The 14 Best Cuticle Removers in 2023, According to Celeb Nail Artists

Best Overall

Butter London Melt Away Cuticle Exfoliator

$18 at Amazon $12 at Target $18 at Walmart

Liquid cuticle removers work by exfoliating and essentially dissolving the dead skin—and Butter London's aptly named Melt Away Cuticle Exfoliator is definitely our favorite. All you do is swipe it on with the brush attached to the twist top (it's designed just like a nail polish bottle), then let it marinate for two minutes while it softens and breaks down those beat-up cuticles. Next, gently push the skin back and wipe off any excess with a tissue or cotton pad—no clipping required.

It may sting slightly if you leave it on too long, but the formula is gentle and doesn't seem to cause any damage to the nail beds. This liquid cuticle remover also softens skin and preps nails for polish.

Who It's For

We recommend this Byrdie-tested product for anyone looking for a gentle, effective, user-friendly cuticle remover.

Type: Liquid solution | Active Ingredients: Carrageenan, potassium hydroxide | Size: 0.4 ounces | Cruelty-Free: Yes

Best Budget

Blue Cross Cuticle Remover

$10 at Walmart $13 at Sallybeauty.com

For just a few dollars, you get a big ol' bottle of this effective formula (which consistently pulls in great reviews from satisfied shoppers). Infused with moisturizing lanolin (which can even help brittle nails grow), it goes above and beyond cuticle removal and works to nourish and replenish dry, brittle nail beds. Just a heads up, lanolin comes from wool, so it's not vegan.

Who It's For

This generously sized bottle of liquid cuticle remover will last forever, revitalize your nails, and won't run you more than 10 bucks.

Type: Liquid solution | Active Ingredients: Carrageenan, lanolin | Size: 6 ounces | Cruelty-Free: No

Best Drugstore

Sally Hansen Problem Cuticle Remover

$9 at Amazon $10 at Walmart $8 at Riteaid.com

We love a tried and true nail care product that you can find at most drugstore chains. Containing natural, gentle ingredients like witch hazel and aloe vera, this low-pH solution is a good option for overgrown cuticles in need of some TLC. You need to leave it on a bit longer—anywhere from three to five minutes—and wash it off afterward, but we promise you'll love the results. We also appreciate that it comes with several manicure sticks to help you push back cuticles after you soften them.

Who It's For

If your cuticles are overgrown or on the thicker side, this effective yet gentle drugstore formula is your guy.

Type: Liquid solution | Active Ingredients: Sodium hydroxide, witch hazel, aloe vera | Size: 1 ounce | Cruelty-Free: No

Best Professional

ProLinc Cuticle Eliminator

$9 at Amazon $9 at Walmart $6 at Sallybeauty.com

You may have seen this bottle at your local nail salon—it is, in fact, a professional formula. ProLinc Cuticle Eliminator works lightning-fast and can even tackle the thickest of skin—think the cuticles on your toenails (yep, you have them there too). We love that it's as inexpensive as our drugstore and budget options. Also nice: It's safe to use on gel polish or acrylics.

Who It's For

This fast-acting formula can be used on gel polish, acrylic nails, and even the thick cuticles on your toenails.

Type: Liquid solution | Active Ingredients: Potassium hydroxide | Size: 4 ounces | Cruelty-Free: Yes

Best for Discolored Nails

Orly Cutique Cuticle Remover

View on Orlybeauty.com

It happens to the best of us—you try out a fun, super dark nail polish, and when you try to get it off, it leaves the ghost of its color behind. But perhaps you didn't realize that cuticle removers can quickly take away stains as well. Orly Cutique is ideal for nail beds that appear discolored or dingy after removing dark nail polish. "This is my personal favorite because it both removes cuticles and also gets rid of stains," says Gerstein. To reap those brightening benefits just apply a couple of drops to each nail bed, rub it around with a cotton pad, and then rinse it off.

Who It's For

This expert-approved liquid solution not only removes cuticles but also gets rid of stains and discoloration on nails.

Type: Liquid solution | Active Ingredients: Potassium hydroxide, sesame seed oil | Size: 0.6 ounces | Cruelty-Free: Yes

Best Fast-Acting

Sally Hansen Instant Cuticle Remover

$5 at Amazon $7 at Ulta $5 at Target

Manicures can be fun and feel great, but they can also eat up a chunk of time that you might not have. If you're looking for a super quick nail boost, Sally Hansen has your back. Another one of Gerstein's picks, this speed demon gets the cuticle-eliminating job done in just 15 seconds. While using it too often may dry out your nails, we appreciate that the gel solution is formulated with hydrating, skin-soothing ingredients like aloe vera and chamomile. Some users have noted it can still be a little dry, though.

Who It's For

Dissolving cuticles in seconds, Sally Hansen Instant Cuticle Remover is ideal for folks who want to save time on at-home nail care.

Type: Gel solution | Active Ingredients: Potassium hydroxide, aloe vera, chamomile | Size: 1 ounce | Cruelty-Free: No

Best Splurge

Deborah Lippmann Cuticle Remover

$22 at Sephora $22 at Nordstrom View on Deborahlippmann.com

Yes, a bottle of Deborah Lippmann Cuticle Treatment may cost more than a professional polish change, but it might still be worth a splurge. Gerstein loves how the exfoliating formula quickly breaks down dead, dry skin. We're big fans of the dropper applicator, which makes it easy to apply just the right amount onto each nail bed. Some users have said it can sting a bit. And for the price, we do wish the bottle was a bit bigger.

Who It's For

This high-end liquid solution can be used every few days or as needed to keep cuticles in check.

Type: Liquid solution | Active Ingredients: Potassium hydroxide, lanolin | Size: 0.5 ounces | Cruelty-Free: Yes

Best Vegan

Tenoverten The Cuticle Eraser

$22 at Tenoverten.com

Call us shallow, but we'd be willing to shell out more dollars for this pick just because of the chic, recyclable bottle. Happily, the formula is no joke, either. Tenoverten's Cuticle Eraser effectively removes cuticles with just a few drops while softening and smoothing your nail beds. We also love that it's vegan and cruelty-free. The brand says you can use it weekly, but overuse might lead to drying.

Who It's For

If you appreciate vegan, cruelty-free products as well as a fancy blush pink dropper bottle, this one won't disappoint.

Type: Liquid solution | Active Ingredients: Potassium hydroxide | Size: 0.5 ounces | Cruelty-Free: Yes

Best for Sensitive Skin

Olive & June Cuticle Remover

$10 at Oliveandjune.com

You may not realize it, but even the skin around your nails can react to certain ingredients and be prone to irritation. If that's something that happens to you, go with Olive & June. The brand's take on cuticle remover is this gentle, fragrance-free solution that moisturizes and nourishes nail beds with avocado oil, argan oil, and jojoba oil. It's also vegan, cruelty-free, and has been tested by dermatologists, so you can feel confident it's as good for your skin as can be.

Who It's For

For those with sensitive, reactive skin, we suggest this gentle, dermatologist-tested formula that also happens to be vegan.

Type: Liquid solution | Active Ingredients: Potassium hydroxide, avocado oil, argan oil, jojoba oil | Size: 1 ounce | Cruelty-Free: Yes

Best for Dry Nails

CND Cuticle Eraser

$11 at Ulta $10 at Walmart View on Beyondpolish.com

If your nails are dry, Gerstein says to be wary about formulas containing potassium hydroxide and sodium hydroxide; both ingredients have a high pH and can cause more dryness. Instead, seek out a cuticle remover that relies on exfoliating AHAs (alpha-hydroxy acid which is a chemical exfoliant), like this one. CND Cuticle Eraser calls on lactic acid and malic acid to dissolve dead skin tissue while plant oils and aloe vera hydrate and condition.

Who It's For

Those with dry skin who want to avoid harsh, dehydrating ingredients should reach for CND's AHA-based, highly moisturizing Cuticle Eraser (unless you're put off by a strong-smelling product).

Type: Cream | Active Ingredients: Lactic acid, malic acid, plant oils, aloe vera | Size: 0.5 ounces | Cruelty-Free: No

Best on Amazon

SuperNail Cuticle Softener & Remover

$7 at Amazon $8 at Walmart $3 at Sallybeauty.com

Gerstein is just one of many fans of this top-seller on Amazon. Happy shoppers rave about how well (and fast) it works to dissolve and soften dead skin. Beyond giving cuticles the boot, SuperNail can be used to remove actual stains—not just discoloration on your nail beds. We're talking ink, hair dye, wine, you name it. The only thing we don't like about it is it contains cocomide DEA, a chemical version of coconut oil that has been linked to cancer.

Who It's For

This affordable liquid solution works remarkably well to dissolve cuticles, plus it can be used to remove various household stains.

Type: Liquid solution | Active Ingredients: Sodium chloride, lanolin | Size: 8 ounces | Cruelty-Free: Yes

Best Gel

Le Mini Macaron Bye Bye! Cuticle Remover

$13 at Ulta View on Leminimacaron.com

Cutical removers can sometimes be drippy, sticky and greasy, but not this water-based gel formula. It is none of those descriptors and has what we think is the dream texture. It stays put when you apply it and has the added benefit of containing glycerin, so your cuticles get a little dose of hydration too. It's not as quick to remove cuticles as some others on this list, but considering it's made of all clean ingredients, we're happy to wait a few more minutes.

Who It's For

The hydrating, mess-free gel is super easy to apply—a great choice for beginners who want to avoid drying out their nail beds.

Type: Gel solution | Active Ingredients: Potassium hydroxide, glycerin | Size: 1.8 ounces | Cruelty-Free: Yes

Best Trimmer Tool

Seki EDGE Flat Slant Tip Cuticle Nipper

$21 at Amazon

Sometimes, you have to go back to basics to get the cleanest-looking cuticles—that's where this trimmer tool comes in. Some people advise against trimming your cuticles, but we can't deny that it makes for a very smooth-looking manicure. Also sometimes, you just need to snip a hangnail. We like this Japanese-made stainless steel trimmer, which boasts extra-sharp, flat-edge blades to make it easier than ever to clip off dead skin. This tool is not for trimming nubies, though—it's easy to accidentally pull into live skin, so proceed with caution.

Who It's For

Thanks to its sharp, flat-edge blades, this stainless steel cuticle trimmer is ideal for precision cutting.

Type: Tool | Size: 4.25 x 2.5 x 0.5 inches

Best Pusher

Tweezerman Dual Sided Pushy

$16 at Amazon $17 at Walmart $16 at Johnlewis.com

Pushing back your cuticles is arguably the fastest way to make your nails look better. That's why we love this convenient little tool from Tweezerman. The soft-touch handle makes for a comfortable grip, while the dual-sided tips make it easy to reach every part of your nail. You can use it on dry nails, but for best results, apply a liquid cuticle remover solution first, then push your cuticles back. Just be careful not to push too hard or you might push up onto thicker skin, which doesn't feel good.

Who It's For

The Pushy is a handy tool you can use with a liquid solution or on its own on dry nail beds to clean up your cuticles.

Type: Tool | Size: 2 x 1 x 3 inches