by Philip |
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Have you ever experienced playing host to beard acne? I’ve never had “beardruff”, but my brother and I both used to suffer from beard acne. Pretty bad too, to the point that itching my beard in the shower became a favorite pastime. Sure, we’ve also experienced the occasional dryness or inflammation, but beard acne… that’s my kryptonite, and I’m highly prone.
I tried the many different brands that were available online. Even the “homemade”-labeled brews kept irritating my skin, leaving it red and blotchy or itchy. My face would just look greasy and oily against the sun.
So that’s why a while back Claus and I began our little venture into researching and experimenting with different ingredients. Our goal – to make a beard oil that would really work. We set up a little lab in the corner of our living room and got to work.
DIY Beard Oil Recipe
Finally! Now you get to meet our highly effective anti-acne concoction: The Beard-Acne Killer.
Ingredients
- Carrier Oils: Sweet almond, Hazelnut
- Essential Oils: Tea tree oil, cedarwood, peppermint
Directions
- Grab a clean glass bottle with a dropper. (Glass is preferable as it does not react with liquids or oils.)
- Next, add in the carrier oils – sweet almond and hazelnut – in equal amounts.
- Add in the essential oils – tea tree, cedarwood, peppermint – in this order. For the essential oils, experiment with the amount you will put in. Different ratios will affect how effective your concoction would be to your acne and how the finished product will smell.
- Close tightly and wipe off any excess.
- Give it a few swirls to mix the oils. Label properly by adding in the date and ratios used.
How to apply
- On clean hands, drop 3 to 5 drops of your mix. If your beard is longer, add a drop or two more. Don’t overdo it as a smidgen goes a long way.
- Rub your hands together to warm the oil and apply to your beard. With your fingertips, massage until it gets to your skin.
- Use your beard comb to smoothen your beard.
For best results, apply beard oil to clean beards, preferably freshly washed and dried. If your beard is dirty, you’ll just be matting and bonding the dirt more closely to your face.
A word on experimenting: Give it time. Don’t switch up and mess with the amounts or add/subtract new oils after only a few days, simply because you didn’t get the magical results you expected in a few days. It will take some time to see results. But the wait will be worth it.
Why You Need Beard Oil
If you’ve gotten this far into the article, it’s fair to assume you have beard acne, right? Well then, you should already know that beards are ideal traps for bacteria, and that’s just from having one. Add food to the equation, and your beard is just setting up a welcome mat for acne.
But even if you eat with exaggerated care, you’re still going to accumulate dirt and oil during the day from all kinds of sources.
This is where beard oil comes in. Beard oil not only aids in regulating the oil produced by your skin under your beard, but it adds an additional layer of protection from bacteria. This means that you’re less likely to experience acne due to sebum blockage and infections.
(On a side note, here’s an additional tip: Don’t wash your beard with the same shampoo you use for your hair. It’s probably got added chemicals. And even if it doesn’t, your facial skin has different properties from your head. Your shampoo will most likely irritate your face, making any acne worse.)
Did I mention the added benefit of the scent acting as a natural cologne? My girl loves the musky scent. She says it complements my actual cologne!
But know that not all beard oils are created equally. From numerous options for carrier (base) oils to over 100 different essential oils to choose from, it takes a lot of experimentation to come up with a recipe that actually works.
How it Works
We talked about how ratios are very important when mixing your beard oil. Have a better understanding of the properties of each oil from below:
Sweet almond has anti-inflammatory properties, which means that it will reduce the risk of ingrown hairs. Ingrown hairs are particularly damaging to your skin and follicles.
In contrast, hazelnut prevents acne, but it’s said to aid in eczema prevention as well.
Tea tree oil is the main reason this concoction is so effective against acne. Tea tree oil is a powerful antibacterial and antifungal agent that can even reduce inflammation. It’s so potent, in fact, that it’s toxic on its own. Mixing it with the carrier oils dilutes it to be suitable for application on your face.
Cedarwood also helps regulate oil and sebum production, and is excellent for treating acne and inflammation. It’s not as potent as tea tree oil, but mixing it makes for a meaner brew.
Peppermint also has similar properties, but to a weaker extent. Where it really shines is in its cooling sensation and scent. And research has evidenced that it may actually contribute to thicker hair growth!
These oils make for the perfect ingredients for a beardruff solution.
Author: Philip Andrew
A writer and teacher who enjoys lazing around and building winter nests out of duvets. “Most are too itchy. You’ve got to be picky.” His goal is to create a complete home spa for 24/7 access to rest and relaxation. Next on the agenda: a barrel sauna for the garden. Connect with Philip on Twitter @completehomespa.