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If your grandma has a few choice words at the sight of a freshly grown-out beard, or worse, insists you shave it off, it’s probably because you haven’t been introduced to the joys of a beard balm yet. Made with a heap of nourishing butters and moisturizers, beard balms are meant to groom, provide lightweight control, and soften rough stubble. When you find *the one*, your facial hair will look less like Tom Hanks in Cast Away, and more like Bradley Cooper on the red carpet.
Although anyone with a beard can use beard balm, it’s preferred by guys with medium to long beards that need some help in the taming department. Men with shorter stubble may prefer beard oil, which won’t feel as heavy when it comes in direct contact with the skin. And if you need some extra hydration on the hard-to-reach skin underneath, just make sure the beard balm you choose is noncomedogenic (won’t clog pores), or you’ll wind up with more acne than you want as an adult man.
You’ve seen them at Target, and you’ve likely been gifted one in the past, but if you’ve never really given beard balms a second thought, that’s about to change. Here are seven of the best on the market.
SKINCARE
The 7 Best Beard Balms
Scotch Porter Conditioning Beard Balm for Men
Best for Dry, Damaged Beards
More like a leave-in beard conditioner than a fancy beard accouterment, Scotch and Porter’s moisturizing beard balm hydrates, conditions with shea butter, and tames your scruff, no matter how dry or frizzy it’s been looking. It’s made with vegan, natural ingredients (if you care about that kind of thing), and it won’t leave your fuzz feeling tacky, sticky, or greasy. It’s a great intro to the world of beard care if you’ve yet to add daily grooming to your list.
Burt's Bees Conditioning Beard Balm with Aloe & Hemp
Best for Hydrating
Burt’s Bees lip balm is superior, so it makes sense that its beard balm is up there on our list, too. It contains nutrient-rich natural ingredients like beeswax to add shine while keeping your skin hydrated. A little goes a long way—just rub a small amount into your hands to warm it up and then apply evenly through your beard. The slight woodsy smell adds a nice touch, too.
The Art Of Shaving Beard Balm Conditioner
Best for Shorter Beards
If you can’t stand growing your beard, you can still use a beard balm to help soften scratchy, uncomfortable stubble. This one is made with conditioning ingredients and glycerin (a humectant, which draws moisture in) to hydrate skin and hair without any greasy feeling.
Honest Amish Balm Leave-in Conditioner
Best for Itchy Skin
You won’t find a list of the best beard balms that doesn’t highlight this go-to balm. Handcrafted in the U.S., its nourishing ingredients soften coarse and unruly beard hairs while eliminating itch and beard dandruff. It even claims to help with strong and full beard growth, thanks to its naturally strengthening ingredients.
King C. Gillette Soft Beard Balm
Most Versatile
Use this beard balm as a leave-in treatment to tame hairs with a mind of their own, or as a deep conditioning wash-off mask when you need extra softening power. It’s made with cocoa butter rather than wax, so it’s much easier to apply. Apply it to a damp beard, or bring it into the shower to use as a mask.
Bulldog Men’s Skincare and Grooming Original Beard Balm
Best Everyday
Need some help with beard products, but don’t know what, exactly, you need? Look to this do-it-all beard balm. Whether your stubble is coarse or straggly, dry or itchy, it’ll moisturize, condition, tame, and soften in one fell swoop.
Every Man Jack Beard Balm
Best for Strengthening
Whether your face mane is long or short, it’s prone to breakage if not nourished properly. This beard balm is the defense mechanism you need. Made with vitamin E to strengthen and jojoba oil to moisturize and protect, it’ll make your beard look good immediately and for the long haul. Plus, its gluten-free, non-irritating formula won’t make your skin angry—use it as much as you want.
