Our Ingredients: What Makes Our Oils and Balms Premium

Your beard deserves better than mystery chemicals and synthetic fillers. At Lucky Lather, we believe, you should know exactly what you're putting on your face - and why it works. Every oil, butter and extract we use is chosen for a reason... to nourish your skin, strengthen your beard, and give you results you can actually see and feel. You'll also smell amazing, and ready for that Lucky break. Let's break down the natural ingredients that make our products work, so you know what's doing the heavy lifting for your facial hair. Maybe make a brew and settle down for this one...

BEARD OILS:

Prunus Dulcis - Almond Oil:

Sweet Almond oil, nourishes the skin and hair which promotes a healthier environment for growth and strengthens the hair itself. It contains high levels of vitamin E, and fatty acids which moisturise the skin, reduce itchiness, and strengthen the hair shaft to prevent breakage. It also has antioxidant properties, and has the ability to improve circulation which can support overall follicle health. Almond Oil is an excellent moisturiser for the skin to reduce flakiness, whilst being rich in vitamins and minerals. Massaging it into the skin can increase blood circulation, which may indirectly support hair growth. It contains oleic acid and linoleic acid, which nourish hair follicles and strengthens the keratin structure of the strands - more resistant to breakage. It can reduce frizz and add that all important healthy shine to your pride and joy. 

Argania Spinosa - Argan Kernel Oil:

Argan Oil is often referred to as "Liquid Gold", "Moroccan Liquid Gold", or "Desert Gold" due to its high value and widespread use in beauty and health products. Anyone who's ever been to Morocco can testify to its value there, where it is seen for sale almost everywhere to tourists, or where you can visit Moroccan arganeraie and walk on pathways made entirely of the waste shell of the nut. For our purposes Argan contains the following benefits:

Argan contains the following fatty acids - oleic acid (omega 9 fatty acid), linoleic acid (omega 6 fatty acid), palmitic acid (saturated fatty acid), stearic acid (saturated fatty acid), and alpha-linoleic acid (polyunsaturated omega 3 fatty acid). 

It moisturises, soothes skin, reduces beard-ruff, promotes healthier growth, reduces frizz and adds shine, and generally protects the hair. Argan oil is also non-comedogenic which means it is unlikely to clog pores. This is important to prevent break-outs on the skin under your beard. This makes argan suitable for all skin types, especially those prone to acne.

No prizes for guessing why the Berber people of Morocco have been using it both culinary and cosmetically for centuries. 

Simmondsia Chinensis - Jojoba Oil:

Jojoba Oil closely resembles the human sebum, which allows it to prevent breakage, and regulate the skins oil production without clogging pores. The human sebum is an oily, lipid rich substance produced by the body's sebaceous glands to lubricate and protect the skin and hair. It helps seal in moisture, repel water, and protect against pathogens. Jojoba mimics and regulates natural oils. Applying it to your beard and the skin beneath signals to your body that enough oil has been produced, which can prevent greasy build up and acne. 

It conditions and softens, promotes healthy growth, nourishes and protects, and moisturises the skin and follicles. 

As with Argan it also contains numerous fatty acids:

Eicosenoic acid, Euric acid, linoleic acid, oleic acid, nervonic acid, palmitic acid - fatty acids provide nutrients, improve hair hydration and shine. They're also beneficial for the scalp - so if you're like me and follicly challenged up top, rubbing it on your head after shaving there is a bonus!

Vitis Vinifera - Grapeseed oil:

Grapeseed oil is lightweight, nourishing and is rich in compounds that moisturise hair and the skin beneath. As with the others it moisturises and conditions, it also stimulates growth with its omega-6 fatty acids such as linoleic acid, it is rich in vitamin E that helps to revitalise the hair, it has anti-inflammatory properties that soothes, reduces irritation and itchiness, it contains powerful anti-oxidants like polyphenols which protect the hair follicles from free radicals. It can also reduce excess sebaceous oils that can clog the pores. 

Prunus Armeniaca - Apricot Kernel Oil:

It has advantage for both the hair and the underlying skin. The fatty acids condition and soften the hair. Being lightweight and non-greasy it absorbs quickly to hydrate the skin beneath. It is rich in antioxidants, such as vitamins A and E, which protect the skin and hair follicles. They promote a healthy environment for growth. It is an anti-inflammatory, making it useful for those with sensitive skin or ingrown hair issues. The fatty acid content strengthens the skins natural hydrolipidic film - locks in moisture and prevents dehydration. 

This oil contains the profile of both saturated and unsaturated fatty acids. Oleic acid (omega-9), linoleic acid (omega-6), stearic acid (saturated fatty acid), palmitic acid (saturated fatty acid), alpha-linoleic acid (omega-3), palmitoleic acid (saturated fatty acid)

Tocopherol - Vitamin E:

Vitamin E is beneficial for facial hair by promoting a healthy environment for hair follicles through its antioxidant and moisturising properties. It does not contain fatty acids, but is a fat soluble vitamin found in food. Tocopherol is a natural form of vitamin E, and is put into beard oils in the form of an oil-soluble liquid, usually in the form of a blend of different tocopherol isomers called "mixed tocopherols", extracted from natural sources. As well as the antioxidant, and moisturising properties, it is also added to the carrier oils to prevent them from going rancid. There are synthetic versions, but most beard oils (such as ours) will contain natural tocopherol. 

BEARD BALMS:

In addition to some oils such as Jojoba, Apricot and essential oils for fragrance...

Cocos Nucifera - Coconut oil:

Its benefits are derived from its moisturising properties as well as its high concentration of specific fatty acids. It is primarily composed of saturated fats called medium chain fatty acids (MCFAs), with the most prevalent ones being:

Lauric Acid which makes up about half of the fat content. It has a low molecular weight and structure that allows it to easily penetrate the hair shaft providing deep moisture. 

Myristic Acid is a saturated fatty acid that protects and moisturises. This makes up nearly 20% of the fat content, and research shows that it can promote the proliferation of hair follicle cells - it could potentially combat hair loss.

Other notable fatty acids include stearic acid, linoleic acid, oleic acid, capric acid, caprylic acid, and palmitic acid.

Elaeis Guineensis - sustainable plam oil:

Provides deep nourishment and moisture from its rich antioxidant and fatty acid content. The oil is rich in both saturated and unsaturated fatty acids. It moisturises and softens hair and skin. Antioxidants like betacarotene and vitamin E protect the hair and skin from environmental damage and free radicals. The high lauric acid content can strengthen and thicken hair over time. Reduces beardruff.

Theobroma Cacao - Cocoa Seed Butter:

Again it softens the hair and provides deep nourishment for the skin underneath. Many of its benefits are derived from a rich content of fatty acids and antioxidants. The fatty acids of cocoa butter penetrate and moisturise facial hair from the inside out. This is really beneficial for beards where the facial hair is commonly dry and coarse. It promotes a healthy environment for growth, reduces skin irritation, and with antioxidants such as vitamin E, it protects against free radicals. 

Butyrospermum Parkii - Shea Butter:

Shea butter is beneficial for facial hair due to its deep moisturising, anti-inflammatory, and conditioning properties. It helps your beard feel better, makes it more manageable, and improves its overall health. 

As well as all the benefits of other butters and oils (including many of the acids contained in others), shea butter aids in styling your mane. Its creamy consistency helps to smooth unruly hair and define the beards shape.

Persea Gratissima - Avocado Oil:

Avocado oil is packed with vitamins, fatty acids and antioxidants. It is great for nourishing and moisturising facial hair, as well as the skin underneath. The oil contains minerals like magnesium and potassium that helps seal hair cuticles, strengthening strands, preventing breakage and split ends. By smoothing the hair cuticle, avocado oil adds a natural vibrant shine to facial hair. 

Oleic acid (omega-9) is a monounsaturated fatty acid that is the most abundant in avocado oil, and is effective for deep moisturising. 

Glycerin:

Glycerin is a humectant, which means it draws moisture into the hair and skin underneath. The benefits of glycerin include deeply moisturising the skin and hair follicles. It does this by drawing water from the atmosphere and deeper layers of the skin keeping to supple. It softens and conditions coarse and thick facial hair. It also provides a non-greasy hydration effect. It promotes a healthy scalp, which also applies to the skin underneath your beard, so it can prevent that dry flaky beardruff that we don't want. We use a natural vegetable derived glycerin to keep our range vegan friendly. 

Beeswax:

Beeswax is a natural styling agent to provide hold and shape your beard, however there are benefits to its presence in beard butters or balms. It helps seal in moisture, prevents dryness and adds shine. It also has non-comedogenic properties to prevent blocked pores. The waxy barrier can help repel dirt and grime. Some sources suggest that beeswax can help stimulate beard growth.

There are no oils, waxes or butters that 100% grow your beard or facial hair despite being beneficial towards this goal. That is generally determined by your genetics and hormones. Yes the properties listed are beneficial, but please don't expect or reply on them to stimulate growth in patches etc... 

A Note on Fragrance Allergies and Ingredient Awareness

Before using any beard care product, take a moment to check its full ingredient list. Some of our products contain parfum (fragrance), and fragrance-related ingredients such as limonene and linalool can trigger allergic reactions or skin irritation in susceptible individuals. These ingredients are not harmful to everyone, but if you have a known allergy or sensitive skin, it is important to check the label carefully and avoid ingredients you know may affect you.

If you are unsure whether a product is suitable for you, seek advice from a healthcare professional before use. We believe in being transparent about what goes into our products so you can make an informed choice about the beard care you use.

The bottom line? Quality ingredients make all the difference between a beard that just exists and one that turns heads. These are honest, natural ingredients that do what they're supposed to do. Your beard is an investment, and it deserves products that actually earn their place in your grooming routine. Check out our full lineup of beard care products, natural, vegan and cruelty free.....feel the Lucky Lather difference for yourself!