-= Catherine’s last blog post… ekimura’s & ekiLove giveaways =-.
Karen says
November 30th, 2009 at 5:30 pmOh cool! I didn’t know The Body Shop had something similar. I’ll have to check it out next time I’m there.
amy says
November 30th, 2009 at 6:18 pmGoing to need to check this out because I have never seen anything like this before.
.-= amy’s last blog post… Dior Cristal Boreale Holiday 2009 Collection: Smokey Crystal #089 5 Couleurs Palette Fard À Paupières Lumières Vibrantes Review, Swatches and Product Pictures =-.
Karen says
December 1st, 2009 at 6:15 amCool! I hope you like it. 🙂
BlovetBeauty says
November 30th, 2009 at 6:39 pmit looked like a concealor brush to me 🙂
.-= BlovetBeauty’s last blog post… Black Rimmed Eyes =-.
Karen says
December 1st, 2009 at 6:17 amHa! It does.
Stacie says
November 30th, 2009 at 7:01 pmThis is an awesome product! I found it quite awhile ago at Sephora. I don’t use it as often as I should, though. Hmm…I think I’ll do my nails tonight! I don’t work again until Thursday, so I’m set!
Karen says
December 1st, 2009 at 6:18 amHi Stacie,
How did your manicure go?
BTW, what do you do?
Stacie says
December 1st, 2009 at 8:20 amI used my favorite OPI color, Royal Flush Blush. It’s a gorgeous pale metallic pink that I never get tired of!
Karen says
December 1st, 2009 at 5:27 pmOPI makes some really pretty pale shades. 🙂 Love ’em!
Kim says
November 30th, 2009 at 8:44 pmI use this Sally Hansen cuticle cream that I bought from Walgreen’s. I mean, it smells lovely, it comes in a cute little orange jar, and even moisturizes, but I feel like it might be too … much? I’m just not sure what to do with my hands once I’ve put it on! Should I just sit around with my hands mid-air? lol. I know, it seems strange to not understand what the next step is after using cuticle cream, but I’m just that lost.
I feel like every time I do something to my (toe or finger) nails, I always end up ruining it by somehow shoving my hands into things like towels or rubbing them on my shirt or SOMETHING. I mean, every single time! I ruin nail polish like nobody’s business, lol.
I can’t be the only one with strange mid-air hands dilemmas, can I?
Karen says
December 1st, 2009 at 6:20 amLOL, Kim!
Maybe you could put on the cuticle cream before going to bed? Or put on some gloves after you slather it on? I know some companies make these really soft gloves that you can put on after you slather on lotion/cuticle cream before going to bed.
Kim says
December 1st, 2009 at 7:02 amThat’s probably better than my mid-air option LOL!
Karen says
December 1st, 2009 at 7:11 amThe gloves are really good — when you wake up in the morning you’re hands will feel extra soft. The only thing is though you risk looking a little nuts before bed, ha ha!
Kate & Zena says
November 30th, 2009 at 9:43 pmMy lunch/breakfast was Cheez-its. Yep, I had junk food for a meal. Why? There is absolutely nothing appetizing at my school to eat other than Rice Krispie treats (which I should not be eating), Dortios Nacho Cheese tortilla chips, LifeSaver pepermint mints and Cheez-It from the vending machine. OR I can run all the way downstairs at school to the cafeteria like a madman, order four pieces of toast (four is the number that fills me up), wait for them to toast in ye ancient school toaster which likes to either undertoast or charcoal-ize my toast, wait in line for a billion minutes it feels like to pay $1.20 for FOUR pieces of toast (not exactly cost-effective) and then racing back up a flight of stairs with four pieces of toast hoping to God I don’t trip or crash into anybody (with possibly one piece of toast in my mouth) to my class that’s on the other side of the school and hope that I’m not late. The vending machine is less stress-inducing, believe me. I’d like to keep my brain screwed on semi-straight.
My question I’d like to ask the planners of my community college is: why is the bloody cafeteria DOWNSTAIRS anyway, which could be called a basement, where no classrooms are? It makes going there so inconvenient!
I hate cuticle oil because it’s impractical when you’re as big of a klutz as I am and have as sensitive of a nose like mine. It tends to make my fingers oily and nasty too. I actually spilled my one bottle (oops). When my hands get dry, I use Neutrogena’s Norwegian formula hand cream lotion. I think my cuticles have been healthier than ever since I’ve switched to that hand lotion.
Karen says
December 1st, 2009 at 6:22 amHi Kate,
I like that lotion. It’s more of a summertime one for me though…
Kate & Zena says
December 1st, 2009 at 11:55 amI like it because a teensy weensy blob is moisturizing enough for both hands so it lasts forever. It’s definitely a winter item for me here. It’s dry here in winter.
Karen says
December 1st, 2009 at 5:28 pmCold plus dry is rough! I so couldn’t hang in the midwest. I’d probably never leave the house, LOL!
Sarah says
December 1st, 2009 at 4:17 amI’m so jealous of your lunch! I had a healthy choice steamer, I’m not sure what kind because despite thsoe commercials that have the women decribing in exact detail their frozen dinners – almost all of the healthy choice steamers taste the same to me…
But my real question is what is the green stuff in your glass? It looks so cheerful! And green typically means healthy-ish…
Karen says
December 1st, 2009 at 7:14 amI know exactly what taste you’re talking about! I’m a Lean Cuisine girl myself (butternut squash ravioli…mmm!).
The green stuff is a green smoothie-thing-a-ma-bob that I’ve been chugging in the morning. It’s romaine lettuce, an apple, mango, some water and the juice of half a lemon blended together. It tastes pretty good, especially when served cold.
Toni says
December 1st, 2009 at 7:56 amKaren, this looks like something I really need. I put cuticle oil on at night, but not during the day. Does this leave your hands oily/greasy? I guess I need to stop by Sephora again! Shh, don’t tell hubby though!
Karen says
December 1st, 2009 at 5:29 pmIt depends on how much oil I put down. I usually try to not put too much on; when I do it right I can do stuff like type right afterwards without my fingers feeling greasy.
Amanda says
December 1st, 2009 at 9:01 amI keep a burt’s bees cuticle cream at my desk at work, and like the other poster I have the Body Shop version. (It was an emeregency purchase at the airport last winter!) But it’s good stuff. 🙂
Sarah says
December 1st, 2009 at 12:09 pmThe pen looks so much more practical; I use Solar Oil which i love, but so far it hasn’t opened up in my makeup bag; that would really frost my butt!!
Kerry says
December 1st, 2009 at 12:23 pmMy little sister gave me a cuticle oil pen for my birthday, it’s “The Body Shop” brand. Now I carry it around in my handbag all the time. It smells awesome and does the trick without being messy. Good work little sister 🙂
Aniroc says
December 1st, 2009 at 3:34 pmHey, I think this is something I’d like to have in my bag o’ tricks for work. I’m an RN so I too wash my hands like crazy…soap, alcohol gels and I cream up my hands as often as possible, but its never enough. I actually resolved to have bi-monthly parafin treatments for my hands to keep them soft but this would be great to put on during breaks or while on nights when I have a free moment and trying to keep awake – that eucyalyptus should be great for that!
Marisol says
December 2nd, 2009 at 6:02 pmThose crepes look delish.
For my cuticles, I use Burt Bees’ Lemon Cuticle oil. It works great and has a slight lemon scent to it.
.-= Marisol’s last blog post… Gals Guide meet up =-.
Karla says
December 20th, 2009 at 12:26 pmI haven’t tried that one, but Sephora by OPI also has a cuticle oil. Theirs comes in a tube with a leakproof screw-off cap, and a brush tip underneath. I don’t know how the quality of the actual ingredients compares, but the tube is FAR cheaper than the pen ($9 for .25 oz as opposed to $12 for .05 oz).
Jane says
August 6th, 2011 at 12:46 pmGreat day for just relaxing and chilling out.