Walk into any store and the men's aisle tells you to buy a moisturizer. Walk into a barbershop and they hand you a beard oil. So which one does your skin actually need? The honest answer: it depends on your skin, your beard and how much time you want to spend in front of the mirror.
What a moisturizer does
A classic moisturizer is a cream or lotion. It is mostly water, plus oils, humectants and emulsifiers that hold everything together. Creams hydrate quickly, but many leave a film, and the water evaporates during the day. Most moisturizers are also made for skin only, not for the beard.
What a face oil does
A face oil contains no water. It is made of plant oils that are similar to the lipids your skin produces on its own. A good face oil:
- helps lock in moisture by supporting the skin's natural barrier
- delivers plant oils and vitamins without any water
- works on skin and beard at the same time
The common fear is shine. Cheap oils sit on top of the skin and look greasy. A well formulated oil uses fast absorbing oils such as jojoba and baobab, so it sinks in within seconds and leaves a matte finish.
Face oil vs. moisturizer at a glance
- Texture: creams feel thicker, a good oil disappears into the skin.
- Beard: creams get stuck in facial hair, an oil conditions the beard too.
- Ingredients: creams are mostly water, an oil contains no water at all.
- Routine: a cream usually needs a separate beard oil and aftershave, one oil can replace several products.
Which one should you choose?
Choose an oil if you have a beard or stubble, you shave often, your skin feels tight or dry, or you simply want one product instead of five.
A light cream can make sense if you have very oily skin and prefer a gel texture. Even then, many men with oily skin find that the right oil helps balance the look of shine, because skin is no longer overcompensating for dryness.
The one product approach
This is exactly why we created AZLAN. It is a 5 in 1 face and beard oil with 8 key ingredients, led by Dragon's Blood and Baobab. One pump replaces a moisturizer, a beard oil, a serum, an aftershave balm and a fragrance. It absorbs in seconds, it is rated Excellent by Dermatest® and it takes about 15 seconds, morning and night.
How to switch from cream to oil
- Start on clean, slightly damp skin. Oil spreads more easily.
- Use one pump. More is not better.
- Press, do not rub. Warm the oil between your palms and press it into your face, then work the rest into your beard.
- Give it a week. Your skin adjusts and you will notice how little you need.
Free U.S. shipping and a 30-day money-back guarantee make it easy to find out for yourself.