YOU PROBABLY KNOW that you should be conditioning your hair (at least, we hope you do). No matter what kind of hair (or how much) you have, conditioning is an important part of any hair care regimen. And that includes the hair on your face. Facial hair of any length requires maintenance, which means keeping your beard hydrated and soft while also making it feel better too. Facial hair tends to be coarser and drier than the hair on your head and needs its own version of conditioner to stay healthy. That’s where beard oil comes in.
Best Beard Oils
BEST OVERALLThe Art of Shaving Premium Beard Oil$35 AT AMAZONREAD MORE
BEST UNSCENTED BEARD OILBevel Beard Oil$14 AT AMAZONREAD MORE
BEST BEARD OIL SERUMCopenhagen Grooming Beard Hero$30 AT AMAZONREAD MORE
BEST SMELLING BEARD OIL18.21 Man Made Oud Beard, Hair & Skin Oil$28 AT AMAZONREAD MORE
BEST BEARD OIL FOR DRY HAIRScotch Porter Smoothing Beard Serum
$23SHOP NOWIn StockREAD MORE
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“The purpose of any type of beard product is to hydrate and soften beard hair,” says Jennifer Bennett, barber and Head of Education for Rudy’s. Which one you choose ultimately depends on how long and thick your beard style is. “Somebody who has a really long, very big beard might find a thick balm hard to work through, so an oil might be better for them,” she says.
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But that doesn’t mean beard oils are only for ZZ Top. Their role is to hydrate and protect, not just the hair itself, but also the skin underneath, which can get dry quickly. Well-hydrated skin and hair is softer, less itchy, and all-around healthier.
What To Consider
Ingredients
The most important part of any beard oil is the oil itself. “Some oils are really heavy and just stay on the surface,” says Bennett. Look instead for oils like castor, avocado, grapeseed, argan and jojoba oils, which sink into the hair and don’t create a film or greasy feeling. This is important for not only the whiskers of your beard, but the skin underneath. Since you’re massaging the oil throughout the length of your beard, and onto the skin underneath it, heavier oils may run the risk of alo clogging the pores on your skin, which can lead to breakouts. If you’ve ever gotten a zit underneath your beard, you know how annoying it is. Many beard products will contain a blend of oils, which is totally fine, as long as most or all of them are lightweight.
Scent
“I like beard oils that smell good, but dissipate fast,” Bennett says, since overpowering fragrances can irritate sensitive skin. “Scent is not the reason to use a beard oil,” she says. Look for beard oils that have a little bit of scent, ideally from the ingredients and not added fragrance. Added fragrance can sometimes be more irritating to sensitive skin, though a high amount of essential oils can also cause irritation. A good way to test to see if you’re going to have a reaction to a beard oil is to do a patch test. Try a little bit of it on your skin and wait a few hours (or as long as a day) to see if you get a reaction. If you don’t, you’re good to go.
How We Selected
For the past two years, we consulted with Men’s Health‘s Grooming editors on the best beard oils for men. Experts, including our Grooming Editor Garrett Munce, put a number of beard oils to the test and evaluated their ingredients, scent, feel, and appearance on the beard post-use. We also speak with barbers who regularly use beard oils on their clients to hydrate their facial hair.
BEST OVERALL
The Art of Shaving Premium Beard Oil
PROS
- Effective blend of plant-based oils
- Elevated scent
CONS
- Expensive, given the ingredients used
| Key Ingredients | Jojoba seed oil, avocado oil, camelia seed oil, evening primrose oil, macadamia oil, grapeseed oil |
|---|---|
| Scent | Citrus and mint basil |
| Size | 1 oz |
On this ingredients list for this lightweight and luxurious-feeling beard oil you’ll find the all-important jojoba oil, as well as ultra-moisturizing avocado oil and skin soothing evening primrose oil. A few tiny drops of this potent stuff goes a long way toward smoothing frizzy whiskers and keeping them hydrated all day long.
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We found that this beard oil is effective enough to use on long beards, but lightweight enough to use on shorter beards and mustaches without leaving them looking wet or greasy (or dripping into our mouths)–just adjust how much you use. Trust us when we say a little goes a long way.
The thing that really got us on board with this beard oil, however, is the scent. It’s an elegant fragrance that smells like a fancy cologne, but doesn’t stick around in your nostrils all day long (even if you put it on your mustache). It makes the experience of using it so pleasant we found ourselves wishing we needed to reapply it a few hours later–but our whiskers were still so hydrated it would have been overkill.
Read more: Best Beard Products
BEST UNSCENTED BEARD OIL
Bevel Beard Oil
PROS
- Contains oils that are good for your hair
- Unscented
- Non-comedogenic
CONS
- Easy to use too much
| Key Ingredients | Grapeseed oil, macadamia oil, evening primrose oil, avocado oil, jojoba seed oil, argan oil |
|---|---|
| Scent | Unscented |
| Size | 1 oz |
This beard oil is a hydration superstar with an ingredients list that is like a who’s who of the ultimate beard friendly oils (jojoba, argan, avocado, grapeseed—they’re all here). While it’s designed for men with thicker, coarser beards, we found that it’s lightweight enough to use on all types of whiskers, even shorter ones.
Because it’s so hydrating, just a tiny bit is enough to keep even longer or thicker beards smooth and hydrated for hours and hours thanks to the blend of oils. It’s also non-comedogenic, meaning that if you’re worried about breaking out, you shouldn’t be – this one won’t clog your pores.
It’s also ideal for anyone that’s sensitive to or doesn’t like fragrance. Since it’s unscented, you don’t run the risk of any sort of reaction from fragrance, making it ideal for guys with sensitive skin. It’s also great if you don’t just aren’t a fragrance guy in general. Since beard oils sit so close to your nose, their scents can linger – but since this one doesn’t have a fragrance, you don’t run that risk.
BEST BEARD OIL SERUM
Copenhagen Grooming Beard Hero
PROS
- Contains moisturizing oils
- Can help thicken beard hairs
- Easy to apply serum texture
CONS
- Using too much can make beard look shiny
| Key Ingredients | Castor oil, limnanthes alba seed oil, NaturePep Amaranth |
|---|---|
| Scent | Natural |
| Size | 1.7 oz |
If runny oils aren’t your thing, this oil-serum has a thicker texture that allows you to smooth it through your whiskers with much less risk of leaving your beard looking wet or greasy. A few pumps are all you need to cover a long beard and you need even less if you have a short one or stubble. It’s deeply hydrating thanks to castor oil and limnanthes alba seed oil and the brand says it keeps your beard hydrated for 72 hours. We can’t confirm that exact number, but that’s mainly because it’s such a pleasure to use that we couldn’t wait three days to apply it again.
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Apart from the moisturizing oils found in the formula, there is also something called NaturePep Amaranth, which helps to thicken and plump beard hairs the more you use this serum. That’s great news for guys looking for a thicker beard, though keep in mind it won’t actually grow hair so doesn’t work for patchiness. However, a thicker, plumper beard helps to camouflage thinner patches, so it could still be a win-win for guys who have some patchiness. Overall, it’s a wonderful multipurpose beard product.
BEST SMELLING BEARD OIL
18.21 Man Made Oud Beard, Hair & Skin Oil
PROS
- Contains beard-friendly oils
- Elevated, cologne-like scent
- Large size
CONS
- Fragrance may be overpowering for some
| Key Ingredients | Castor seed oil, jojoba oil, argan oil, coconut oil, dog rose oil |
|---|---|
| Scent | Nobel Oud |
| Size | 2.0 oz |
One of the perks of using a beard oil, for many guys, is the scent and this one has the best that we’ve found. The elegant oud-based fragrance smells like something you’d buy from a department store fragrance counter with notes of bergamot, amber, clove leave, smoked oud, rosewood and more. The effect is so good you may be tempted to replace your regular cologne with this stuff – and you could, since not only is it designed for your beard, but you can slather it on your skin, too, as a moisturizer or a way to make your tattoos look more vibrant (or both). We’re always fans of multi-use products and this one definitely checks that box.
In the formula, you’ll find all the important oils for a beard oil, like castor seed, jojoba, argan and coconut to help deliver rich hydration to your whiskers without weighing it down. Easy does it with this one, since the oils themselves are deeply hydrating and when combined with the scent, it’s easy to overdo. But we promise, a few drops are all you need to keep your beard looking and smelling great all day.
BEST BEARD OIL FOR DRY HAIR
Scotch Porter Smoothing Beard Serum
$23SHOP NOW
In Stock
PROS
- Easy to use serum texture
- Ideal of very dry and textured beards
- Contains beneficial oils
CONS
- Some may not like the shinier finish
| Key Ingredients | Avocado oil, jojoba seed oil, sunflower seed oil, canola oil |
|---|---|
| Scent | Warm boozy spice |
| Size | 1.7 oz |
This innovative beard oil has a serum texture to help it apply to coarser, more textured whiskers easily and stick to them, so you can avoid crispy ends or frizzy edges (oils can have a hard time reaching the full length of curlier or textured hair). The texture itself allows for a smoother finish with some shine left on the beard, but not a greasy residue. It’s especially good for fuller beards that tend to get dry or frizzy as the day wears on.
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Inside the formula you’ll find deeply moisturizing oils like avocado and jojoba seed, which Bennett endorses to not only hydrate but improve the health of facial hair. The serum texture of this product also allows you to massage it into both your whiskers and the skin underneath effectively – and don’t worry, it won’t clog your pores, either. Keep in mind that it doesn’t actually shape your beard, but it will smooth it out and reduce frizz so you may not even need a balm or shaping product after using it.
BEST BEARD OIL FOR SHORT BEARDS
Beard Grooming Oil
PROS
- Soothing on skin beneath the beard
- Very lightweight
- Pleasing natural scent
CONS
- May not be hydrating enough for very thick or long beards
| Key Ingredients | Pracaxi oil, apricot kernel oil, avocado oil, squalane, olive fruit oil |
|---|---|
| Scent | Cedarwood, sandalwood, eucalyptus |
| Size | 1 oz/ 30 mL |
When you have a shorter beard, it’s easy to think that you can skip the beard oil, but short beards need love, and hydration, too! This ultra-lightweight beard oil is ideal for those beards because it not only helps to nourish and hydrate you whiskers, but it’s soothing and calming to the skin underneath. That’s thanks to the pracaxi oil in the formula, which not only hydrates hair, but has calming properties to skin, so it can help curb dryness and irritation that could come from a dry beard.
The secret to using a beard oil on a short beard is to only use a few drops to avoid oversaturating both the whiskers and skin. This oil is easy to use and, while the bottle is small, you only need a couple of drops to get full coverage. The woody-fresh scent comes from essential oils, not added fragrance, which gives it a soothing, natural vibe that’s a pleasure to use.
Shea Moisture Beard Conditioning Oil
Now 13% Off
PROS
- Ideal for dry and coarse beards
- Contains ultra-moisturizing ingredients
- Lightweight and non-greasy
CONS
- May be too heavy for finer beards
| Key Ingredients | Shea butter, maracuja oil, grapeseed oil, sunflower seed oil, olive oil, castor seed oil |
|---|---|
| Scent | Natural |
| Size | 3.2 oz |
This supremely moisturizing beard oil is especially designed for coarse beards which tend to get dry and frizzy very easily (the natural oils from your skin have a harder time reaching the ends of curly and textured hair). It contains moisturizing superstar shea butter as well as maracuja oil, which is rich in fatty acids to not only help lock in moisture but strengthen hair as well. Those ingredients may make it seem that this oil would be heavy and greasy, but miraculously it’s not. Just a little bit of this oil is enough to keep even the driest, coarsest beards hydrated all day long.
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As much as what is in this formula, what’s not in it is just as important. It doesn’t contain any potentially harmful ingredients like mineral oil or sulfates, so it not only hydrates hair but keeps it healthy as well. There’s no residue to speak of, even if you use a bit more of this oil, and while it does deliver a slight sheen to your whiskers, we found that it doesn’t feel or look greasy. We also found that even though it’s designed for coarser beards, it works just as well on straighter whiskers as well.
BEST BEARD OIL FOR LONG BEARDS
Baxter of California Beard Oil
PROS
- Hydrating enough for long beards
- Contains skin-beneficial ingredients like squalane and Vitamin E
- Pleasing scent
CONS
- May be too heavy for short beards
| Key Ingredients | Avocado oil, squalane, Vitamin E, apricot kernel oil, olive fruit oil |
|---|---|
| Scent | Sandalwood, jasmine, cedarwood |
| Size | 1 oz |
Since this beard oil uses avocado oil as its main ingredient, it may be on the heavier side for shorter beards, but that’s what makes it so ideal for longer ones. Long beards need a bit more moisturization to keep from drying out as the day goes on and since this uses a heavier oil, it delivers deeper hydration and smoothing power than some others you’ll find out there. But don’t worry, it’s not going to leave your beard looking like an oil slick. The oil is tempered with squalane, an ingredient commonly found in skincare that’s known for deep hydration, to help keep your whiskers smooth but not weighed down.
Inside the formula, you’ll also find Vitamin E, which is ideal for soothing and calming skin (remember, it’s important to apply beard oil to the skin underneath your beard, as well) and a subtle, soothing fragrance of sandalwood, jasmine and cedarwood that give it spa-like feeling but dissipates quickly so it won’t overpower your nostrils all day long. The bottle may be small, but a little of this goes a long way, even on ZZ Top-level long beards.
BEST NATURAL BEARD OIL
Port Products Conditioning Beard Absolute
PROS
- Contains natural ingredients
- Good for skin as well
- Won’t clog pores
CONS
- May not be strong enough for very long beards
| Key Ingredients | Grapeseed oil, argan oil, sandalwood oil, helichrysum essential oil, bergamot essential oil, pink grapefruit oil |
|---|---|
| Scent | Woody |
| Size | 1 oz |
There’s nothing added to this lightweight beard oil besides plant-based natural oils, which makes it ideal for both adding hydration to whiskers, but also moisturizing your face and skin. Don’t worry, it’s non-comedogenic so it won’t muck up your pores even if you do apply it to your whole face as a moisturizer (though it will leave a slight sheen). As far as multi-use oils go, this one is one of the best we’ve found, but we will say we found ourselves using it on our facial hair more often than our skin.
The subtle scent comes from essential oils, not synthetic fragrance, and has a woody scent that’s pleasant and masculine, but doesn’t stick around in your nose all day. Because the oil itself is so lightweight, we found that it’s ideal for short to medium-length beards, though it’s richly hydrating enough that longer beards can benefit – you just might need to use a bit more. That’s okay though because it leaves no residue whatsoever.
How To Use Beard Oil
Bennett advises washing your beard a few times a week with beard shampoo or beard wash, followed by a beard oil. Before applying it, “use a comb, brush, or your fingers to smooth it out and give it the shape you want,” she says. “Apply a small amount to your hands and, starting with your cheeks and chin, massage it in like you’re giving yourself a face massage. It’s important to massage the product all the way down to the skin.” Then use your fingers in a downward motion to make sure the rest of your beard is covered (if it’s long).
Meet the Experts
- Jennifer Bennett is a barber and the Head of Education for Rudy’s
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