Beards are in. And beard oil and balm are in, too! But beware of the ones with coconut oil!

Coconuts are delicious and versatile, but some users have reported allergic reactions to coconuts that can range from mild rashes to full-blown anaphylactic shock. Do your research before you try on any new products that contain coconut oil — and if you tend to be sensitive to this type of thing, be extra careful when using a beard product containing coconut oil.

Why is Coconut Oil Bad for Beards?

There are a few reasons why coconut oil is not the best choice for your beard. First and foremost, it’s comedogenic, meaning that it is just too thick to use on the face. Comedogenicity refers to how likely a substance is to clog pores and cause acne or other skin problems. Coconut oil has been shown in studies to be highly comedogenic—meaning it can contribute to breakouts if you use it on your face or body, especially if you suffer from acne-prone skin.

Second, coconut oil isn’t very effective as a moisturizer for beards because its molecular structure makes it difficult for this type of oil to penetrate the deeper layers of the skin where moisture retention occurs. If you've ever tried using pure coconut oil on your face after shaving (and who hasn't?), then you know that just rubbing it into your beard doesn't do much good at all!

Jojoba Oil

If you are looking for an alternative to coconut oil, argan oil and jojoba oil are a good choice. Jojoba oil is a liquid wax comes from the seeds of a tree that grows in the southwest United States, Mexico and South America. It's not an oil; it's actually more like butter! Jojoba is non-toxic to your beard, it isn't comedogenic (so it won't clog your pores) and it doesn't dry out your skin or beard—making this one of our favorite carrier oils to feed a beard.

Jojoba oil is light and non-greasy, which makes it the perfect base to use in a beard oil or balm. In addition to helping moisturize your beard, jojoba has some other amazing benefits. It's rich in vitamins A, D and E as well as Omega 6 fatty acids. Jojoba is also naturally anti-bacterial, so it helps keep bacteria away from your face.

Argan oil

Argan oil is another good carrier oil for beard oil, beard balm and beard butter.

Argan is not just used in the manufacturing industry—it can also be incorporated into cosmetics like face wash and moisturizer to give your skin an extra boost of hydration. Argan oil is rich in vitamin E, which nourishes and protects your skin. It can help prevent acne breakouts by keeping pores clear of dirt, dust and other impurities that clog them up.

Conclusion

We’ve seen a lot of different beard care products out there, and we know that it can be overwhelming. But we hope that by reading this post you are now more informed about how to choose the best one for your beard. The takeaway here is that you should always look at the ingredients before buying a product—even if it seems like something as simple as coconut oil should work well in all of them!