Barielle • Extra Gentle Cuticle Minimizer • Treatments

*TOP REVIEWER* ArizonaAngel on 7/23/2012 11:22:00 PM more reviews by ArizonaAngel

Age: 36-43   Skin: Normal, Medium, Cool   Hair: Blond, Straight, Fine   Eyes: Hazel    

Packaging is good - but that's about it. This Extra-Gentle Cuticle Minimizer is so gentle it does absolutely nothing for my cuticles. Will not buy again.

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berna on 8/9/2010 5:15:00 AM more reviews by berna

Age: 36-43   Skin: Dry, Fair-Medium, Warm   Hair: Brown, Wavy, Fine   Eyes: Hazel    

I wish I could give this product a huuuuge zero! Even cheap and ordinary brands work better!

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*TOP REVIEWER* suggrr on 11/6/2006 11:40:00 PM more reviews by suggrr

Age: 25-29   Skin: Acne-prone, Fair, Cool   Hair: Brown, Straight, Fine   Eyes: Green    

From the Barielle website: For Hard, Ragged or Dry Cuticles


The Extra Gentle Cuticle Minimizer can be used as an integral part of a manicure or as a daily cuticle treatment. It's special, gentle formulation contains natural softeners to enhance the contour of the nail by minimizing hard cuticles, while also moisturizing those that are ragged, bitten or dried. Well maintained cuticles enhance nail growth. This Formaldehyde free formula penetrates thick, dry cuticles leaving them soft and transparent.


I had no luck with Sally Hansen's Instant Cuticle Remover. It removed parts of my nail surface, causing them to peel, but it didn't do much for my cuticles. However, I took a chance on another cuticle remover- Barielle's- and was incredibly surprised to find that ***this actually worked*** AND it is gentle on my nails! No more peeling nails after using a cuticle remover! And 98% of my cuticles are either softened, removed, or ready to be removed after using this every time.


Barielle's Extra Gentle Cuticle Minimizer is a gel that comes in a small tube with an small wooden cuticle pusher. The cuticle pusher actually has a pusher/scraper on one side, and a rounded, pointy tip to clean under your nails on the other end. I have gotten plenty of uses out of the small tube I have, which is great as I squeeze out the minimizer gel all around my entire nail (including under my tips) every time I use it. If you leave the gel on for a while, longer than the directions recommend, it can start to harden into a goopy, slimy, gel that can be funky to remove.


The only upside to the Sally Hansen remover is it's bottle- it hadn't broken or snapped when I was using it. However, I must have put too much pressure on the thin, long neck of the Barielle tube, because it did split right between the neck and the body of the tube. And since it was right at the neck, I couldn't get the trusty answer to everything- duct tape- to even fully fix it. But with the duct tape keeping most of the cuticle minimizer in the tube, and keeping what was in the tube moist (it didn't dry out!), I got plenty of uses out of that tube. In fact, I am still using it!


I can often find this at TJ Maxx or Marshall's for less than $5, and it is well worth that price. I currently have three backups of this, so obviously I would repurchase, and I absolutely recommend it to anyone looking for a cuticle remover.

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bluehula on 6/7/2006 11:23:00 PM more reviews by bluehula

Age: 25-29   Skin: Combination   Hair: Blond   Eyes: Blue    

My hands and esp. cuticles are so red and dry. This treatment really helped minimize the irritation and softened my hands in the process.

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*TOP REVIEWER* Mickster on 5/14/2006 7:53:00 PM more reviews by Mickster

Age: 30-35   Skin: Sensitive, Medium   Hair: Black   Eyes: Hazel    

This treatment can be easily found at TJ Maxx or Marshalls almost every day of the week for $4.99; so don't pay full price. That said, this has become my HG cuticle minimizer/remover. I have switched to this from Sally Hansen Instant Cuticle remover (in the blue bottle). The SH remover was very harsh and I needed to find something more gentle. The Barielle was just the ticket. It takes a bit longer to use at about 4 min. opposed to SH's 1 min, but the results are even better. The SH had a way of drying my skin so that what cuticle was left was ragged and catchy. I often found myself trimming after using it. The barielle softens them up just the right amount that I can scrape off a bit of the ragged edge, and VERY easily push the remaining cuticle back. And, my cuticles are SOFT after using this product. This is an AHA treatment, where the SH is harsh peroxide; this I believe is where the difference in results lie. Needless to say, I am well stocked on this HG and will continue to repurchase. I like it so much I would happily pay full price if the TJM/ marshalls stock dried up.

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*TOP REVIEWER* RedNailz on 4/24/2005 3:44:00 PM more reviews by RedNailz

Age: 30-35   Skin: Combination, Fair-Medium   Hair: Blond, Straight, Fine   Eyes: Blue    

I used this as part of my manicure, not as a daily treatment. It worked to soften my cuticles so I could push them back, and it really was gentle. However, I would have gotten the same result with a cheaper product. The label says you can use it while wearing polish but I don't understand why someone would need to do that.

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*TOP REVIEWER* KarenCG on 2/2/2003 2:05:00 PM more reviews by KarenCG

Age: Unknown   Skin: Combination, Fair   Hair: Brunette   Eyes: Brown    

This is supposed to be a "daily treatment" to minimize cuticles (mine are always a problem), and it basically did virtually nothing.

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