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The best beard care products for 2023

How to present your best groomed chin to the world

The Manual Graphic / Getty Images

A man’s beard practically has a life of its own, landing, as it does, front and center on his face, speaking just as much about his choices than any haircut, pair of glasses, or wardrobe ever could. If you're new to growing a beard, you've doubtless realized that this conscious style choice requires care and attention to detail.

That’s all the more reason the right products make all the difference. Beard care requires fastidious devotion;, shaped and trimmed to meet the desired effect (even if that effect is wild and wooly), and proper cleaning and conditioning for a healthy, comfortable, and great-looking facial display. Here are the products that we feel offer some of the best attributes for the category, from beard oils to beard conditioners.

Olivina Men Organic Shave Prep & Beard Oil
Olivina Men Organic Shave Prep & Beard Oil
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Village Barber Beard Growth Oil
Village Barber Beard Growth Oil
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Bevel Beard Balm
Bevel Beard Balm
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Biography Few Words Shave Drops
Biography Few Words Shave Drops
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Scotch Porter Beard Hair Conditioner Spray
Scotch Porter Beard Hair Conditioner Spray
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Frederick Benjamin Beard Creme
Frederick Benjamin Beard Creme
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Murdock London Beard Moisturizer
Murdock London Beard Moisturizer
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Best overall beard product for men.
Olivina

Olivina Men Organic Shave Prep & Beard Oil

“Two-fer” products (conditioning shampoo or body wash and moisturizer in one) always help save crowded bathroom space and they’re great for travel. We gave extra points to Olivina for this Shave Prep & Beard Oil because if you have some facial hair but still shave, or alternate between a clean-shaven and a bearded look, this product is perfect. The soothing cedar and bergamot fragrance is just part of the product’s blend of organic oils.

Olivina Men Organic Shave Prep & Beard Oil
Olivina Men Organic Shave Prep & Beard Oil
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Village Barber Beard Growth Oil

This special blend of natural ingredients is designed to help guys who are starting their beards by conditioning, nourishing, and hydrating both the skin and the beard hairs. In general, we like Village Barber’s beard oils because they have a light consistency that’s easy to work through your beard without feeling like it’s all getting stuck on your hands or in patches of the hair. Bonus points for the Village Barber's clean, bracing scent — a refreshing way to start the day.

Village Barber Beard Growth Oil
Village Barber Beard Growth Oil
Bevel Beard Balm
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Bevel Beard Balm

This balm helps keep a beard under control while adding moisture and a bit of sheen, all without clogging pores. It’s a clean blend of shea butter and coconut oil that is fragrance-free, with a buttery consistency that warms up easily in the hand for easy topical application. When in a hurry, this was our go-to product to smooth on after a hot shower, to keep any beard soft and smooth all day.

Bevel Beard Balm
Bevel Beard Balm
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Biography Few Words Shave Drops

Biography is a complete collection of skincare oils with, admittedly, more of a focus on women’s skincare. Don’t let that scare you off, though: Its Few Words Shave Drops is serious about men’s skin. We like this product because it’s great as a pre-shave oil, but also an excellent conditioning oil for facial hair; perfect if you keep your face trim, but maintain a mustache, or trimmed beard. Natural ingredients like radish, borage, and pumpkin seed oils help smooth each shave, soften the skin and beard, treat irritation and acne, and fight free radical damage. The woody, spicy, and lemongrass fragrance is also light and not overwhelming.

Biography Few Words Shave Drops
Biography Few Words Shave Drops
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Scotch Porter Beard Hair Conditioner Spray

Scotch & Porter’s spray packs a one-two punch. It's light enough to soften your beard without irritation, but will also keep your hair feeling fresh and light. The product is perfect for when you skip washing either your hair or beard and is also a great refresher if you’re switching gears at some point in the day. It includes natural hydrating oils like argan, marula, avocado, coconut, and kukui.

Scotch Porter Beard Hair Conditioner Spray
Scotch Porter Beard Hair Conditioner Spray
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Frederick Benjamin Beard Creme

The minute a beard starts to get dry and itchy is when we’re most likely to reach for the trimmer and slice away that crop of facial hair that took so much patience to grow. Stop right there! Grab a tube of Frederick Benjamin’s Beard Crème and give beard love a second chance. Even applied to a dry beard, the conditioner gets right to work, feeling immediately softer and smoother. You’ll feel a difference almost instantly. Work this into your regular routine, spreading it through the hair and up to the skin beneath, for long-term great looks and comfort.

Frederick Benjamin Beard Creme
Frederick Benjamin Beard Creme
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Murdock London Beard Moisturizer

We expect spit-spot beard care from any British barber, but Murdock London offers a range of products that truly brings the Empire right into your bathroom. Besides the elegant navy blue packaging that gets us every time, the product on the inside is consistently excellent. We’re particularly taken with this Beard Moisturizer that softens up both hair and skin with a powdery, refreshing fragrance that leaves us feeling fresh as a Covent Garden daisy.

Murdock London Beard Moisturizer
Murdock London Beard Moisturizer

That should keep beard-wearers and the beard ambitious busy for now. Keep an eye on The Manual, though, for updates on how to care for your mane. Remember, a beard is the standard that you present to the world each day. Keep it fresh or suffer the consequences of looking like a slob.

John Jones

John Jones is a Jersey City, New Jersey-based writer who enjoys covering design in all its forms, from fashion to architecture, interiors, and textiles, and has recently begun to delve into the world of social justice issues. When he's not writing for The Manual, he's also the Digital and Fashion Editor for a leading menswear trade publication. Although he spends most of his time planted in front of a laptop, he gets to the gym and bicycles as often as possible. On weekends and holidays, if you don't find him at the Met, Cooper Hewitt, or Whitney museums in Manhattan, he's probably soaking up the sun at one of Jersey's fabulous beaches, or in St. Augustine, Florida.

Send all editorial inquiries HERE.

Beau Hayhoe

Beau Hayhoe is a freelance men's style writer, consultant and PR pro based in Brooklyn. Beau's menswear and gear writing has appeared on a number of prominent men's style and lifestyle sites, including GearMoose, Maxim, InsideHook and more. He also covers music for The Line of Best Fit. Outside of working hours, Beau enjoys all things craft beer and has a passion for live concerts. Find him on Instagram (@BeauHayhoe) and follow him on Twitter (@BoKnowsClothes).

Send all editorial inquiries HERE.

The 15 best beard oils reviewed for the modern man
Man putting product on his face and beard.

Growing a beard is an automated process. Your body does it for you. And, if you're blessed with highly hirsute genes, your beard might even grow out thick and lush in the exact shape to frame your face. But that's not the case for most men, who see their beards grow out patchy and unruly. To tame and manicure that face monster properly, you're going to need to put in some grooming time. One of the most basic elements in a man's grooming arsenal? Beard oil.

Beard oil keeps your whiskers soft, staving off unwelcome itchiness and smoothing the hair into a presentable condition. No matter the season, we suggest you eschew the big, bushy beard in favor of a neat, trim version. Beard oil can help keep your beard looking its best. You don’t want just any product, though — you want to invest in quality. Behold, the best beard oils reviewed for the modern man.
Best Beard Oil
Kiehl’s Nourishing Beard Grooming Oil

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Dr. Tusk, The Art of Shaving, Cremo, and more: Here are some of the best aftershave balms for men
Don't get burned! Get better with these soothing and healing aftershave balms
Bald man shaving face over sink

Like any of life's pursuits, looking our best means keeping the right tools handy. If keeping your face clean-shaven is your ideal, you'll need more than just the best razor to get an efficient shave. Your shaving regimen isn't really complete without using one of the best aftershave balms, a critical step in keeping your skin fresh, hydrated, and in the best shape possible following a close shave. Which one is best for you? Here are a few things to think about before you start shopping for your next aftershave balm.

Shaving can overly irritate the skin, especially if you’re not careful or properly equipped. (Black men in particular can benefit from using one of these moisturizing balms — rather than a drying, alcohol-based, classic aftershave — as part of keeping skin in great shape and fighting ingrown hairs.) Use one of the aftershave balms we recommend below to deliver comfort and relief. These aftershave balms are designed to target problem areas and cool down the skin while hydrating, moisturizing, and protecting your skin, fighting the wear and tear of climate and aging. Change the way you shave by adding one of the best aftershave balms to your essential grooming products, then thank us later.

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The best razors for sensitive skin: Our top picks
Use one of these great razors for smooth skin
Supply co. safety razor

Having a close shave is something that a lot of men want. The ritual of shaving can almost be meditative and a good way to start a morning routine for some needed self-care love. It is a sublime process, yet can be a challenge for certain men. If your skin is on the sensitive side then you know first-hand how shaving can present quite the challenge. With sensitive skin come issues such as irritation, razor bumps, and ingrown hairs that can not only be painful but also embarrassing.

But preventing ingrown hairs is only half the equation. You have to be equipped with a full arsenal of the right products to achieve a smooth shave without irritation. And arguably one of the most important factors will be your razor. The best razors for sensitive skin all have one thing in common: They are specifically designed and engineered with your skin in mind.

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