SKIN CARE

Facial Hair Tips

Why Use Beard Oil

Beard oils may claim to make your beard grow faster, stronger and thicker, and that may well be an added benefit, but it’s not the whole story. David Pirrotta of David Pirrotta Brand Management (a distributor for grooming brands including Grown Alchemist and Sachajuan) put it this way: “Think of beard oil as cologne, but one that doubles as a hair and skin moisturizer on top of adding shine and body to your beard. Quality beard oils will soften your facial hair, as well as moisturize the skin, reduce itching and create the conditions for healthy beard growth.”

Why not just use a moisturizer, then? According to Pirotta, “Most lotions are actually watered-down oils, which allows the growth of bacteria and causes the oils to go rancid without some type of added preservatives. Oils lock in moisture and help protect the skin against environmental effects, while delivering a potent dose of nutrients.”

You might be concerned that putting oil on your face will lead to breakouts. Andy Bosselman, founder of Arithmetic, the company behind the highly acclaimed Acne Control Complex, says it’s actually quite the opposite: “Beard oils are not likely to cause pimples, in fact, they may even help your complexion.”
According to Bosselman, “Quality oils like this can help to rebalance your skin’s own oil production. It’s a sort of fight-fire-with-fire situation — oils can make your skin less oily. If you’re concerned about an ingredient, Google it with the word ‘comedogenic.’ If it contains a pore-clogging ingredient, don’t buy it.”