Top Beard Oil Picks

While I’ve never had a beard myself, many men around me have given it a try. Whether you’re thinking of a partner, father, or brother, here are some top choices for beard oil. These options nourish the skin and help with irritation and inflammation, all while adding a pleasant fragrance.

These can be great gifts or stocking fillers. If you’re interested in crafting your own, you might want to explore a DIY beard oil recipe.

Understanding Beard Oil and Its Usage

A well-maintained beard starts with a solid grooming routine. Perhaps you’ve joined the No-Shave-November bandwagon this year, and now you need a way to keep that beard in shape. Increasingly, men are turning to beard oil to enhance hair strength, improve skin health, and achieve a well-groomed appearance.

Standard soap can dry out the skin since it’s not particularly suited for facial hair. While moisturizing is crucial, applying lotion might feel cumbersome in the beard area. So, what’s the best approach to care for facial hair and the skin beneath it?

After cleansing your face with a beard-specific wash or soap, follow up with some beard oil for hydration. These oils often include carrier and essential oils to maintain both your beard and the skin underneath. Typically, just a few drops massaged into your skin and beard should suffice, though longer beards may require more.

Top Ingredients for Beard Oils

The rise in popularity of beard oils means there are many on the market. However, some products use synthetic components that can irritate the skin or lead to issues like beard itch and have uncertain long-term health effects. Some even incorporate artificial fragrances that can cause problems like hormonal imbalances, headaches, and skin irritation.

The best beard oils utilize a blend of natural carrier oils, sometimes including essential oils. While ingredients like shea butter and coconut oil are beneficial for the skin, they’re too solid for a liquid beard oil. Unscented versions are available, but essential oils can offer added benefits to hair and skin. Below are some effective ingredients and their benefits:

Jojoba oil – Mimics the skin’s natural oils for quick absorption. It’s anti-microbial, anti-inflammatory, and rich in vitamins and minerals, promoting healthy skin. It also contains antioxidants, offering protection against skin aging and damage.
Vitamin E oil – A natural antioxidant that helps combat free radical damage and extends the shelf life of oil-based products.
Argan oil – Contains linoleic acid and vitamins A and E. Linoleic acid reduces inflammation and acne while protecting the skin’s moisture barrier.
Castor oil – Encourages rapid hair growth, reduces inflammation, and soothes damaged skin. Its fatty acids may also help prevent hair loss, adds shine, and may prevent split ends.
Meadowfoam seed oil – Known for its unique fatty acid profile and long shelf life, it acts as an emollient to soften and smooth the skin, prevent moisture loss, stabilize oil production, and minimize blemishes.
Essential oils – Common choices for beard oils include sandalwood, peppermint, tea tree, cedarwood, rosemary, and lavender. These oils offer a range of benefits, like being anti-inflammatory, promoting hair growth, and maintaining skin health. However, avoid these if the skin is very sensitive or damaged as they may cause irritation.

Reasons to Choose Natural Beard Oils

There are several reasons to consider a quality beard oil for improving beard and skin health:

They can help with patchy beards by boosting hair growth, working on both beard hair and bare skin for healthy development.
They support longer beards in remaining tangle-free. After application, use a beard comb for optimal results.
They soften coarse beard hair.
They nourish the skin underneath the beard to help prevent dryness, itching, dandruff, and breakouts.
They fortify hair follicles, reducing the chance of hair loss and breakage.

Choosing the Best Beard Oil

The ideal beard oil depends on personal preferences. While ensuring a healthy beard is key, the focus should be on choosing products with natural ingredients. Some beard oils are effective yet contain harsh components that can irritate the skin or expose it to toxins and endocrine disruptors.

The beard care products listed below contain beneficial ingredients and are effective. They promote healthier beards, better skin, and offer softness that’s sure to be appreciated.

Toups & Co | Beard Oil

I’ve been using Toups & Co products for years and have been thoroughly impressed. More importantly, they boast non-toxic ingredients safe for your skin.

Their beard oil hydrates and nourishes the beard area, incorporating ingredients like castor oil and argan oil to enhance hair growth and fill patchy spots. Plus, it carries the fragrance of a Douglas fir tree forest.

Ingredients: Jojoba oil, olive oil, castor oil, argan oil, essential oils of orange fruit extract, copaiba resin, pink grapefruit peel oil, amyris bark oil, Douglas fir branch/leaf oil, ho wood oil, key lime peel oil.

Crunchy Betty | Shaving Days Argan Beard Oil

I’m a big fan of Crunchy Betty’s products. This beard oil is crafted to soften and nourish, while also moisturizing the underlying skin. It also aids in hair growth without leaving a greasy feel. The scent is a mix of cedarwood with floral and citrus undertones.

Ingredients: Argan oil, sweet almond oil, jojoba oil, hexane-free castor oil, cedarwood essential oil, bergamot (bergaptene-free) essential oil, rosemary essential oil, lavender essential oil, ylang-ylang essential oil.

Monster & Son | Beard Oil

This beard oil is available in both lemongrass and cedarwood or frankincense and sandalwood scents. Made with essential oils, both provide beneficial effects for hair and skin. Monster & Son uses organic, cold-pressed oils for maximum effect and includes the unique meadowfoam seed oil.

Ingredients: Argan seed oil, jojoba seed oil, olive seed oil, meadowfoam seed oil, vitamin E oil, sandalwood oil, frankincense (cedarwood oil, lemongrass oil).

Honest Amish | Classic Beard Oil

Handmade in the USA, Honest Amish uses a combination of 14 natural and organic oils. Their oil is designed to strengthen the beard, maintaining healthy hair follicles for better growth. It also nourishes the skin to fend off "beardruff" and adds shine, with a pleasant woodsy scent.

Ingredients: Extra virgin organic pumpkin seed oil, refined organic avocado oil, sweet almond oil, virgin organic apricot kernel oil, kukui nut oil, virgin organic argan oil, golden organic jojoba oil, cedarwood essential oil, clove bud essential oil, star anise essential oil, grapefruit (pink) essential oil, lavender (Bulgarian) essential oil, organic cinnamon leaf essential oil, organic peppermint (arvensis) essential oil *certified organic essential oils.

Pura D’or | Beard Oil For Real Men

This beard oil is straightforward yet effective. The main ingredients are beard-friendly argan and jojoba oil with essential oils for added skin benefits. Naturally occurring vitamin E helps ease itchiness. Pura D’or’s blend aids in keeping pores clear, eliminating dead skin cells to reduce acne and ingrown hairs.

Ingredients: Argan kernel oil, jojoba seed oil, sandalwood oil, grapefruit peel oil, bergamot fruit oil. *all certified organic

Badger | Bergamot and Vanilla Beard Oil

Badger is a favored choice for skincare due to their clean ingredients. Their blend not only has an earthy, citrusy scent but also features nourishing elements that soften, moisturize, protect, and condition the beard. The oils and natural extracts are light and non-greasy. Instead of the common dropper bottle, Badger offers a unique wide pump top bottle.

Ingredients: Organic jojoba oil, organic babassu oil, organic sunflower oil, organic bergamot oil, organic pomegranate extract, sunflower vitamin E, organic vetivert extract, organic sandalwood oil, organic cardamom oil, organic black pepper oil, organic vanilla extract & organic myrrh extract.

Additional Beard Products Worth Exploring

Don’t limit yourself to just beard oil! Using a beard-specific wash can help manage dryness and irritation that regular soap might cause. Try crafting your own moisturizing shampoo bar or get one from Morocco Method.

Beard balm or butter offers similar benefits but is thicker. These products often include moisturizing agents like cocoa butter, mango butter, and shea butter, which are too dense for beard oil. Badger balm offers a well-regarded beard balm conditioner.

What are your preferred beard care products? How do you maintain your loved one’s beard to keep it soft and healthy? Share your thoughts and experiences in the comments!