What is beard oil and why do I want it in my beard?

You may also be interested in:

• Pomade, lard and bear fat
• Jojoba oil and why it is the beard's best friend

Why use beard oil?

Beard oil moisturises the skin and nourishes the beard. It combats dry skin and an itchy beard while leaving you with a soft, supple, and shiny beard. You don't have to have a long, thick beard to appreciate beard oil. It works great for stubble and shorter beards as well because it gets absorbed and nourishes the skin.

Beard oil throughout history

We can't know exactly when the first beard oil appeared. But if we're going to try to figure it out, we'll have to go back almost 5,000 years. In fact, it is believed that a type of beard oil made from sesame seeds was already in use in Mesopotamia. There were also variants of beard oil in ancient Greece and the Roman Empire. The Romans generally preferred to be clean-shaven, however. In Greece, beard oil was often made with castor oil. It's a slightly thicker oil that you'll find in our shaving oil today.

Of course, there have been many beard oils from different civilizations throughout the ages. But what is usually seen as the model for modern beard oil is macassar oil, which was popular in the 19th and early 20th centuries. It takes its name from the city of Makassar in Indonesia where the raw materials are said to come from. Macassar oil was mainly used for hair, but it later became popular for beards as well. It was known to be both thick and sticky, leaving residues on everything it came into contact with. Around the 1930s, thinner and easier-to-use alternatives began to appear. Since then, there have been many variations and popularity has gone up and down along with the beard fashion.

Natural ingredients

We have chosen to work with natural ingredients for several reasons. One of the most obvious is that it works. Nature offers a wide variety of ingredients that do a lot of good for both skin and hair. Another reason is that the products we use will eventually be flushed down the drain. Even if we treat our wastewater, there is always a risk that something will go into the environment. That's why we think one step further when we develop our products. We want them to be caring, styling, and gentle enough for nature to break them down easily. It's not always easy to come up with recipes that meet our standards, but we think it's worth the effort. Our beard oil includes apricot kernel oil, almond oil, argan oil, jojoba oil, and rosehip seed oil.

Apricot kernel oil

Apricot kernel oil is extracted from the innermost pit of the apricot and has a mild scent reminiscent of almond paste. It is a nutritious oil that soothes irritation and is rich in omega 6 and 9, making it both moisturising and emollient.

Almond oil

An oil extracted from sweet and bitter almonds. It is mild, rich in vitamin E and contains several beneficial fatty acids. It helps the skin regain its elasticity and protects against external factors such as wind and cold.

Argan oil

Argan oil is extracted from the seeds of the argan tree. It is rich in vitamin E, antioxidants, and essential fatty acids. It is a versatile oil with many beneficial properties. It moisturises dry skin, prevents the overproduction of sebum and soothes irritated skin.

Jojoba oil

Jojoba oil is, despite its name, not an oil but a combination of waxes in liquid form extracted from the seeds of the jojoba tree. It is similar to the fat produced by the skin itself and goes into the outer layers of the skin where it helps to soften it. Read more about jojoba oil here.

Rosehip seed oil

Comes from the seeds of the rosehip bush. It is an oil rich in vitamins A and C that stimulates the production of collagen in the skin and has an anti-inflammatory effect. Also combats dandruff and stimulates hair growth.

Natural vitamin E

Vitamin E is used to extend the shelf life of fat-soluble substances by preventing fats and oils from oxidising. It also stimulates the absorption of oxygen which in turn stimulates the skin's blood circulation and, among other things, speeds up wound healing.

A natural blend

This is not an exhaustive list of all the ingredients in our beard oil. But it gives an indication of how many good qualities you can find in nature. Good for you, easy for nature to break down and quite frankly awesome.

Mr Bear Family Beard Brew

We developed our beard oil in early 2013. It was the second product Mr Bear Family launched after the moustache wax, and initially only came in the Citrus scent. In the same year, we also launched Beard Balm, a beard wax that shares many properties with the beard oil. The scents Woodland and Wilderness also saw the light of day in 2013.

Citrus

The first fragrance launched by Mr Bear Family. A classic, fresh, and simple scent that is appreciated by many. It contains nuances of lemon, bergamot, lemongrass, rosewood, and grapefruit.

Woodland

The second fragrance launched shortly after the first beard oil. Woodland is a slightly heavier scent and can almost be seen as the antithesis of Citrus. It contains nuances of cedar, sandalwood, pine, amyris and rosewood.

Wilderness

The third fragrance, Wilderness, actually started as a limited-edition fragrance. But it became so popular that it had to stay permanently and now we find it hard to see our beard range without it. It's inspired by summer meadows and smells of rosemary, lavender and wood, among other things.