Comment bien choisir son huile de barbe ?

Beard Oil: How to Choose?

Maintaining a beard requires daily care. There are many products designed for this purpose, including beard oil. This has become a staple in beard care kits. With the various formulas available on the market, making a choice is not straightforward. Here, we provide advice on how to choose your beard oil.

Summary
Published June 3, 2022, updated on October 4, 2024, by Maylis, Chemical Engineer — 4 min read

Beard oil, in a nutshell.

Beard oil presents itself as a lipophilic liquid typically composed of two types of ingredients: vegetable oils and essential oils . It is applied to the skin of the face in the hairy area. Its functions are multiple: to soften and discipline the hairs, limit the development of bacteria, moisturize the skin and limit potential itching related to shaving or even provide a pleasant fragrance. Moreover, some beard oils are enriched with active ingredients to stimulate hair growth such as basil extract, which helps to fill in any gaps and densify the beard to give it a more uniform appearance.

How to choose your beard oil?

Several factors need to be considered when choosing a beard oil:

  • The Composition:

    If you have a dry beard, opt for a beard oil rich in plant oils known for their nourishing properties such as thejojoba oil or the argan oil. Men prone to irritation and/or itching due to frequent shaving should prefer a soothing beard oil containing, for example, hemp seed oil, St. John's wort or even arnica. Moreover, if your beard is sparse and has patches, some beard oils are enriched with active ingredients to promote hair growth like basil extract or castor oil.

    Note : It is possible to find a blend of several vegetable oils to benefit from numerous virtues. Thus, some beard oils are both nourishing, soothing, and strengthening.

  • The type of beard:

    When choosing a beard oil, it is necessary to take into consideration one's hair type and the length of the beard. A light, non-greasy oil will be suitable for a three-day beard. For a long beard, a rich and creamy oil should be preferred.

  • The ease of application:

    We recommend beard oils that come with a dosing dropper. These oils will be easy to measure and apply.

  • The fragrance:

    The essential oils incorporated into beard oils can provide antibacterial properties, such as thecamphor rosemary essential oilor thelinalool thyme essential oil. However, their primary functions in this type of care are mainly to provide a fresh and pleasant fragrance. Thus, it is possible to choose your beard oil based on the scent: woody, floral, fruity, spicy, etc...

Diagnostic

Understand your skin
and its complex needs.