Have you given up on trying to grow a beard because yours is patchy, sparse, dry, itchy, or just not healthy looking? Many men don’t know that to cultivate a full, shiny beard they need to nourish the skin underneath it and the hair itself. Much as a good hair conditioner can smooth and strengthen hair, a great beard oil can do the same for your facial hair. Don’t give up just yet because we’ve crawled the web to find some of the best natural beard oils with verifiable reviews to improve your look.
Did you know that most beard specialists (yes, that’s a thing!) prefer using natural oils to synthetic products? These will not only keep your beard healthy and well-groomed, but they are better for the environment too. So, keep reading to find our top 10 picks.
The 10 Best Natural and Organic Beard Oil Products:
1. Honest Amish Classic Beard Oil
This beard oil is available on Amazon and comes with an impressive 4.5 rating.
It has a classic scent and comes beautifully packaged in a recyclable dark glass bottle which will preserve the quality of the oil inside. The dropper dispenser will ensure you use just the right amount – a little goes a long way.
Honest Amish beard oil is made with a blend of organic oils such as avocado, moringa, sweet almond, argan, and golden jojoba. Sounds yummy! The brand promises to use only natural, organic ingredients.
2. PURA D’OR Beard Oil
Here’s another beard oil with a 4.5 rating that’s available on Amazon.
It has similar packaging to the first, with a dark brown glass bottle, a classic label, and a dropper dispenser. This would make an attractive gift for any bearded man. Again, the packaging is recyclable and would look good on any bathroom shelf.
Users say that the oil has a mild citrus scent that’s not at all overpowering. It leaves the beard with a gentle shine that’s not oily-looking.
Pura D’Or is made from 100% organic oils and extracts, including vitamin E to reduce itching caused by dryness. It promises to penetrate right to the hair follicles, encouraging better, stronger hair growth from the source. The product also treats skin issues that underlie an uncomfortable beard. These include ingrown hairs, dead skin cells, blocked pores, and acne.
The oil’s ingredients include the usual argan and jojoba oils for strength and shine, but more unusually, also sandalwood, grapefruit, and bergamot oil. The latter two are what give it that fresh citrus scent. Sandalwood oil tackles any inflammation or irritation.
A USDA product certification ensures the ingredients have been grown and processed according to strict protocols. These even include soil and water quality! Pur D’Or also comes with a Climate Pledge Friendly certification that proves the company’s commitment to preserving the environment.
Perhaps best of all, the oil comes with a Satisfaction Guarantee. This means that if you aren’t happy, you can return the product and receive a full refund.
3. Striking Viking Vanilla Beard Oil
Available on Amazon, this beard oil has a 4.5 rating and loads of satisfied customers.
The packaging is cool, masculine, and Viking-inspired. The black glass bottle with a dropper is sure to be a hit with most men as it ensures you don’t pour too much into your hand.
When it comes to the product itself, it’s 100% natural and contains organic tea tree oil (antiseptic), argan and jojoba (moisturizing), grape seed oil, sweet almond, vitamin E, aloe vera leaf juice to prevent itching, and vanilla bean to give the oil a fabulous scent.
Vanila is a much-loved flavor and scent among men and women alike. The natural oils soften the beard hair, making it neater, less frizzy, softer, and more manageable. It prevents beardruff and itching. You just need a few drops after each shower – there’s no need to rinse.
Viking Beard Oil comes in other scents like sandalwood, cedarwood, and citrus but vanilla is by far the most popular.
4. Percy Nobleman Signature Scented Beard Oil
The ingredients in this oil aren’t much different from the rest – we have the ubiquitous jojoba oil, plus avocado and sweet almond oils. They make a pleasing natural alternative to chemical-based silicones. Reviewers say that it has a softening effect that lasts all day long and that it definitely helped with itchiness. This is a lightly-scented oil with the brand’s signature scent that’s pleasant, masculine, but not overpowering.
The oil comes in a classic-looking, 1 fl. oz. pipette bottle.
5. Jack Black Beard Oil
This beard oil comes with different-looking packaging from all the previous brands. Its overall theme is a fresh blue and black that will look great in the bathroom. The oil comes in a 1 fl. oz. pipette dispenser.
The ingredients are a little different from some of the others and include Kalahari melon oil, marula oil, brown algae, carrot extract (the antioxidants protect against free radical damage), and plum oil which softens brittle hair giving extra control and a healthy but not oily shine. It also contains watermelon seed oil and geranium oil so it’s quite a special blend!
To use it, you just need to apply 2 drops to the palm of your hand after showering and massage it upward into the beard and facial skin under it. To finish, smooth the beard down and comb as usual to beaten.
6. Seven Potions Beard and Body Oil
This is an unscented (scented variations are available in this range though) oil that is all-vegan and cruelty-free. Seven Potions contains no parabens, silicone, colorants, or synthetic fragrances. It’s also a multi-purpose oil that’s great for any dry areas of the body such as elbows or knees. You could even use it as a massage oil…The ingredients include jojoba oil, apricot kernel oil, crambe abyssinica seed oil (a natural anti-inflammatory that calms skin itching and irritation), sweet almond oil, vitamin E, and more. All the ingredients are quickly absorbed into the skin and hair, leaving no trace of greasiness.
The product is made in England according to strict safety certifications. The striking yellow dropper bottle is eye-catching yet classic.
7. L’Oreal Men Expert Barber Club Long Beard and Skin Oil
This beard oil is made by a company that’s well known for its quality hair products. While it’s marketed for long beards, it can of course be used for any length of beard and it nourishes the skin too. This does for beards what hair conditioner does for long hair – makes it softer and easier to detangle. Unlike the other beard oils we’ve reviewed, this one comes in a pump dispenser bottle. Satisfied customers say that it has a great fragrance and keeps their beards nice and soft.
8. Elemis TFM Smooth Result Shave and Beard Oil
This is a multi-purpose product that can be used to prep your skin before shaving that beard off and afterward instead of a shaving cream. It leaves the skin silky smooth and your beard soft and frizz-free. Elemis beard oil comes in a bottle with a screw top so it may not last as long as the others we’ve reviewed as you’ll be using more at a time. It’s made in England with a luscious blend of jojoba, hazelnut, and grapeseed oils and has a fresh, minty fragrance that will leave you refreshed and ready to face your day.
9. Lab Series The Grooming Oil 3-in-1 Shave and Beard Oil
Another product that’s marketed as multi-purpose, this grooming oil from Lab Series is a winner. It comes in a generous 50 ml bottle with a screw cap (most of the others are 30 ml) and is great to throw into your weekend or holiday bag when space is limited because the grooming oil works as a shaving oil, beard oil, and skin moisturizer. It is particularly useful in dry, cold climates. The product separates into 3 attractive layers and needs to be shaken vigorously before use. Apply to damp skin for shaving or to the beard after showering. Just a few drops are needed.
10. Daimon Barber Softening Beard and Stubble Serum
Last but not least is the most generous-sized bottle of all. This beard and stubble serum is sold in a 100 ml (3.38 fl. oz.) bottle full to the brim with avocado oil, silk protein, and soothing aloe vera. A special ingredient here is kahai oil, which contains 50% more vitamin E than argan oil. It will nourish and soften both your skin and beard without leaving any sticky or oily residues. The serum should be applied liberally to the beard when dry.
Buying Guide
Beard oil is for bearded men what aftershave lotion is to their smooth-faced friends. It’s an essential part of good grooming but with the huge variety available it can be a little daunting to choose one. We’ve put together a few things to look for that will hopefully make your choice easier.
Determine why you want to use beard oil in the first place
Do you want one because your beard is frizzy and dry? If so, look out for a richly moisturizing one that contains natural oils like jojoba, avocado, grapeseed, and the like. If you want one that will soothe itchiness and beardruff, then look for a beard oil containing coconut oil, aloe vera, or tea tree oil. Some men like beard oil for its fragrance, so they should look for one containing such ingredients as sandalwood or bergamot.
How long is your beard?
If you have a very long, full beard, bear in mind that you’re going to use about three times more beard oil than someone with a short goatee. So, purchasing a tiny dropper bottle of very expensive beard oil might not be the way to go because it won’t last very long. You should look out for something with detangling properties, like a beard oil containing silk protein.
Do you want a fragranced beard oil?
It’s a personal choice but using a fragranced oil will mean that for at least half of that day you will smell like that product. If you use a strongly scented deodorant, the smell of the beard oil may clash with it. Try to use products from the same range that all have the same scent. Look out for beard oils that are scented with essential oils rather than synthetic fragrances. Alternatively, use an unfragranced beard oil.
Is it made by a reputable company?
Not all beard oils are created equal – some are cheap and nasty. Look for a classic range that’s stood the test of time. Also check if the company has any certifications about their ingredients being organic, cruelty-free, and so on. Reading the reviews can be extremely helpful in this regard. They also give you an idea of how the company handles returns, shipping, and if they honor money-back guarantees.
What sort of budget do you have?
While we said before that you don’t want to be buying anything cheap and nasty, you also don’t want to be buying something that’s the same price as your monthly rent. The price has a lot to do with the ingredients used but you can also end up paying for expensive packaging. Look for something simple, trusted, and made with natural ingredients. It’s really not necessary to go for anything exotic like snake oil from the Peruvian jungle! If you’re trying beard oil for the first time, it’s probably best to get a smaller bottle so if you don’t like it, there’ll be less wastage.
Check out the ingredients
You’re probably going to be applying this product to your face and beard every day, so you’ll want to be careful what ingredients it contains. Look for a product made with natural oils like argan and jojoba, and fragranced with essential oils like sandalwood. Avoid products that contain silicone and parabens.
Think about the bottle volume
We recommend buying a smaller bottle for a couple of reasons. Firstly, if you’re using a particular product for the first time, you may not like it. Secondly, many natural oils have a limited shelf life, particularly if they don’t contain preservatives. It is best to buy a size that won’t be sitting on the shelf for too long. The exception to these rules is if you have a very long, full beard or are using it for shaving. In this case, you will use more beard oil than most other men so will need a bigger bottle.
FAQs
Do these expensive little bottles even do anything or is it all just clever marketing?
Yes, beard oil definitely makes a difference to the look and feel of your beard and the skin under it. The natural oils act as conditioners and soften the hair, making it less dry, brittle, and frizzy. The ingredients also moisturize the skin, preventing beardruff and ingrown hairs. Some beard oils contain soothing ingredients for inflammation and itching.
I just have stubble and not a full beard. Do I still need beard oil?
For sure! This type of beard is often itchier than a full beard. Plus, remember that we also use beard oil to moisturize the skin underneath and prevent beardruff and fungal infections. It also smells great.
How often should I use beard oil and how?
We recommend applying beard oil after every shower. Just shake a very small amount – 2 to 3 drops – into the palm of your hand, rub your palms together to spread it out, then rub it through your beard and onto your face in an upward motion. Once it’s been distributed all over, comb your beard out in a downward direction to neaten it as usual. If your beard is particularly dry to start with, you can apply the oil twice a day.
Will beard oil help me to grow a beard if mine is sparse?
No. Any brand that claims to do this is a scam. Beard oil will condition your existing beard hair and make the most of what you have, but it will not stimulate it to grow thicker or faster. These things are genetically determined.
I have acne. Can beard oil make it worse?
Yes, it may. Most oily products will lead to breakouts or clogged pores. Especially avoid products containing coconut, soybean, or almond oils. Use jojoba oil-based beard oils preferably with tea tree oil in as it’s anti-bacterial. That said, you can still groom your beard with beard oil if you have acne, just keep it to the hair only and don’t massage it into the skin.
Conclusion
Beard oil is an essential item in any bearded man’s grooming routine. There are a vast number of different kinds on the market, so you are sure to find one to suit your needs and budget. We hope our guide has helped steer you in the right direction.
This article was last updated on January 4, 2022 .