Look, beard oil is expensive. With some beard oils costing upwards of $30 per bottle, it’s no wonder that some guys are hesitant to invest in this essential grooming product.
But the truth is, you don’t have to spend a lot of money to get a good quality beard oil. In fact, there are plenty of cheap beard oils out there that work just as well (if not better) than their more expensive counterparts.
To help you save some money, we’ve put together a list of some might fine and effective beard oils that won’t break the bank. No one will believe you when you tell them how much you paid for your beard oil.
Cheap Beard Oils Compared
Ranking | Beard Oil | Size (ounces) | All Natural | Country of Origin | Bottle Type | Fragrance | Price | Price per Ounce | Award | Rating |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Honest Amish Beard Oil | 2.0 | Yes | USA | Dropper | Warm and inviting scent | $12 | $6.00 | Best Value | 97 |
2 | Mountaineer Brand Beard Oil | 2.0 | Yes | USA | Restrictor valve | Woodsy | $11 | $5.50 | Classic Scent | 95 |
3 | Ranger Beard Oil | 1.0 | Yes | USA | Dropper | None | $11 | $11.00 | Unscented | 93 |
4 | Bulldog Original Beard Oil | 1.0 | Yes | UK | Restrictor valve | Refreshing and light | $8 | $8.00 | For Dry Skin | 91 |
5 | Jojoba Oil | 4.0 | Yes | USA | Dropper | Subtle nutty smell | $10 | $2.50 | Rich Conditioning | 85 |
6 | Grapeseed Oil | 16.0 | Yrs | Chile | Pump | Light and fresh scent | $12 | $0.75 | For Oily Skin | 82 |
Best Affordable Beard Oils of 2023
Here’s our reviews and ratings of some cheap (but good) beard oils:
Honest Amish Beard Oil
What we Think:
Want a good beard oil at an affordable price? Look no further than Honest Amish. This brand uses only the finest ingredients to craft their products, so you can trust that their beard oil will take care of your facial hair.
Scent: Warm and inviting scent.
Price per Ounce: $6.11
Pros
Well-crafted
Affordable
Uses eight carrier oils and seven essential oils
Cons
Scent isn’t for everyone
One of the longest-standing beard care companies is Pennslyvania-based Honest Amish. Founded in 2011, Honest Amish prides itself in making well-crafted beard oil at an affordable price. At $6.11 per ounce, it is one of the best inexpensive beard oils currently available.
What makes this beard oil special compared to many others is that it doesn’t sacrifice quality for the price.
Honest Amish uses eight carrier oils and seven essential oils to condition and nourish the skin and facial hair follicle. When applied, you will get notes of both cloves and licorice, which are warm and inviting.
The Honest Amish beard oil truly is a steal when compared to the pricy brands on the market.
It’s a premium oil that is affordably priced – what more could you want?
What customers are saying: Customers have mixed opinions on this beard oil – while some love how soft it makes their beards and enjoy the scent, others find the smell to be terrible and don’t notice a lasting moisturizing effect.
Mountaineer Brand Beard Oil
What we Think:
The Mountaineer Brand WV Timber beard oil is a good, affordable option for men with oily or combination skin types. Itchy skin beneath your facial hair will be quickly taken care of after a few applications. However, the restrictor valve top applicator may be a bit messy.
Scent: Woodsy.
Price per Ounce: $7.00
Pros
Affordable
Good for men with oily or combination skin types
Quickly takes care of itchy skin
Cons
Messy applicator
The Mountaineer Brand (West Virginia) is another beard care company that makes tried-and-true products that are affordable. The flagship WV Timber beard oil provides a nice and classic woodsy aroma that relies on a blend of cedarwood, fir needle, and eucalyptus oils.
Containing several non-comedogenic carrier oils, including grapeseed oil, sweet almond oil, and castor seed oil, this beard oil is a good choice for men with oily or combination skin types. You can expect any itchy skin beneath your facial hair to be quickly taken care of after a few applications.
With an MSRP of $13.99, WV Timber beard oil only costs $7.00 per ounce, making it a competitively priced offering.
One downside to this beard oil compared to others reviewed is the applicator. With a restrictor valve top, the application may be a bit messy, especially when compared to a dropper applicator.
What customers are saying:Â Some customers enjoy the scent of the beard oil, finding it effective at conditioning their beard with just a few drops every day. However, some find the scent to be overpoweringly awful and not long-lasting.
Ranger Beard Oil
What we Think:
If you’re looking for an unscented beard oil that won’t break the bank, Ranger is a top choice among budget-minded beardsmen.
Scent: Unscented.
Price per Ounce: $13.97
Pros
Reasonably priced
Contains only two organic oils
Well-conditioned facial hair and skin
Cons
If you want fragrance, you’re gonna have to add it yourself.
There is a time and place for smelling manly…
But there are also plenty of times and places where it’s equally important not to have an overpowering scent applied. And this is where the beard oil offered up by Ranger works well. With a sub $15 price tag, this unscented beard oil is perfect if you don’t like a lingering smell throughout the day.
This beard oil by Ranger contains only two organic oils: jojoba and argan oil.
You can expect your facial hair and skin underneath to be well-conditioned with regular application.
Ranger, formerly known as Leven Rose, has been around for years and is a trusted brand for budget-minded beardsmen. They were founded in 2013 and are located in Colorado.
What customers are saying: Customers appreciate that this beard oil is scent-free and lasts all day, keeping beards moisturized without being oily. Some have reported some scent or stiffness issues, but overall it’s a great choice for a simple, effective beard oil.
Bulldog Original Beard Oil
What we Think:
If you’re looking for an affordable, quality beard oil that will deep condition your facial hair and give you a soft, healthy-looking appearance, look no further than Bulldog’s Original Beard Oil. Made by a reputable company, this beard oil is worth picking up if you can find it at your local drugstore.
Scent: Refreshing and light.
Price per Ounce: $7.99
Pros
Quality ingredients
Affordable price
Deep conditioning
Coats facial hair to provide a soft, healthy-looking appearance
Cons
May cause acne if applied to oily skin
Relatively high comedogenic ratings for some of the carrier oils used
We are a fan of Bulldog Skincare simply because they make quality men’s grooming products priced affordably. While we recently reviewed Bulldog’s face care products, we wanted to share with you their Original Beard Oil.
Relying on a natural blend of ingredients, this subtly scented yet deep conditioning beard oil will coat your facial hair to provide a soft and healthy-looking appearance.
With borage oil and coconut oil as one of the many base carrier oils, consider this beard oil only if you have dry skin. Applying to oily skin may cause acne as these carrier oils have relatively high comedogenic ratings.
Made by Edgewell, the brand behind Schick, Wilkinson Sword, Jack Black, and many more, you should be able to find this beard oil at your local drugstore if you want to pick it up today.
What customers are saying: Customers are loving the fragrance and effectiveness of this beard oil, which could last for months. Some even use it for their legs as well. However, one customer felt it does not shine as much as desired.
Jojoba Oil
What we Think:
Jojoba oil does all the major conditioning work you could want from a carrier oil, and it’s gentle enough for those with sensitive skin. Additionally, the light scent will pair well with cologne.
Scent: Subtle nutty smell.
Price per Ounce: $2.50
Pros
Light, nutty scent
Great for sensitive skin
Cons
No real proprietary blend
Its just a general use carrier oil
Jojoba oil is a carrier oil commonly found in many men’s grooming products, including shaving cream, face lotions, and of course, beard oils. This versatile oil is a rich and nourishing conditioner that will quickly resolve any beard itch, redness, and beard dandruff.
With a very light and somewhat nutty scent, jojoba oil is a top consideration for men with sensitive skin and those that prefer unscented grooming products. With that being said, men who wear cologne regularly may want to consider this carrier oil as the fragrance won’t clash.
Jojoba oil is widely available and affordably priced. For example, a 4oz bottle of organic jojoba oil will typically cost $10, putting it at a rock-bottom price of $2.50 per ounce.
What customers are saying:Â Customers are happy with the quality of Jojoba oil which is non-oily, non-greasy, and quickly soaks into the skin, making it soft, healthy, and glowing. It is also a great carrier oil to make perfume and can be used to combat hair loss and dry scalp. However, some customers observed nasty slime balls formation at the bottom of the bottle after 1-2 months of having it.
Grapeseed Oil
What we Think:
If you’re looking for a lightweight, budget-friendly beard oil that won’t clog pores, grapeseed oil works exceptionally well.
Scent: Light and fresh scent.
Price per Ounce: $0.88.
Pros
Lightweight oil that won’t clog pores
Has a pleasant scent
Very affordable
Cons
Lack of strong scent may be a turnoff for some users
With a comedogenic rating of 1, grapeseed oil won’t clog pores when applied repeatedly, making it the most suitable and affordable beard conditioner for oily and combination skin types.
Beyond the low comedogenic rating, this lightweight oil is also an effective conditioner that will make your facial hair soft while also helping it look healthier.
The light and sweet scent of grapeseed oil provide a pleasant start to the day.
Grapeseed oil is the most budget-friendly beard oil available. The price cannot be beaten at $0.88 per ounce (for a 16oz bottle). Â
What customers are saying:Â Customers highlight its multiple uses for hair care, shaving, and skin issues. They also enjoy its non-greasy texture, unscented formula, and effective pump dispenser.
4 Tips for Buying a Good Beard Oil
Here are some factors to consider when choosing a beard oil:
1. What makes beard oil work so well?
Most beard oils, even those made by premium brands, only contain two high-quality ingredients: carrier and essential oils. Here’s what these ingredients do:
Carrier Oils. These make 98%+ of any given beard oil and are responsible for relieving beard itch, dry skin, and beard dandruff. They also coat the beard follicles to reduce the chance of split ends on your facial hair. Carrier oils are what make beard oil work.
Essential Oils. Added for fragrance, essential oils can provide a woodsy, citrus, or spicy scent. However, medicinal or facial hair growth claims in regards to essential oils are largely unproven.
Note: Vitamin E oil is another commonly included ingredient in beard oil. However, the efficacy of Vitamin E oil is largely unproven. In fact, one study found that Vitamin E oil worsens the appearance of scars while also causing contact dermatitis (source).
2. How much do you want to spend per year on beard oil?
When adding up how much you spend for the year, beard oil can be expensive. When doing some back-of-the-envelope math, you will find that one bottle of beard oil at $20 times 12 months will equate to $240 per year; a cheap beard oil can cost a fraction of this.
Compare beard oil on a price per ounce basis. This will help you to see which beard oil provides the most significant value.
Note: We recently put together a guide helping to identify grooming expenses and where changes could be made to save money.
3. You don’t need to substitute quality
Saving money doesn’t mean that you must substitute in the quality or effectiveness of a product. Just make sure that the beard oil you purchase contains natural ingredients instead of artificial ingredients, is made from a reputable source, and is contained in a dark bottle to ensure the oil hasn’t spoiled.
4. Making beard oil is easy
Given the simplicity of the formula, beard oil is relatively easy to make. By simply mixing both carrier and essential oils, you can create a blend that performs just as well as a premium beard oil. If this sounds of interest to you, consider reading our guide on how to make beard oil.
Frequently Asked Questions
What carrier oils are most popular in beard oil?
There are a number of different carrier oils used in beard oil formulas. Each oil has different properties that can provide different benefits to the hair and skin. Some of the most popular carrier oils used in beard oil include jojoba oil, argan oil, sweet almond oil, and grapeseed oil.
Do cheaper beard oils need to be applied more often?
No, cheaper beard oils do not need to be applied more often. In fact, they can often times be just as effective as more expensive beard oils. The key is to find an oil that contains natural ingredients and is made from a reputable source.
What is the shelf life before they must be replaced?
All beard oils, no matter how much you pay, will last you about six months to a year after opening. After a year, they will go bad or become ineffective in their use.