.:: CybeleSays ::.

Since I've been actively trying to get my right thumb nail to fix itself (I have a split in the middle that won't heal and has been like this for the past 3+ years. I’m guessing it’s from acrylic nails), I finally went to see a dermatologist to see what the dilly. He said it’s called nail dystrophy and is caused by trauma to the cuticle. Ok, but how is it fixed? I did some research online and ew, not a pretty sight to google “split nail causes,” or “nail trauma,” as you can guess. Some causes of nail problems are nail fungus, which is pretty common, even in the fingernails.

After my derm assured me that my thumb did not have a fungus and this was not the cause and that yes, it probably was caused by acrylics, I felt the need to find something to apply to my other nails, just to be sure. Again, eww. From our friends at QTICA is their Solid Gold Anti Bacterial Oil Gel and this one is a combo anti-bacteria formula and cuticle oil in a sanitary clear tube. Rice bran, almond and jojoba oils as well as tangerine, peppermint and tea tree. Just be careful you don’t rub your eyes after applying this on your cuticles as the peppermint doesn’t feel good in the eyes! $11/.5oz, $19.99/1.7oz @ qtica.com.

Do you have a nailfile (lover of all things nails, polishes, etc) on your list this year? I love to give gifts from the CND line. The quality is great and they put some creative sets out every year like this Almond SpaManicure Snuggle Set. It contains a bottle of their Almond Hydrating Lotion (8oz) – use it on hands, body and feet. Contains jojoba seed oil, sunflower seed oil and vitamin E, Solar Oil (.25oz) – this is a cult favorite to keep cuticles in tip-top shape with a bevy of nourishing oils like sweet almond, jojoba and rice and  a pair of cute Cozy Pedi Socks! $16.95 @ cnd.com.

Disclosure: A sample of this item was provided to Cybelesays.com for review purposes.

How about getting your hands, knees, cuticles and other body parts on a product where the first ingredient listed is butyrospermym parkii aka Shea Butter! It doesn’t happen often but with SULA BEAUTY’s Organic Shea Butter Balm ($9/20 grams @ sulabeauty.com), that’s what you’re getting, as well as sunflower oil, beeswax, jojoba oil and sweet orange oil. That’s it! So tame your eye brows, bring your toenails back from a long bout with nail polish with this one. Available in Bergamot, Neroli Blossom and Rosa Damascena. Big recommendation!

Disclosure: A sample of this item was provided to Cybelesays.com for review purposes.

If I ever had to choose one, I think my dessert island beauty product would have to be a salve. They are always chockfull of good-for-skin ingredients like nourishing oils and rarely are there ever any bad ingredients in them. Maybe the one I bring to the island could be this Hand & Cuticle Salve from J.R. WATKINS. I have been using this one in place of a hand lotion and while it is a tad greasier than typical hand creams, I find the effects of a salve last longer on the skin (and over moist palms is an easy one to remedy with a dry towel). Inside this one is oils from olives, safflower and sweet almond. Choose from four different ones: Aloe & Green Tea, Mango, Lavender and Lemon. $7.99/2.1oz @ jrwatkins.com.

Disclosure: A sample of this item was provided to Cybelesays.com for review purposes.

In the sea of beauty products out there, they have to have hype or they will float down the river with no sales. One that I had read about over and over but just didn’t want to believe the hype until now was SMITH’S Rosebud Salve. I picked it up as an impulse buy when I was getting some new glass nail files at Sephora a few weeks ago, and wow, it has totally become by goto balm. It’s made with Cottonseed Oil, essential oils and a really great light rose scent. In addition to lips, people also use it for cuticles, frizzy hair, brow hairs and more! Big recommendation. $6 @ sephora.com.

And they come in a few different scents. Check out which ones here.

At no other time during the year do hands suffer the most and that time is right now, so be sure to give them some extra TLC with some lotions etc. Have you checked out the THYMES line? This might be a good time to do so. I’m really digging their Cuticle Cream ($10/10g @ thymes.com) as mine are screaming for this! It contains vitamin E,  Shea Butter, an almond and olive oils. And because the better a product smells, the more it works (ha-ha), they infuse this one with a Mediterranean blend of Italian tangerine, jasmine and lemon. This is a good one to keep computer-side so you don’t forget to apply it often.

Disclosure: The following item was provided to Cybelesays.com for review purposes.

Who doesn’t love the smell of green tea? How about a whole line made with green tea? GREEN TEA GOODS is that line. Just check out the ingredients in the Ultra-Caring Lip Balm ($4.95/oval tube): coconut oil, sweet almond oil, beeswax, vitamin E, green tea fragrance, jin yin hua (honeysuckle), gan cao (licorice root), tea tree oil, aloe extract, rosemary extract, and chlorophyll. And I can totally smell the green tea as I move it back and forth on my lips. So great ingredients + a great scent = a yes vote from me.

Other star products in the line are the Herbal Body Balm ($6.95/.35oz) and the Nourishing Cuticle Cream ($6.95/.5oz). Check out the whole line @ greenteagoods.com.