The Best Beard Oils for the Softest, Smoothest Scruff

Growing a beard was only the beginning of your facial hair journey. Now you’re in the part where you’ve gotta give it some love, and the best beard beard oils will keep that sculpted scruff feeling great. Not just for you, either. Because the right beard oil leaves your facial skin glowing and your follicles from annoying you or your partner. It keeps facial hairs from getting brittle and wiry. It softens the hair so you’re not scratching your neck or dealing with beard dandruff (yes, it exists). All of that from just a couple drops of oil, twice a day.

The Best Beard Oils, According to GQ

• Best Beard Oil Overall: Honest Amish Classic Beard Oil, $12
• Best Multipurpose Beard Oil: Beardbrand Utility Beard Oil, $39
• Best Natural Beard Oil: Horace Lemon & Mint Beard Oil, $15
• Best Smelling Beard Oil: STMNT Grooming Goods Beard Oil, $22
• Best Beard Oil for Big Beards: Pura d'Or Beard Oil, $12
• Best Beard Oil for Flyaways: Jack Black MP10 Nourishing Oil, $35
• Barber's Favorite Beard Oil: Northern Fir Quality Beard Oil, $24
• Best Beard and Face Oil: Blind Barber Beard Oil, $17
• Best Beard and Hair Oil: Aesop Shine Hair & Beard Oil, $35

I’d go so far as to rank beard oil as the second most important beard care product, just after beard trimmers—and it’s a close second. Because whether you keep your facial hair at a precise 24-hour stubble, go full hermit-mode, or stay somewhere in between, a beard oil does irreplicable work. The kind you can’t replace with any old moisturizer or conditioner.

Read on for GQ’s tried-and-true picks for the best beard oils, as well as how to choose a beard oil based on its key ingredients.

Jump to: What to consider when buying beard oil | How we tested | Beard oil FAQs | About our experts

Why we love it: For the longest time, I thought of Honest Amish as "that Amazon beard oil", given its enormous popularity on the e-tailer. (At the time of writing, we’re talking nearly 29,000 reviews and a 4.5-star average.) And often, I'll intentionally seek out an alternative to these Amazon-beloved grooming products—if only because it feels like the equivalent of recommending Applebee's to an out-of-towner. But this time, well: welcome to Applebee's.

Frankly, I couldn't find a better beard oil. Not only is Honest Amish cost effective (at the second-best price-per-ounce on my list), but the brand nailed the blend. It's a pure oil recipe (no non-oil ingredients), with seven carrier oils and seven essential oils that give it an earthy scent and help tone the skin beneath your bushel. It absorbs fast, works great to smooth dwn flyaways, relax stiff bristles, and battle both dry skin and flake-prone beards. And did I mention the value? Six bucks per ounce is a steal.

I only use Honest Amish on my beard, largely because I'm not a fan of using any essential oils on bare skin—I particularly find that pumpkin seed oil (a key ingredient here) can be slightly pore-clogging on acne-prone skin. That said: I count myself as acne-prone, and haven't had issues with Honest Amish, so I'm probably being over-cautious. It's really just that good.

Best Multipurpose Beard Oil: Beardbrand Utility Beard Oil

Why we love it: Despite the name Beardbrand, this company's product line covers the whole body, with a focus on multi-tasking grooming products like dual washes, all-purpose balms, and this utilitarian oil. You'll catch me using it on my hands, elbows, and hair—whether for a dash of shine (to offset a matte hair product) or a protective coat against frizz and humidity. But Beardbrand's Utility Oil is on this list because it works beautifully in the beard.

Sure, it's a touch heavier than some other oils—but that also makes it a terrific pre-shave lubricant. It's important to note that no matter which “flavor” you choose, this oil has a strong dash of fragrance. They're all good, but I'm partial to the brand's new Bold Fortune scent, which it oozes a sexy combo of leather, oud, and tobacco. (And pro-tip: the brand's utility wash has the same come-hither scent, if you want to double down.)

Best Natural Beard Oil: Horace Lemon & Mint Beard Oil

Why we love it: Horace's beard oil will make a lot of you happy, though for different reasons. For those overwhelmed by scents—particularly artificial ones—you'll appreciate that its got the subtlest of aromas. I'm partial to the Lemon & Mint one, which reads as “fresh," and never overwhelms.

For those looking to stay away from chemicals, Horace's formula is 99% natural—and the 1% is a synthetic grape seed oil, not something with 12 syllables, which I'm fine with. The brand gets bonus marks for its easily-understood ingredients labels, which break down these details and err on the side of much-appreciated transparency.

Finally, if you're on the fence about incorporating a beard oil because you're not sure if it makes sense, Horace's will make you a believer. It absorbs fast, gives a pinch of shine, and makes just enough difference in terms of taming, moisturizing, and softening that you'll see why a beard oil makes sense.

Best Smelling Beard Oil: STMNT Grooming Goods Beard Oil

Why we love it: No dermatologist is going to endorse a beard oil with artificial scent, because (understandably) there's no upside from a skin perspective. But I'm not a dermatologist, and I—like some of you—prefer to have my great beard oil and smell it, too. And if your skin is fine with perfumed products (and most folks' skin is), then you're going to love STMNT's beard oil. And, frankly, the rest of its product line—try not taking a huge whiff if you use their pomade.

But we're talking about the beard oil. It brings a citrusy, woody, incense-esque aroma, which I find both sexy and soothing. Also, to be clear, as a beard oil, it's similarly intoxicating, with high marks for taming and hydrating beard hair. That is, if you can bring yourself to actually apply STMNT's beard oil instead of huffing it.

Best Budget Beard Oil: Pura d'Or Beard Oil

Why we love it: I test literally hundreds of grooming products a year, and I'm so intimately acquainted with brands new and old that I often think about them through the framework of their best product. For Pura d'Or, it's this beard oil.

It's the best value on this list, at $3 per fluid ounce. Given how quickly you can go through beard oil—just think, you're applying twice a day, and maybe you have a big or thick beard—that dollar-per-ounce math becomes important.

Of course, it's only important if the formula measures up—and here, it does. There are two carrier oils, argan and jojoba, along with a bit of grapefruit peel and some sandalwood essential oil for both a natural scent and a touch of antimicrobial powers. It's a great beard oil for anyone, no matter how big your bank account, but if you're bearding on a budget, you'll appreciate how much goodness Pura d'Or packs into a few bucks.

Best Beard Oil for Flyaways: Jack Black MP10 Nourishing Oil

Why we love it: Jack Black's Epic Moisture MP10 Nourishing Oil is an all-timer for me (I use it for more than my facial hair), but the bottle empties fastest when my beard's at its bushiest. That's when the flyaways and freaked-out follicles get craziest—and when the oil's star ingredient, silicone, does its best work.

Silicone gets an unfair rap in haircare and skincare, particularly in an era where we're (rightly) more thoughtful about what we put on and in our bodies. True, it's not at all natural. But it has the unparalleled ability to seal moisture into hair and skin. One dusting-over with this blend from Jack Black will lock down any rogue hairs—all while treating skin and follicles with its roster of 10 oils.

Barber's Favorite Beard Oil: Northern Fir Quality Beard Oil

Why we love it: I wanted to know the beard oil that Alyssa Bachowski, senior barber at Fellow Barber in Brooklyn, NYC, recommends most to her own clients—and Northern Fir is that oil. “I really like the light consistency, as it absorbs into the beard hair easily,” she explains. "Two of the more unique [oil] ingredients that it boasts are black pepper, which helps promote hair growth, as well as juniper berry, which helps reduce ingrown hairs. The smell of the product itself is woodsy and light, which I (as well as my clients) like."

Best Beard and Face Oil: Blind Barber Beard Oil

Why we love it: Blind Barber's tonka-tinged oil is wonderful for the guy who wants to moisturize skin and whiskers with the same product. It wears extremely light—so much so that my oily skin barely registers its presence—and I find its carrier-oil-centric and shea-butter-forward formula especially comforting on the skin. It should be noted that this formula includes artificial perfume, so fragrance-averse individuals should steer clear. But for those of us who want a special scent , a flake-free beard, and soothed skin, Blind Barber's beard oil does it all.

Best Beard and Hair Oil: Aesop Shine Hair & Beard Oil

Why we love it: While I'd use most of the above options as both a hair oil and a beard oil, Aesop's is one where I think of it as a hair oil first and foremost. It brings control without making things look greasy, while trapping moisture and stopping frizz. I'll use it in short hair to tame down the sides, in medium lengths (mixed with a cream or clay) for added shine, or in long hair to prevent split ends.

Then, once my hair's settled up, I'll run my hands through my beard afterward. So, if you want a great hair oil with beard benefits, Aesop's is the winner.

As with anything you put on your skin, the ingredients are what matter most. And with beard oils, there are two categories of ingredients: carrier oils and essential oils. No two ingredients will perform exactly the same. Some will help with very specific situations or conditions; some may actively aggravate your skin. Essential oils in particular can aggravate skin if used by themselves.

So, consider the following carrier oils and essential oils, favored both by myself and Alyssa Bachowski, a senior barber at Fellow Barber’s Williamsburg, NYC barbershop.

Carrier oils—often vegetable and see oils—make up the bulk of these beard oil formulas, bringing beard nourishment and skin hydration. The most popular carrier oils are argan oil and jojoba oil (both of which Bachowski recommends), though there are dozens of varieties, from castor to marula to grape seed oils. They're usually unscented, though some—like coconut oil—may carry an aroma.

Because carrier oils make up the “base” of the oil, they should be among the first to appear in a product's formula or list of ingredients.

1. Jojoba oil: “Jojoba oil is non-comedogenic, which means it will not clog your pores. It is also a lighter oil that is absorbent, so it won't just sit on top of the hair and give you a greasy appearance,” notes Bachowski. Along with argan oil, you’re going to see a lot of jojoba oil in most popular beard oil blends.
2. Argan oil: “Argan oil is filled with a ton of vitamins and minerals, as well as linoleic acid, sterolins, and squalene. All of these aid in protecting and keeping your skin and beard healthy,” says Bachowski.
3. Castor oil: “Castor oil is known for promoting beard hair growth,” says Bachowski. It’s hypothetically the best beard-growth oil of the crew, because it acts like a vitamin for your strands—though there's more on that below in the FAQs. But don't expect it to grow more hairs, or thicker hairs. Castor oil does have a smoke-and-mirrors benefit, at least. “It is a heavier oil and dark in color, so it can give the appearance of a denser beard on men with dark facial hair,” Bachowski says.
4. Grape seed oil: Grape seed oil can help tone down your skin's oil production, and is extremely moisturizing for scruff and skin alike.
5. Avocado oil: Rich in fatty acids, this is a frontrunner for “most nourishing oil” for your skin and whiskers.
6. Shea Butter: Yes, shea butter is in fact a carrier oil, and it has supremely moisturizing properties that make it great for detangling scraggly beards and softening stiff hairs.

Essential oils are distillations from more potent sources, and they tend to be additive—and active—ingredients in a beard oil. These oils are typically extracted through steaming methods, and their range of benefits can include antimicrobial properties, oil-toning abilities, and soothing superpowers. Typically, any natural fragrance in a beard oil will come from essential oils. But pure essential oils can be extremely damaging to the skin.

“You should not apply pure essential oil to a beard—it will do the opposite of what you are trying to achieve,” says Bachowski. “These [pure oils] are not good for your beard nor your skin. as they can be irritating and harmful. Essential oils can cause dryness, itchiness, and redness—and some people may have allergic reactions to them.” This is exactly why you want beard oils from trusted, tested brand.

1. Cedarwood oil: Bachowski likes cedarwood oil for its naturally astringent properties. “It helps cleanse the pores and prevent ingrown hairs,” she adds. It also adds a natural fragrance.
2. Sandalwood oil: “Sandalwood has anti-inflammatory properties that help reduce any skin irritation,” Bachowski says of this deliciously scented oil.
3. Lavender oil: Lavender helps calm inflammation and redness, says Bachowski. Plus it brings lavender's soothing scent.
4. Tea tree oil: This antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, oil-toning ingredient is terrific for acne-prone faces and oily skin types.
5. Grapefruit peel oil: Along with its refreshing scent, grapefruit peel oil helps nourish and detangle.

As GQ's lead grooming product reviewer, I've tried just about every beard oil in the biz. The ones chosen for this roundup excel at protecting and moisturizing both skin and hair, with minimal risk for things like inverse reactions and blemishes. They absorb cleanly, unless they expressly choose not to (like those which expressly use silicone), and they smell terrific (with both natural and artificially scented options). I've tested beard oils for a decade, on a beard that's been long, short, and everything in between. I've also scoured online reviews to confirm that these products are backed by throngs of loyal fans, whose collective opinion echoes my own experiences.

Beard Oil FAQs

With more than a decade of testing beard oils under his belt, GQ’s expert tester chose Honest Amish as the best beard oil. And 29,000 Amazon shoppers have rated this same product 4.5 out of 5 stars.

Both beard balm and beard oil are both terrific for facial hair—but they don't do the same job. Beard balm is optimal for taming and styling facial hair, especially at medium and longer lengths. Beard oil provides less control over the shape and style, but is excellent at softening and conditioning the hairs and the skin underneath (preventing beard itch, beard dandruff, and split ends).

Most beard oils are applied the same way: “Start off with 2-3 drops in the palm of your hand,” says Bachowski. “Rub it into your hands so that it is evenly distributed from fingertips to the heel of your hand. Start by rubbing the oil with your fingertips onto the skin beneath the beard hair, then eventually working the oil from root to tip of the actual beard. Make sure to also apply oil to your neck and cheeks where you may have shaved or trimmed as well. If you feel like the 2-3 drops wasn't enough based on the length or density of your beard, apply another 2-3 drops.”

Preventing beard dandruff starts with changing your skincare regimen. Namely, introducing exfoliation and moisturizing products that can get past a thick nest of facial hair. For exfoliation, look for physical scrubs (even a beard brush will work). For the best moisturizing effects, be sure to apply beard oil both morning and night. The beard oil will also soften and condition the facial hair to prevent itchiness.

No, beard oil is not meant to help beard hair growth, whether that’s to make facial hair thicker or grow faster. To be honest, we don’t know of much that can really change your scruff's density besides a beard transplant and maybe minoxidil. Beard oil is here to make your existing beard hair softer and more cooperative, while also nourishing the skin beneath the beard—skin that’s often prone to dehydration and dandruff. It’s already doing a lot.

Absolutely. Beard oil is a great investment for anyone with facial hair, since it can help soften and tame your scruff while simultaneously moisturizing the skin underneath. This means no more itching, no flyaways, and no beard dandruff.

Alyssa Bachowski is a senior barber at Fellow Barber’s Williamsburg NYC barbershop location.