In this article, you will discover which ingredients are important when choosing a product, the difference between types of beard oil and our personal recommendations for the best brands you can buy at the moment.
Content:- What is beard oil?
- Why use beard oil?
- Does beard oil really work?
- Important ingredients
- Top 5 Beard Oils
- Summary
- FAQ
There are many men with beards around these days.
Having a beard is no longer a hipster thing or a passing fad, but a feature seen on men from all walks of life and in almost every industry and workplace.
While sales of shaving accessories are declining, the opposite is happening with personal care for men, especially beard care.
Men are growing beards more often as well as taking the time and putting in the effort to give their beards the attention they need to look their best. Many would agree that a beard makes you stand out.
Wearing a beard is often a sign of wisdom and/or masculinity, but grooming your beard and making sure it is soft and shiny makes it look even better.
That said, having a beard comes with an unpleasant side effect that every man has to deal with after a certain period of growth: itching.
Itching is the result of small sebaceous glands that can no longer keep up with the production of body oil because this body oil is absorbed by the beard hairs instead of the skin.
Beard oil primarily moisturizes the skin, eliminating itching and irritation. As a nice side effect, the oil also provides extra shine and softness.
This light and functional oil is used to make having a beard more pleasant.
What is beard oil
Beard oil is a blend of various nourishing oils that penetrate the underlying hair follicles, making the skin less itchy and calming irritation.
This ultimately results in less dandruff, itching and sensitive skin because the oil penetrates directly into the hair follicles.
A similar process happens when you use a hair conditioner. The oil provides a moisturizing boost for your hair and the skin on your face that is “active” throughout the day.
The benefits of beard oil are as follows:
- Hydrated skin with healthy hair follicles, so that:
- No dandruff can develop due to dry skin and hair, so that:
- You get optimal shine and growth, which ensures that:
- Your hair is easier to comb, with the result:
- A neat and well-groomed beard that shows your personality, with which:
- You can make a success of every occasion.
- Oil is also suitable for all skin types because of the natural carrier oils.
Why use beard oil
Beards cannot be tamed without a little help. By this we mean that your beard has a mind of its own and will grow in every direction.
This is called sprawl and will look like lots of rebellious hairs.
In addition, as your beard grows (starting a few weeks into the process) your skin can no longer keep up with the natural oil production. That’s why your skin feels dry and itchy.
You will then start scratching to reduce the itching and end up with beard dandruff.
To better understand what exactly is happening, we need to take a closer look at the skin on your face. At the beginning of each hair (so, under the skin) are small sebaceous glands.
These glands produce oil to ensure that your skin stays healthy and doesn’t dry out.
As soon as your hair follicles start working harder to keep up with the growth of the beard hairs, they naturally require more nourishment and hydration.
As soon as you start to grow a beard, the beard hairs will absorb the naturally produced oil, meaning the skin won’t get hydrated.
Because the sebaceous glands can’t keep up with this process, the skin underneath dries out, resulting in an itchy beard and beard dandruff.
1 = hair, 3 = sebum, 5 = sebaceous gland
That’s why beard oil is so popular.
It’s a really nice product that ensures that the skin underneath your beard stays healthy so that you have better control over your beard growth.
Think of beard oil as a supplement to your skin’s natural functions. This is also why quality brands only use natural ingredients.
Beard oil is therefore also suitable for all skin types and the risk of irritation is minimal.
In short: Having a beard is a great experience. Give yourself a relaxed growth period by using beard oil to keep your underlying skin healthy and itch-free.
Does Beard Oil Really Work?
Yes. Of course, that’s easy to say as the writer of a beard magazine, but of all the beard products available, this is the one that you will see and feel a noticeable difference from. But don’t just take it from us.
We hope you will try beard oil for yourself and love it as much as we do.
At the end of this article, you will find an overview of the best beard oils on the market right now.
What is beard oil made of?
Beard oil is available in a wide range, but every quality beard oil contains two basic ingredients: carrier oil and essential oils (which usually bring the fragrance). These are the ingredients that you should pay attention to when purchasing a product.
Premium beard oil consists of 90% carrier oil, supplemented with nice smelling essential oils.
1. Carrier oil
Carrier oil has great nourishing properties and acts as a care product for your skin and beard hair.
Whether your hair is short or long, it will feel noticeably softer once you start using beard oil once beard oil that contains carrier oil as the main ingredient.
Carrier oil is not just found in beard care products: Almost all nourishing care products use this special type of oil.
Think shampoo, shaving soap, conditioners and facial lotions. Carrier oil is the ingredient that gives your skin and beard hair the vitamins and care they need.
2. Essential oil
There is essential oil in almost all beard oils to bring a pleasant, distinctive scent to the blend. There are so many available fragrances, and just as many choices.
That means that choosing a beard oil is pretty personal. Be on the lookout for a fragrance you love.
In most cases, the scent of beard oil disappears fairly quickly (lasting a maximum of 3-4 hours), so it’s totally fine to combine it with perfume or cologne.
Some essential oils have secondary properties in addition to their scent. Consider, for example, Tea Tree, which is known for its disinfecting effect.
This is an extra remedy to clean your skin and pores.
Essential oils are very strong. That’s why they represent such a small percentage of the product — they have to be diluted.
If you have ever had an allergic reaction to beard oil or shampoo, it’s likely that a high concentration of essential oil was to blame.
Buying beard oil: keep an eye out for these carrier oils.
It can be difficult to make a choice from the huge range available, especially if you’re looking for a nice-smelling product.
When choosing a beard oil, try to pay attention to the ingredients below.
The best brands have at least one of the following carrier oils as their main ingredient:
- Jojoba oil. This oil most closely resembles the oil produced by your sebaceous glands. That means that your skin will quickly absorb Jojoba. Jojoba oil is often used as a conditioner, as it doesn’t evaporate, meaning it stays in the hair throughout the day.
- Argan oil. Without additives, Argan oil has a disinfecting effect. This one is popular in many care products and comes from Morocco. Argan oil has a high vitamin E content, which makes your skin feel extra soft. Vitamin E also maintains the elasticity of cells, which is also why Argan oil is often used as an anti-aging agent. Argan oil is also used to provide a little hold for your beard style. A very nice side effect is that Argan oil smells good even without additives.
- Coconut oil. A naturally anti-bacterial oil that contains vitamins and is suitable for all skin types. Coconut oil also protects the skin from UV radiation, while its nourishing vitamin E, vitamin K and iron keep your hair strong. It also helps maintain your hair color.
- Olive oil. Unlike most other oils, olive oil comes from the plant itself, which means that olive oil is naturally high in antioxidants. These soothe the skin and effectively combat red and tight skin. Antioxidants also help to heal dry skin or sunburnt skin more quickly. Olive oil also helps combat split ends and beard dandruff, thanks to its nourishing properties for the skin. It is often used in anti-wrinkle creams and products.
- Avocado oil. A naturally greasy oil that boosts hair shine and vitality. It also contains a lot of vitamins A, B, C and E, which provide shine and vitality.
- Sunflower oil. Extra helpful for dry skin thanks to its fatty acids.
- Grapeseed oil. Grapeseed oil is naturally less viscous than most oils, which makes grapeseed-based beard oil easier to lather on. Grapeseed oil is neutral and therefore suitable for all skin types. It also contains extremely high concentrations of Proanthocyanidin, which is an antioxidant that is about 20 times stronger than vitamin C.
- Almond oil. Almonds consist of 32% fats, including all-important omega-9s and omega-3s. Omega-3s intensively nourish the skin and keep the moisture content up. Almonds also carry unsaturated linoleic acid, which has anti-inflammatory properties. When it comes to beard oil, almond oil helps soothe the skin.
- Hemp oil. Hemp oil is one of the most nourishing carrier oils. It naturally contains a healthy balance of minerals, vitamins and omega 3 and 6 fats. Hemp oil is unique because of its essential fatty acids, which penetrate deep into the skin and keep it soft and moisturized. Hemp-based beard oil works wonders with dehydrated skin.
Carrier oils help to transfer (or carry) the oil onto the skin so that it gets properly absorbed. They also have naturally nourishing properties.
They hydrate the skin without making it oily.
Do you suffer from oily skin?
Even then, we recommend using beard oil. Your skin won’t get greasier than it already is and you don’t have to worry about acne.
The natural oils from the above plants function as a supplement to your sebaceous glands’ production of oil.
What else to pay attention to when buying beard oil
Apart from important ingredients, you may also want to take the following into account:
- Vitamin E. Provides, among other things, more shine while preventing split ends (which makes your hair easier to comb). Vitamin E also stimulates hair growth.
- No synthetic additives. Check the label for unnecessary and unnatural ingredients such as silicone or SLS (Sodium Laureth Sulfate).
- Presence of the label. Besides the fact that a label is required by law, it’s good to know what exactly you’re putting on your skin. Most manufacturers can be trusted and only use natural ingredients, but there are also some lesser-known brands that do not adhere to this very closely. Natural ingredients are a lot more expensive.
- Read reviews. Look up reviews of less well-known brands to get a better idea of their quality.
Note: The brands that we included in our recommendations naturally meet all the above criteria and contain one or more carrier oils for optimal skin and beard care.
How do I use beard oil?
Using beard oil is super important and you should try to include it in your daily (morning) routine.
Try to combine it with your regular practices: Apply it after shaving your neckline, showering (so that your pores are open) or brushing your teeth.
Our advice is to use beard oil after a shower. Just make sure your beard is completely dry when you apply the oil because oil repels water.
Beard oil is applied with the dropper it comes with; otherwise you can use your fingertips.
The amount of oil you need depends on the length of your beard.
If you have just passed the stubble stage, use 1-2 drops. If you are a veteran with a large beard, use several drops until the oil is well absorbed all over.
Use more according to the length of your beard, with a maximum of about 5 drops.
Massage the oil into the skin with your fingertips, then spread it evenly over the rest of your beard.
Make sure the oil is going onto the skin underneath your beard as well. Use a beard comb or brush to distribute it evenly.
Top 5 Beard Oils
Looking for the right beard oil can get overwhelming with the number of products that are presented to you.
But no worries! We’ll be showing you some of the best products that we’ve come across.
If you already have a specific use in mind, maybe this can help:
BeardScape’s Organic Beard Oil is, well you guessed it, made from organic ingredients which help in softening and hydrating your beard.
The fact that it’s unscented makes it great for those with sensitive skin as it doesn’t irritate and cause any inflammation on your skin (Not unless you’re allergic to any of the ingredients used!)
It comes in a 30ml bottle with a dropper for application. Just simply apply some product on your palms then massage it gently on your beard.
Pros & Cons
- Suitable for dry beards
- Suitable for travel
- Deep conditioning
- Not greasy
- Subtle scent
- Very light hold
Easily absorbing, Great smelling, and non-greasy! What else do you need?
One of the best beard oils to prevent dryness according to GQ (2019), V76 by Vaughn is easily absorbed by hair which is why it’s so hydrating.
It also has a great blue cedar fragrance which isn’t too strong. Most importantly, it can also be used on your body! That’s right, not just on your beard!
Two birds with one stone.
Pros & Cons
- Suitable for the whole body as well
- Easily absorbent
- Suitable for coarse/thick beards
- Hydrating
- Suitable for travel
- Some found its scent to be overwhelming
- Product discoloration may occur
Daimon Barber Softening Beard and Stubble Serum
Softening
Scent
Styling
Non-greasy
Price
If you’re not a big fan of the runny oily feeling, then you’re in luck!
Daimon Barber has released a product that uses serum consistency, unlike the usual beard oils you’d find that are runny.
With Daimon Barber’s Softening Beard and Stubble Serum, you get more control of how much product you’re actually putting in and how you distribute it evenly.
This product uses Kahal oil, avocado oil, and aloe vera as some of its key ingredients. But most importantly, this product is paraben-free and other harmful chemicals.
Pros & Cons
- Paraben-free
- Serum-type
- Easy dispensing
- Suitable for curly beards
- Suitable for all skin types
- Suitable for travel
- More product is often needed for full coverage
- Some users find it a bit pricey
According to Oars + Alps, 2-3 drops of their Natural Beard Oil is all you need to help hydrate your beard.
Coming in both Cedarwood Forest and Fresh Citrus Grove, you get a choice between fresh and calming or citrus and upbeat.
Made from natural ingredients, Oars + Alps’ Natural Beard Oil has been dermatology tested proving itself to be free of glycol, parabens, sulfates, and other harmful products.
Plus, it’s animal-cruelty free! What more do you need?
Pros & Cons
- Suitable for travel
- Spill-proof
- Easy application
- Suitable for all skin types
- Suitable for all beard types
- Some found the scent too light
Just a few drops will do. That’s all you need of Captain Fawcett’s Ricki Hall’s Beard Oil to hydrate and soften your beard.
It also does a great job at helping moisturize skin! Though it comes in a smaller-than-usual bottle, many users say that you really only need a small amount of product for it to work.
Captain Fawcett’s Ricki Hall’s Beard Oil uses a rich and complex blend of essential oils.
Pros & Cons
- Fresh scent
- Suitable for travel
- Suitable for all beard types
- Suitable for all skin types
- Highly absorbent
- Some users find it too pricey for its size
For a 2-Ounce (60mL) bottle, it is definitely worth its price. Mountaineer Brand presents their Beard Oil in 6 different scents.
Conditioning, shining, and smoothing; This is everything you need in beard oil. Made with 100% natural oils, this beard oil is easily absorbed by hair giving you that smooth, soft, and subtle shine.
It also promotes hair growth by helping you maintain that healthy beard.
Pros & Cons
- No essential oils added
- Suitable for all beard types
- Relieves beard itch and flaky skin
- Suitable for everyday use
- May not be suitable for sensitive skin
Best All-in-One Beard Oil
When we say “all-in-one”, we literally mean all-in-one. You can use it on your beard as well as your body.
With only 4.1 inches (10cm) in height, it makes a great travel companion. You never know when you might need it!
Jack Black’s MP 10 Nourishing Oil does great in moisturizing, relieving irritation, reducing flakiness, and minimizing redness.
Pros & Cons
- Suitable for travel
- Suitable for all beard types
- Easy to distribute amongst hair
- Subtle scent
- A bit pricey
- Some didn't like the thinner texture of the oil
- May stain clothing
Best Budget-Friendly Beard Oil
Cremo is just one of those brands that keep releasing good quality products that you should have.
Cremo’s Revitalizing Beard Oil was made specifically to soften your beard hairs whilst reducing any itchiness. It also helps keep your beard and face smelling fresh and clean all day.
Pros & Cons
- Suitable for all beard types
- Suitable for all beard lengths
- Suitable for daily use
- Uses Argan and Jojoba oils
- Suitable for damp/dry beard
- Perform patch test on skin
- Some users found the scent too light
Best Growth-Promoting Beard Oil
It’s genius! Because of its thicker viscosity, it distributes the product more evenly and making it last longer too!
Having it in jelly-form allows more control on how you apply the product onto your beard.
It’s also very much worth the money! For USD $14.95, you already 4oz (12ml) of product! Most brands only sell 2oz each pack.
Bossman has carefully chosen all-natural oils for ingredients that help moisturize hair follicles and pores that can help your beard grow quicker!
Pros & Cons
- Jelly-like consistency
- Easy to control
- Suitable for long beards
- Suitable for coarse/thick beards
- Made from all-natural ingredients
- Doesn't hold as well
- Not suitable for travel
Summary
Beard oil is not a panacea, but a proven solution to a common problem for men who are in the process of growing a beard.
Beard oil gives your sebaceous glands that can no longer cope with natural oil production a necessary boost so that the skin underneath is still nourished and cared for.
This way your skin won’t flake and you won’t get beard dandruff. You won’t have irritated skin, and you’ll end up with shiny beard hair that feels soft, grows well and is easy to tame.
Beard care is really important and we hope this article will convince you to include beard oil in your daily routine.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is beard oil?
Beard oil is a blend of so-called carrier oils and essential oils that together form a healthy cocktail for optimal beard growth and healthy shine. High-quality beard oil is absorbed by the skin and beard hair. The oil is absorbed gradually and ensures optimal moisture balance throughout the day, so that the beard can grow unhindered.
Why Use Beard Oil?
Beard oil can be used from a few weeks into your growth process to prevent itching and dry skin as well as after a few months to keep the beard hair healthy. Beard oil works as a supplement to the natural functioning of the skin and hair and also lends a pleasant scent throughout the day.
How often should you use beard oil?
That depends on your beard length and personal preference. If you notice dull hair or dehydrated skin, use it once a day, alternating with beard balm, for example. Quality beard oil is formulated using mild ingredients that are suitable for daily use.
When is the best time to use beard oil?
The best time to use beard oil is after washing the beard. Clean beard hairs absorb the beard oil more easily, maximizing its effect. Most men use extra beard oil during cold periods such as winter and fall.
How should I use beard oil?
Most beard oil bottles come with a practical dropper for dosing. You know you’ve used the right amount if your hands are dry after application. Always start with a little and use more if necessary. Less is more!
Where should I store beard oil?
In a cool, dry place. This ensures that the fragrance notes from the essential oils remain fresh for longer.
What Is The Best Beard Oil?
That is of course personal, but high-quality beard oil contains at least 2 natural carrier oils specifically intended to care for the skin, supplemented with quality fragrance oils. In this article, you can read the top 10 beard oils we’ve tested.
How long does beard oil stay noticeable?
Beard oil stays noticeable for several hours after use, depending on the amount used. The type of beard hair also influences how long the effect lasts.
Does Beard Oil Affect Beard Growth?
Yes and no. No, because your genes are the main determining factor for beard growth. Yes, because if the skin and beard hair are well cared for, optimal beard growth will follow. In that way, beard oil does have a (positive) effect on beard growth.
How should you apply beard oil?
Dispense 1-2 drops of beard oil into the palm of your hand, then spread it with your fingers. Always start with less, because oil is easy to distribute. You’ve used the right amount if your fingers are dry after application.
When should you use beard oil?
Beard oil can be used from when your hair is 1-2mm long. Beard oil is used to protect the beard hair and skin against itching and a tight feeling during the initial growth phases of the beard. Beard oil is also used to give you a nice scent throughout the day.
