Maintaining a healthy good looking beard requires hard work, which is why most men prefer to shave. Beard oils have been in existence since ancient times. Beard oil keeps the beard and the skin beneath it hydrated, moisturized and nourished. Beard oils are made of carrier oils and sometimes essential oils. The carrier oils are either grapeseed, argan, coconut or jojoba, and each is selected due to their individual benefits to the beard.
Essential oils are used to add a scent. The market is full of different beard oils and to make your choice easier. Here’s a guide on how to choose the best beard oil that will work for you.
Ingredients
The ingredients of the beard oil you choose can make or break its effectiveness. The best ingredients are the naturals ones and those which will not ruin your skin, especially if you have sensitive skin. These oils need to be effective in increasing your retention of moisture and have anti-bacterial properties to kill bacteria. The following are some of the essential oils that you need to consider:
Coconut Oil
This oil has a high concentration of saturated fats, which moisturize and hydrate the skin. It also has capric and lauric acids which have antimicrobial and disinfectant properties.
Jojoba Oil
Jojoba oil is widely used in beard oils because it resembles sebum, the skin’s natural secretion. It contains therapeutic ingredients, fatty acids, and antioxidants, which make it highly effective in nourishing, moisturizing and providing anti-inflammatory, anti-bacterial, and anti-fungal properties to the beard and the skin.
Grapeseed Oil
this oil is lighter than coconut oil, making it easier to be absorbed into the skin and hair. It is also odorless and has a small astringent quality which helps it smoothen and tighten the skin.
On the other hand, argan oil is quickly absorbed into the hair and skin without leaving a greasy feel, which makes it a good moisturizer. Again, it has potent antioxidant properties, which reduces dryness, irritation, and itchiness of the skin. The healing and anti-inflammatory properties also make it a good ingredient. Whatever ingredients you choose to go with, ensure that they are natural, have high moisture retention, and provide you with anti-bacterial, anti-inflammatory, and anti-fungal properties.
Scent
Choose a beard which names the essential oil instead of using the word fragrance as this shows that the scent is not from natural oils. Essential oils should be used in small quantities or in diluted form because they are very strong. If you have sensitive skin, you are better off choosing an unscented oil.
Reviews
The beard oil you choose should have good consumer reviews in the market. You can visit review websites to see what other users have to say about the oil. Beard oils with the best reviews are likely to give you great results.
Environment
Your day to day environment will also help you decide on the beard oil to buy. If you live in a windy or dry climate, then your beards are likely to dry very fast. Thus you need to purchase long-lasting beard oil. Hot and humid climates make the beard appear too shiny or greasy, as such, you need to choose a beard oil made of non-greasy oils such as jojoba or argan oil.
By putting these factors into consideration, you will find the best beard oil for your beard’s needs.
