The Best Beard Oils for Softer, Smoother Scruff
More Beard Oils We Love
What to Consider When Buying Beard Oil
As with anything you put on your skin, the ingredients are what matter most. And with beard oils, there are two categories of ingredients: carrier oils and essential oils. No two ingredients will perform exactly the same. Some will help with very specific situations or conditions; some may actively aggravate your skin. Essential oils in particular can aggravate skin if used by themselves. So, consider the following carrier oils and essential oils, favored both by myself and Alyssa Bachowski, a senior barber at Fellow Barber’s Williamsburg, NYC barbershop.
The Best Carrier Oils for Beards
Carrier oils—often vegetable and see oils—make up the bulk of these beard oil formulas, bringing beard nourishment and skin hydration. The most popular carrier oils are argan oil and jojoba oil (both of which Bachowski recommends), though there are dozens of varieties, from castor to marula to grape seed oils. They’re usually unscented, though some—like coconut oil—may carry an aroma. Because carrier oils make up the “base” of the oil, they should be among the first to appear in a product’s formula or list of ingredients.
“Jojoba oil is non-comedogenic, which means it will not clog your pores. It is also a lighter oil that is absorbent, so it won’t just sit on top of the hair and give you a greasy appearance,” Bachowski notes. Along with argan oil, you’re going to see a lot of jojoba oil in most popular beard oil blends.
“Argan oil is filled with a ton of vitamins and minerals, as well as linoleic acid, sterolins, and squalene. All of these aid in protecting and keeping your skin and beard healthy,” Bachowski says.
“Castor oil is known for promoting beard hair growth,” says Bachowski. It’s hypothetically the best beard-growth oil of the crew, because it acts like a vitamin for your strands—though there’s more on that below in the FAQs. But don’t expect it to grow more hairs, or thicker hairs. Castor oil does have a smoke-and-mirrors benefit, at least. “It is a heavier oil and dark in color, so it can give the appearance of a denser beard on men with dark facial hair,” Bachowski says.
Grape seed oil can help tone down your skin’s oil production, and is extremely moisturizing for scruff and skin alike.
Rich in fatty acids, this is a frontrunner for “most nourishing oil” for your skin and whiskers.
Yes, shea butter is in fact a carrier oil, and it has supremely moisturizing properties that make it great for detangling scraggly beards and softening stiff hairs.
Essential oils are distillations from more potent sources, and they tend to be additive—and active—ingredients in a beard oil. These oils are typically extracted through steaming methods, and their range of benefits can include antimicrobial properties, oil-toning abilities, and soothing superpowers. Typically, any natural fragrance in a beard oil will come from essential oils. But pure essential oils can be extremely damaging to the skin.
“You should not apply pure essential oil to a beard—it will do the opposite of what you are trying to achieve,” Bachowski says. “These [pure oils] are not good for your beard nor your skin. as they can be irritating and harmful. Essential oils can cause dryness, itchiness, and redness—and some people may have allergic reactions to them.” This is exactly why you want beard oils from trusted, tested brand.
The Best Essential Oils for Beards
Bachowski likes cedarwood oil for its naturally astringent properties. “It helps cleanse the pores and prevent ingrown hairs,” she adds. It also adds a natural fragrance.
“Sandalwood has anti-inflammatory properties that help reduce any skin irritation,” Bachowski says of this deliciously scented oil.
Lavender helps calm inflammation and redness, says Bachowski. Plus it brings lavender’s soothing scent.
This antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, oil-toning ingredient is terrific for acne-prone faces and oily skin types.
Along with its refreshing scent, grapefruit peel oil helps nourish and detangle.
How We Tested the Best Beard Oil
As GQ‘s lead grooming product reviewer, I’ve tried just about every beard oil in the biz. The ones chosen for this roundup excel at protecting and moisturizing both skin and hair, with minimal risk for things like inverse reactions and blemishes. They absorb cleanly, unless they expressly choose not to (like those which expressly use silicone), and they smell terrific (with both natural and artificially scented options). I’ve tested beard oils for a decade, on a beard that’s been long, short, and everything in between. I’ve also scoured online reviews to confirm that these products are backed by throngs of loyal fans, whose collective opinion echoes my own experiences.
Beard Oil FAQs
What is the best beard oil according to GQ?
With more than a decade of testing beard oils under his belt, GQ’s expert tester chose Honest Amish as the best beard oil. And 29,000 Amazon shoppers have rated this same product 4.5 out of 5 stars.
What is the difference between beard balm vs. oil?
Both beard balm and beard oil are both terrific for facial hair—but they don’t do the same job. Beard balm is optimal for taming and styling facial hair, especially at medium and longer lengths. Beard oil provides less control over the shape and style, but is excellent at softening and conditioning the hairs and the skin underneath (preventing beard itch, beard dandruff, and split ends).
How do you apply beard oil?
Most beard oils are applied the same way: “Start off with 2-3 drops in the palm of your hand,” says Bachowski. “Rub it into your hands so that it is evenly distributed from fingertips to the heel of your hand. Start by rubbing the oil with your fingertips onto the skin beneath the beard hair, then eventually working the oil from root to tip of the actual beard. Make sure to also apply oil to your neck and cheeks where you may have shaved or trimmed as well. If you feel like the 2-3 drops wasn’t enough based on the length or density of your beard, apply another 2-3 drops.”
How do you prevent beard dandruff?
Preventing beard dandruff starts with changing your skincare regimen. Namely, introducing exfoliation and moisturizing products that can get past a thick nest of facial hair. For exfoliation, look for physical scrubs (even a beard brush will work). For the best moisturizing effects, be sure to apply beard oil both morning and night. The beard oil will also soften and condition the facial hair to prevent itchiness.
Does beard oil help grow a beard?
No, beard oil is not meant to help beard hair growth, whether that’s to make facial hair thicker or grow faster. To be honest, we don’t know of much that can really change your scruff’s density besides a beard transplant and maybe minoxidil. Beard oil is here to make your existing beard hair softer and more cooperative, while also nourishing the skin beneath the beard—skin that’s often prone to dehydration and dandruff. It’s already doing a lot.
Absolutely. Beard oil is a great investment for anyone with facial hair, since it can help soften and tame your scruff while simultaneously moisturizing the skin underneath. This means no more itching, no flyaways, and no beard dandruff.
About Our Experts
Alyssa Bachowski is a senior barber at Fellow Barber’s Williamsburg NYC barbershop location.
