Beards Base

Is Baby Oil or Mineral Oil Good for a Beard?

Is Baby Oil or Mineral Oil Good for a Beard?

Beard oil plays a crucial role in grooming hair. For instance, it nourishes and moisturizes both the beard and skin underneath for healthy growth of facial hair. Beard oil also helps to improve the maintenance of hair while at the same time keeping it clean. But, will baby oil for beard helps it grow?

Note that, mineral oil and baby oil would be used interchangeably as they are the same product.

However, some people often consider other alternatives like baby oil to substitute beard oil and some are effective while others are not that good. Therefore, the question is: “Will oil help a beard?” If you are interested in getting answers to this question, read on.

The importance of knowing what you put into and on your body cannot be overstated. The same can be said for the beard products bearded men use. Some of us are very particular about our grooming products and spend days gazing at the stars (like there are answers there) trying to pick the right products for our beard. Let’s talk about mineral oil for beard.

There are good ones, not so good ones and the nasty ones. Today, we’ll try to find out where mineral oil falls in that category. So let’s jump right in and find out if mineral oil is good for the beard.

Note that, mineral oil and baby oil would be used interchangeably as they are the same product.

What Are Mineral Oils?

As most of you already know, Mineral oil is a petroleum-based product. It is often a liquid by-product of refined crude oil. It is also called paraffin, petroleum jelly, baby oil, etc. Baby oil is perfumed mineral oil. 

This product has been around for quite some time now and has been a staple of the cosmetic industry. It is found as an ingredient for several products due to its lubricating and water retention properties. 

So, what has made mineral oil quite popular, especially for beard groomers and beard product manufacturers? There are several reasons for that.

  • As previously mentioned is its lubricating and water-retention property. This makes baby oil for beard quite attractive to those with dry skin.
  • It has a non-comedogenic property, which makes it a great skincare product for people battling acne. 
  • Probably the most important is that it is damn cheap, especially when compared to beard oils for bearded men. While an ounce of beard oil could set you back around $20, a nice bottle of baby oil of the same quantity could cost less than $5.

 

You Can Use Baby Oil on Beard

Indeed, you can use baby oil for beard and there are certain benefits that you can achieve from using it. However, the most important thing that you should know is that there are mainly three categories of oil and they can be good substitutes for premade beard oil.

Johnson’s baby oil is the most common and it is petroleum or mineral-based. The other type of oil contains jojoba or sunflower oil as their major ingredients and this type is free from lanolin or mineral oils. Other types of baby oil have both plant and mineral oil inside the bottle. 

Therefore, the type of baby oil for the beard that you use determines its effectiveness.  For instance, plant-based oil is recommended compared to petroleum or mineral-based oil. Petroleum oil consists of other components that might not be good for your beard and skin as you shall see below.  

The following are some of the factors that can help you to choose the right oil that you can use on your beard. 

Pros of Baby Oil

Mineral oils are greasy and they can clog the pores and this is a major factor that you should consider before choosing baby oil that you can apply on your beard. Clogged pores can lead to poor growth of your beard.  They also prevent the oil from penetrating deep into the skin as well as beard fibers. 

Petroleum oil can also not oxidize since it is completely free of impurities and allergens. On the other hand, coconut or jojoba based oils can penetrate the beard hair fibers and deep into the skin without clogging your pores. For such reason, you can use oil as a close substitute for beard oil. 

Baby Oil Helps Improve Appearance

On top of that, baby oil with natural ingredients just makes your beard look good. The essence of growing a beard is to improve your appearance and you can achieve this by using the right product. Baby oil can help to keep your beard soft without clogging the pores. When you apply the right oil on your beard, it will look great and oil for beard can help you achieve this.  

Other greasy products can clog the pores and this affects the growth of the hair. To achieve full growth of your beard, the pores should be open to enhance the free circulation of air which is vital. Clogged pores can also cause irritation on your skin since it is deprived of air and the free circulation of blood. 

Baby Oil Helps Improve Appearance

Baby Oil is Cheaper

The other reason why you can consider oil is that it is relatively cheaper. On average, beard oil costs about $20 per 1 oz whereas a larger bottle of high-quality lanolin-free baby oil or mineral oil costs about $7. If you can get the same results from using baby oil just like beard oil, then you can consider it to save money.

In some instances, if you feel that your budget is weak to buy quality beard oil, then you can consider buying baby oil. You can use baby oil over a long period and can still enjoy the same benefits that you can get from using beard oil.  

Baby Oil has Good Scent

On top of other pros of oil, it can be observed that this product has a very good scent which helps you feel comfortable and confident when you are in public. The sweet scent from baby oil can make people turn their heads and this is what men look for in growing a beard. 

Health beards help to improve the status of men in society. This can also be complemented by a good smell that comes from your beard. Thus, when you use oil with a good scent, you might not need to buy additional products to improve the scent of your hair. 

Cons of Mineral Oil

Mineral oil can also be problematic if you inhale it hence the need to consider baby oils with natural ingredients. Baby oil, with natural ingredients like coconut and jojoba oil, is good for use on your beard. If you use petroleum oil on your beard, it is high time you consider baby oil consisting of natural ingredients. 

Just like other beard products, natural ingredients are ideal for different types of skin.  Whether your skin is sensitive or not, oils with natural ingredients are ideal since they do not cause any side effects. The products with natural ingredients have a soothing effect on your skin unlike other products with chemicals that can cause skin irritation. 

Baby Oil has Good Scent

The moment you apply oil with natural ingredients on your skin, it offers you instant relief from an itchy beard. The oil applies moisture to the skin while at the same time softening spiky beard. When your beard is dry, it may not reach its fullest potential.   

Is Baby Oil Good for Your Face and Beard?

Despite all the seemingly good reasons stated above, does that make mineral oil good for the beard? Probably not, but it is debatable. Some have sworn by this product claiming it makes the beard softer and healthier and enhances growth. However, several facts prove otherwise. 

Let’s get this out of the way first. Baby oil for beard isn’t a natural product, and we’ve argued several times against using synthetic products as much as possible in your beard care products. 

One of the things that make mineral oil quite popular amongst beard men is its ability to retain water. It acts as a protective layer against moisture loss by forming a thin oily layer on the pores.

However, this is not optimal for beard care as not only does it prevent moisture loss, it also prevents the absorption of nutrients from beard products such as beard oils, carrier oils, and balms. It also doesn’t allow for the secretion of sebum as the pores are already clogged.

Is Baby Oil Good for Your Face and Beard?

Are there Side Effects of Mineral Oil for Beard?

Sadly there are problems usually attached to using mineral oil on your beard. They include:

  • Clogging of pores as it coats the skin with a thin layer of oil that acts as a barrier against moisture loss and microorganism growth
  • Prevents pores from breathing and skin from releasing sebum 
  • Decreases the effectiveness of other beard products because your skin cannot absorb them due to clogged pores
  • Doesn’t moisturize your skin – it just sits on the surface making it appear healthier
  • Could cause beardruff as a result of lack of nutrients to the beard
  • Breakage of hair
  • Interferes with the creation of natural oils
  • Mineral oils that are not fully refined could be carcinogenic
  • Zero benefits on the skin.

PS: Refined mineral oils are harmless and are usually used to make cosmetics. However, not all mineral oils sold are fully refined. Using these could be detrimental to the skin and likely carcinogenic.

Are Mineral Oils Substitute for Beard Oils?

Yeah, we know beard oils are expensive but that’s to be expected when getting quality. Mineral oils are cheap and found in a whole lot of grooming products. Many manufacturers are only concerned about making money and not bothered about the harmful effects some products could have on consumers.

Quality beard oil is made from all-natural ingredients. This is not the same for mineral oils. It is always advisable to use natural products for your skin and beard. Like mineral oil, beard oil is non-comedogenic. So fear not doubting Thomas, you won’t get acne from using beard oils.

Probably the most important benefit beard oil has is that it can be used on beards of any volume, be it a stubble or thick beard. It provides relief when it comes to itching, leaving your beards clean and healthy. 

Beard oil also moisturizes your beard when applied regularly. Baby oil, on the other hand, only makes it look like your beard is being moisturized when it’s not.

If you’re seeking alternatives for the more expensive beard oil, you should go for beard balms or more organic oils like Jojoba, Argan, etc.

You shouldn’t substitute a quality beard oil for mineral oil for beard.

Are Mineral Oils Substitute for Beard Oils?

Final Verdict

It’s not all doom and gloom when it comes to mineral oil. It can be used when in dire need and you can’t afford a beard oil at the moment, or you happen to run out of beard products in your shelf. It should be used sparingly and not for an extended period.

While many men would go on using baby oil for their beard (you can’t change everyone’s mind), it is still worth mentioning that beard oil is way more effective in giving a healthier-looking beard. Why? Because it was designed to take care of your beard so definitely it would yield a better result.

Do not fall for beard oils containing mineral oils because they are cheap. It won’t help you. If you can’t afford a beard oil, save up or go for the more affordable, natural alternatives and you would be just fine. Read the label of any beard product you purchase as many popular beard products contain mineral oil, which we strongly recommend you avoid.

That’s it from this end. We do hope we have been able to inform you about mineral oils and why you should avoid them in the future. Do not forget to drop any questions you might have in the comment section.

Till next readers, Ciao!