If you have a beard, or your husband or partner has a beard, you know the TLC that—in most cases—goes into keeping it looking and feeling good. Though professional barbers are still in demand, DIY beard grooming is booming, and today’s products are better than ever before. These are the best beard oils to help tame and soften facial hair while also caring for the skin underneath it.
The Best Beard Oils Men Will Love
Jack Black Beard Oil ($28)
According to The NPD Group, this beard oil is the number-one in its category in the prestige market, and we know why. The blend of fatty acid–rich kalahari melon oil and marula oil keeps the hairs (and the skin underneath) hydrated and conditioned (preventing dryness and itchiness), but it absorbs quickly without a greasy residue.
Scent
There is no synthetic fragrance in the oil, but there is a mild scent from natural botanicals.
Size
1.0 fl oz
King C. Gillette Men’s Beard Oil ($10.50)
There are so many all-star ingredients in this formula, which is infused with 99-percent plant-based oils, including argan, jojoba, avocado, macadamia seed, and almond. You’d expect this mix to be heavy, but instead it’s lightweight and nongreasy, and works to moisturize and soften beard hair and facial skin simultaneously. You can also use it as a pre-shave oil to increase the skin’s slickness for a nice glide.
Scent
“Men’s cologne” with notes of bergamot, geranium and cedarwood
Size
1.0 fl oz
Kiehl’s Grooming Solutions Nourishing Beard Grooming Oil ($36)
Ultra-nourishing and made with pracaxi oil (a miracle-working conditioning ingredient that’s native to the Amazon), this formula is great for those with coarse hair that needs extra smoothing. It works on all skin types, and is even clinically proven to diminish dry skin under facial hair.
Scent
Woodsy and earthy with notes of sandalwood, cedarwood and eucalyptus
Size
1.0 fl oz
Bevel Beard Oil ($15)
In an interview with John Legend, an investor in Bevel, he told me his brother, a barber, is a big fan of this beard oil, which was crafted for African-American men with textured hair. There’s a long list of oils packed into this little bottle, including macadamia seed, evening primose, grapeseed, jojoba, argan, and avocado, which give beard hair the prettiest sheen without a greasy residue. It keeps frizzy hairs at bay as it moisturizes the skin underneath, but won’t clog pores. The 100-plus five-star reviews back it up.
Scent
Subtle botanical
Size
1.0 fl oz.
Art of Shaving Black Pepper & Cedar Premium Beard Oil ($35)
My brother’s favorite shaving brand—I got him hooked years ago and now he won’t use anything else—Art of Shaving products truly remind me of simpler times, when more men were groomed by their barber (not just a quick haircut) with the full feet-up experience. Jojoba, avocado and evening primrose oils are the standouts in this formula, as they help moisturize the hair and skin and make the beard more manageable. The addition of grape seed extract lends anti-aging skin-care benefits too.
Scent
Black pepper and cedar from essential oils
Size
1.0 fl oz.
Balmain Homme Beard Oil ($115)
For the man who appreciates the finer things in life, this luxurious beard oil is a no-brainer. Argan oil and hydrolyzed silk (it’s used in many hair masks and conditioners) team up to tame rowdy hairs while also delivering an intense moisturizing effect. It also comes with a comb for styling ease.
Scent
The oriental-woody Balmain Homme fragrance, which contains notes of bergamot and sandalwood
Size
1.0 fl oz.
Beard Guyz Beard Oil ($13)
If your beard is coarse or you’re looking for something super hydrating, this is a great option. It’s chock-full of argan, sunflower and sweet almond oils that really nourish the hair. You also can’t beat the price tag at just $13, and at 1.5 fl oz., it’s also slightly bigger than most other beard oils on the market.
Scent
Free of synthetic fragrance, but scented with natural ingredients
Size
1.5 fl oz.
Horace Tobacco & Vanilla Beard Oil ($15)
Made in France with 99-percent naturally derived ingredients, including Jamaican black castor oil, this luxuriously scented oil is vegan and free of alcohol, silicones and mineral oil. All you need is a few drops each morning to keep your beard soft, supple and nourished.
Scent
Woody sweet: Tobacco and vanilla
Size
1.0 fl oz.
Caldera Lab The Beard ($59)
Scent
Free of synthetic fragrance, but the herbal-citrus scent is from natural botanicals
Size
1.69 fl oz.
Live Bearded Beard Oil ($19)
Boasting more than 4,000 five-star reviews, this beard oil uses argan, grape seed and jojoba oils to condition itchy, unruly facial hair. It comes in six different scents, from American (cedar, pine, vetiver and bergamot) to Executive (leather, vanilla and cedar), and there’s a fragrance-free version, too. You can also subscribe to receive this every month (or two or three months) and get 15-percent off.
Scent
1880: Bourbon, Bitters, Citrus; TOMBSTONE: Sweet Tobacco, Cedar; EXECUTIVE: Leather, Vanilla, Cedar; LEGEND: Sandalwood, Vanilla; CANYON: Juniper, Cypress, Fir Needle; AMERICAN: Cedar, Pine, Vetiver, Bergamot; STRAIGHT UP: Fragrance-Free
Size
1.0 fl oz.