Alongside religiously wearing washing-up gloves (which is something that took me a while to start doing properly), being very careful when I open a can of Coke Zero and not doing anything else that might cause harm to my manicure, I’ve also started applying cuticle oil as often as possible.

Inspired by a beauty editor friend who saw a serious increase in the longevity of her manicure when she did the same thing, I jumped aboard the same train, and let’s say I haven’t looked back. Of course, like most salon-goers, I had the odd bottle of cuticle oil lying around my flat that I used when I remembered, but I’ve forced myself to turn it into a regular habit.

I’m now the sort of person who carries a cuticle oil pen in my handbag so I can apply it on the train or the bus. I have a bottle on my bedside, one on my desk and one on a table next to the sofa I reach for while watching TV.

Applying cuticle oil multiple times a day will extend the life of your manicure – here’s why