INGREDIENT UNIVERSITY
Ever think about how cool it would be to have a PhD in Bio-Chemisty? Neither did we. And you can just keep walking Sporty, because we can't help you here anyway. What we can do however, is give you the real, unbiased skinny on all the benefits and drawbacks of the most commonly used (or in our case, uncommonly used) ingredients in most men's grooming/beard products today. Once you read through this page, they'll never be able to fool you again.
Urbane Commando products are specially formulated to benefit both facial hair AND the underlying skin. If other beard oil manufacturers tell you that beard oil is only for the skin (we can think of a couple), walk away from them, they don’t know what they are talking about. Blending carrier oils for maximum benefits to both beard follicles and skin involves a thorough understanding of each carrier oil’s specific properties and then selecting complimentary ingredients to create a well-balanced and highly effective mixture. It’s all about the synergy, baby. You can learn about all of our ingredients here. Wow your friends! Awesome party conversation! Be the envy of everyone you know.
Sweet Almond Oil
Sweet almond oil is a natural oil derived from almonds and is widely recognized for its numerous benefits for both hair and skin. Here are its key properties that make it beneficial:
1. Excellent Emollient: Sweet almond oil is an outstanding emollient, which means it locks in moisture and keeps the skin and hair well-hydrated. It's an ideal choice for dry and flaky skin or hair.
2. Lightweight and Non-Greasy: It has a light texture that is easily absorbed by the skin and hair without leaving a greasy or heavy feeling, making it suitable for all skin types, including oily skin.
3. Rich in Vitamins: Sweet almond oil is rich in vitamins A and E, both of which have antioxidant properties. These vitamins help protect the skin and hair from free radical damage, which can contribute to premature aging.
4. Improves Complexion: Regular application of sweet almond oil can help improve skin complexion by reducing the appearance of dark spots and blemishes. It can also help even out skin tone.
5. Soothes Irritation: The anti-inflammatory properties of sweet almond oil make it effective in soothing skin irritations, such as itching, redness, and inflammation. It's particularly helpful for sensitive or irritated skin.
6. Reduces Under-Eye Circles: Gentle application of sweet almond oil around the eyes can help reduce the appearance of under-eye circles and puffiness due to its skin-nourishing properties.
7. Strengthens and Conditions Hair: Sweet almond oil is beneficial for hair by providing nourishment and strengthening the hair shaft, reducing breakage and split ends. It also adds a natural shine to the hair.
8. Promotes Hair Growth: The vitamins and minerals in sweet almond oil can stimulate hair follicles, promoting healthy hair growth. Massaging it into the scalp can improve blood circulation, which is crucial for hair health.
9. Natural Makeup Remover: It can be used as a gentle and effective makeup remover, helping to dissolve makeup and cleanse the skin without harsh chemicals.
10. Carrier Oil for Essential Oils: Sweet almond oil serves as an excellent carrier oil for diluting and applying essential oils, enhancing their absorption and effectiveness.
In summary, sweet almond oil's lightweight, hydrating, and nutrient-rich properties make it a versatile addition to skincare and haircare routines. It nourishes, soothes, and protects both the skin and hair, making it a popular choice for various beauty and wellness applications.
Jojoba Oil
Jojoba oil is a versatile and popular natural oil known for its numerous benefits for both hair and skin. Here are its key properties that make it beneficial:
1. Mimics Skin's Natural Oils: Jojoba oil closely resembles the natural sebum produced by the skin. This similarity allows it to be easily absorbed and doesn't clog pores, making it suitable for all skin types, including oily and acne-prone skin.
2. Excellent Moisturizer: It provides deep hydration to the skin without feeling greasy. For hair, it helps lock in moisture, preventing dryness and frizz.
3. Balances Oil Production: Jojoba oil has the unique ability to regulate sebum production. It can help reduce excessive oiliness in the skin, making it an effective treatment for oily skin and scalp.
4. Antioxidant Properties: It contains vitamin E and other antioxidants, which protect the skin from damage caused by free radicals. This can help reduce signs of aging and maintain healthy skin.
5. Anti-Inflammatory: Jojoba oil has anti-inflammatory properties that soothe irritated skin and can be particularly beneficial for conditions like eczema and psoriasis.
6. Promotes Hair Growth: By keeping the hair and scalp well-nourished and moisturized, jojoba oil supports healthy hair growth and can help reduce hair loss.
7. Strengthens Hair: It strengthens hair strands, reducing breakage and split ends. This results in softer, more manageable hair.
8. Adds Shine: When applied to hair, jojoba oil imparts a natural shine and luster, making it a great ingredient in hair care products.
9. Non-Comedogenic: Jojoba oil is non-comedogenic, meaning it won't clog pores. This makes it a suitable option for those prone to acne and blackheads.
10. Versatility: It can be used on its own as a moisturizer or added to various skincare and haircare products such as creams, lotions, shampoos, and conditioners.
Hemp Seed Oil
Hemp seed oil is a versatile and nutrient-rich oil derived from the seeds of the hemp plant (Cannabis sativa). It offers a range of benefits for beard hair, skin, and overall health due to its unique properties:
FOR BEARD HAIR:
1. Moisturizes and Conditions: Hemp seed oil is an excellent natural moisturizer for beard hair, preventing dryness and reducing frizz. It softens the beard, making it more manageable.
2. Strengthens Hair: Rich in essential fatty acids, hemp seed oil helps strengthen beard hair, reducing breakage and split ends. This leads to healthier, thicker-looking facial hair.
3. Promotes Growth: The omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids in hemp seed oil support hair growth by nourishing the hair follicles and improving blood circulation to the beard area.
FOR SKIN:
4. Balances Sebum Production: Hemp seed oil helps balance the skin's sebum production, making it suitable for all skin types. It can hydrate dry skin and regulate excess oil production in oily skin.
5. Anti-Inflammatory: It has anti-inflammatory properties that can soothe skin conditions like acne, eczema, and psoriasis. It reduces redness and irritation, promoting a calmer complexion.
6. Antioxidant Protection: Hemp seed oil contains antioxidants like vitamin E, which combat free radicals and protect the skin from premature aging and environmental damage.
7. Non-Comedogenic: It's a non-comedogenic oil, meaning that it won't clog pores, making it a good choice for those prone to acne.
Grape Seed Oil
Grape Seed oil, derived from the seeds of grapes, offers a variety of benefits for beard hair, skin, and overall health due to its unique properties:
FOR BEARD HAIR
1. Lightweight Moisturizer: Grapeseed oil is a lightweight and non-greasy moisturizer for beard hair. It helps prevent dryness and keeps the beard soft and manageable.
2. Strengthens Hair: It contains linoleic acid, which strengthens hair strands, reduces breakage, and promotes healthier, more resilient beard hair.
3. Fast Absorbing
4. Adds Shine: Grapeseed oil imparts a natural shine to the beard, enhancing its appearance and making it look well-groomed.
FOR SKIN
5. Non-Comedogenic: Grapeseed oil is non-comedogenic, meaning it won't clog pores or contribute to acne. This makes it suitable for all skin types, including sensitive and oily skin.
6. Antioxidant Properties: It's rich in antioxidants, such as vitamin E and polyphenols, which protect the skin from free radical damage, reducing the signs of aging and maintaining skin health.
7. Soothes Irritation: Grapeseed oil's anti-inflammatory properties make it effective in soothing irritated skin. It can alleviate redness and discomfort from conditions like eczema and dermatitis.
8. Tightens and Tones: Due to its astringent properties, grapeseed oil can help tighten and tone the skin, reducing the appearance of fine lines and improving skin elasticity.
Castor Oil
Castor oil, derived from the castor bean plant (Ricinus communis), possesses unique properties that can provide several benefits for both beard hair and skin:
FOR BEARD HAIR
1. Promotes Beard Growth: Castor oil is rich in ricinoleic acid, which has been linked to increased hair growth. Massaging it into the beard area can stimulate hair follicles and encourage fuller, thicker beard growth.
2. Strengthens Hair: Castor oil's nourishing properties help strengthen beard hair, reducing breakage and split ends. This results in a more robust and healthy-looking beard.
3. Prevents Beardruff: Its moisturizing qualities keep the beard and the underlying skin well-hydrated, reducing the likelihood of beardruff (beard dandruff) and itching.
FOR SKIN
4. Moisturizes and Conditions: Castor oil is an effective emollient, providing deep moisture to the skin. It helps soften the skin underneath the beard and promotes a healthier complexion.
5. Anti-Inflammatory: Castor oil has anti-inflammatory properties that can soothe skin irritations, redness, and inflammation. It's particularly useful for individuals with sensitive skin or conditions like eczema.
6. Antibacterial and Antifungal: It contains natural antibacterial and antifungal properties that can help combat skin infections and prevent acne breakouts.
7. Unclogs Pores: Castor oil's ability to penetrate deeply into the skin can help unclog pores and remove dirt and excess oil, which is especially beneficial for those with acne-prone skin.
8. Reduces Scarring: Some people use castor oil to reduce the appearance of scars and stretch marks due to its potential to stimulate collagen production and promote skin healing.
Jamaican Black Castor
Black castor oil, also known as Jamaican black castor oil (JBCO), is a unique variation of castor oil that has specific properties offering benefits for beard hair and skin. Here are its distinctive features:
FOR BEARD HAIR
1. Promotes Beard Growth: JBCO is particularly renowned for its ability to stimulate hair growth. It contains high levels of ricinoleic acid, which can penetrate the hair follicles and encourage beard hair growth, resulting in a fuller and thicker beard over time. Now we are not promising it will “grow hair”, but it certainly facilitates growth for those able to grow hair. This is one of our not-so-secret weapons right here.
2. Thicker and Stronger Hair: Regular application of JBCO can lead to thicker and stronger beard hair. It helps improve hair density and reduces hair breakage and thinning. This helps promote the appearance of a bigger, fuller beard.
3. Moisturizes and Conditions: Just like regular castor oil, JBCO is an excellent emollient. It deeply moisturizes the beard, preventing dryness, brittleness, and beardruff (beard dandruff). It conditions the beard, making it soft and manageable.
4. Soothes Irritation: JBCO's natural anti-inflammatory properties can soothe the skin underneath the beard and alleviate itching, redness, and irritation often associated with beard growth.
FOR SKIN
5. Acne Prevention: JBCO's antibacterial and antifungal properties make it effective at preventing acne breakouts and skin infections, particularly in the beard and chin area.
6. Skin Moisturization: It provides deep hydration to the skin, making it suitable for dry and sensitive skin types. This helps maintain the health and integrity of the skin under the beard.
7. Scar and Stretch Mark Reduction: Some individuals use JBCO to reduce the appearance of scars and stretch marks due to its potential to stimulate collagen production and promote skin healing.
Additional Notes:
8. Dark Color: JBCO gets its distinctive dark color from roasted castor beans. This process is believed to enhance the oil's potency and effectiveness.
9. Nutrient-Rich: JBCO contains essential fatty acids, vitamins, and minerals that nourish both beard hair and the underlying skin, promoting overall beard health. This stuff is the secret sauce in our world class formula.
Moroccan Argan Oil
Argan oil, often referred to as "liquid gold," is a unique oil with a rich composition that provides numerous benefits for both beard hair and skin. Here are its distinctive properties:
FOR BEARD HAIR
1. Deep Conditioning: Argan oil is an excellent emollient, delivering deep conditioning to beard hair. It softens and hydrates the beard, making it more manageable, reducing frizz, and preventing dryness.
2. Strengthens and Protects: It's rich in essential fatty acids, such as oleic and linoleic acids, which help strengthen beard hair, reducing breakage and split ends. Argan oil forms a protective barrier around the hair shaft, shielding it from damage.
3. Adds Shine: Argan oil imparts a natural, healthy shine to the beard, enhancing its appearance and giving it a well-groomed look.
FOR YOUR SKIN
4. Non-Greasy Moisturization: Argan oil is lightweight and non-greasy, making it an excellent moisturizer for the skin beneath the beard. It hydrates the skin without leaving a heavy or sticky feeling.
5. Anti-Inflammatory: The oil's anti-inflammatory properties can soothe irritated skin, reducing redness and discomfort often associated with beard growth and shaving.
6. Anti-Aging Effects: Argan oil is rich in antioxidants, particularly vitamin E, which combat free radicals and protect the skin from premature aging. It can help reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles
7. Acne Prevention:** Despite being an oil, argan oil has a non-comedogenic nature, meaning it won't clog pores. It can help prevent acne breakouts, making it suitable for individuals with acne-prone skin.
Vitamin E (Tocopherol)
Vitamin E oil is an awesome ingredient in beard and shaving product formulations due to its unique properties that offer several benefits for both beard hair and the underlying skin:
FOR BEARD HAIR
1. Moisturizes and Conditions: Vitamin E oil is a powerful moisturizer that hydrates beard hair, preventing dryness and making it softer and more manageable. It helps combat frizz and reduces the risk of beardruff (beard dandruff).
2. Strengthens Hair: It supports hair health by nourishing and strengthening beard hair from the root, reducing breakage and split ends. This can result in a thicker and healthier-looking beard.
3. Promotes Hair Growth: Vitamin E's antioxidant properties improve blood circulation to the hair follicles, potentially stimulating beard hair growth and increasing hair density. It doesn’t cause hair to grow, but it is a powerhouse in paving the way for growth.
FOR YOUR SKIN
4. Antioxidant Protection: Vitamin E is a potent antioxidant that protects the skin from oxidative damage caused by free radicals. This can help reduce signs of premature aging, such as fine lines and wrinkles.
5. Soothes Irritation: It has anti-inflammatory properties that can soothe irritated skin, reducing redness, itching, and discomfort often associated with beard growth.
6. Scar Reduction: Vitamin E oil is known for its potential to reduce the appearance of scars and stretch marks. It promotes skin healing and can fade existing scars over time.
7. UV Protection: While not a substitute for sunscreen, vitamin E oil offers some natural protection against the harmful effects of UV radiation. It can help shield the skin from sun damage.