For many men, growing a healthy, full and thick beard is enough of a struggle in its own right, so dealing with facial acne on top of that can cause a lot of distress.  Acne, as we know, is extremely common, and in some cases, growing out a beard can exacerbate the problem.  Luckily, however, this certainly doesn’t need to be the case.  The truth is that acne is manageable, and almost always curable.  It’s simply a matter of figuring out the cause behind it and treating it in a way that fixes the root of the problem.

Today, we’ll be talking about how to avoid acne while growing out a beard.  As you’ll see, there are many steps that you can take in order to get a handle on this pesky problem so that people can start noticing your beautiful beard rather than those unsightly zits.

What is Acne?

Acne is a condition in which the pores of the skin become infected and inflamed.  Most of us get pimples from time to time, but for a person to have acne, these pimples must recur and must be numerous.  For acne sufferers, once the pimples begin to heal, more develop, meaning that the skin is never actually clear.

Acne can vary in severity, and there are, in fact, different kinds of acne.  Cystic acne causes very large pimples to develop that eventually develop a whitehead.  Fungal acne can appear in the form of smaller red bumps that never achieve a head.

Things That Can Cause Acne

There are lots of factors that can contribute to acne, and here are the most common ones.

• Stress: Can indeed cause or exacerbate acne.  When excess cortisol is released into the bloodstream, the hormones produce excessive amounts of sebum, which is an oil created by the pores.  This excessive amount of sebum can clog pores, causing them to become infected.
• Poor Diet: Certain nutritional deficiencies can create hormonal imbalances that interfere with proper sebum production.  And, certain food allergies can cause acne to develop as an immune response that produces inflammation.
• Hormonal Changes: Are one of the biggest culprits behind acne, which is why so many people develop acne during puberty.  However, hormonal changes can occur at any age.  Hormones directly affect the amount of sebum that is secreted from the pores. 
• Poor Hygiene: If you expose your skin to certain bacteria or fungi on a regular basis, this can lead to acne.  Additionally, failing to wash your face can cause acne as bacteria and fungus are able to thrive on the skin.
• Bad Products: Using products that clog the pores is another common acne culprit. 

How Having a Beard Could Potentially Exacerbate Acne

Having a beard might cause acne to worsen or develop.  For one thing, a beard attracts dirt, oil and bacteria, three things that can cause the pores to develop zits.  Additionally, the products that you use to maintain your beard can clog your pores.  Finally, a beard can cause pimples due to excessive sweat that changes the pH balance of the skin.

How to Combat Acne While Rocking a Beard

For men that don’t wanna shave off their beards, here what you can do.

Maintain Good Health

First of all, it’s important that you maintain good health by eating a balanced diet, exercising and minimizing stress.  All three of these things can benefit the skin in a way that reduces acne.

Have a Consistent, High-Quality Skincare and Beard Care Routine

The products that you apply to your skin and beard can have a lot to do with whether or not you have acne.  Invest in natural products that contain gentle, plant-based ingredients that won’t clog pores.  And, make sure that you wash your face and beard daily to get rid of dirt, oil and bacteria that can cause pimples.

Start Using Products Specifically Formulated to Target Acne

There are lots of products on the market that are designed to specifically combat acne.  Look for products containing ingredients like salicylic acid, glycolic acid, benzoyl peroxide, niacinamide and retinol.  All of these ingredients have been clinically proven to fight acne effectively.

See a Dermatologist

If all else fails, make an appointment with a dermatologist.  There are plenty of prescription acne medications out there that can reduce breakouts dramatically without damaging your skin or your beard. 

Keep That Beard Looking Nice on Your Face

Acne affects a large number of men and growing a beard can indeed make existing acne worse or can cause pimples to develop during the growing stages.  Fortunately, there are solutions for acne sufferers who are embarrassed about their appearance.

Many men struggle with self-confidence, and that’s nothing to be ashamed of.  Our society is constantly sending us messages about how we should look, act and feel, and little by little, these messages can eat away at our self-images.  This is why us guys need to figure out ways to build our sense of confidence in order to navigate through life while being happy with who we are.

One extremely easy way to potentially improve your sense of self-confidence is by growing a beard.  You may think this sounds silly, but the truth is that growing a beard can benefit our self-image in numerous ways. Which brings us to…

Ways in Which a Beard Can Improve Your Sense of Self-Confidence

Today, we will be talking about how having some stellar facial hair can legitimately make you feel more secure with yourself.

Beards Make You Look More Mature

There are lots of guys out there who look younger than they are, and this can be quite embarrassing.  Whether a guy is naturally short, skinny or born with a babyface, it’s only normal that he wants to look his age in order to be treated accordingly.  Well, growing a beard is an easy way to look more mature, and lots of guys who have young-looking features see this as a solution that makes them appear older. 

Beards Can Make You Look More Attractive

It goes without saying that a lot of guys just look more attractive with beards.  We’ve seen enough before and after’s by now to know that some of the most celebrated a-listers greatly boosted their public appeal once they grew out that facial hair.  If you feel like you’re not as attractive as you’d like to be, it’s possible that growing a beard will make you feel much more satisfied with your appearance.

Beards are a Sign of Masculinity

Beards are also a symbol of masculinity, and this has been the case since the beginning of time.  Being able to grow a long and healthy beard represents having naturally high testosterone levels, as this hormone is essential for proper beard growth.  Therefore, it makes sense that growing a beard makes a man feel proud of his masculine nature.  And, feeling masculine is a big part of being a man who is confident in himself.

Beards Allow for a Self-Care Ritual

Many of us men don’t really put time aside in order to engage in self-care.  However, having a beard allows for a soothing ritual to be part of your daily routine.  Applying your beard care products to your facial hair daily can be quite calming, and can make you feel like you’re giving yourself some much-needed love.  In turn, this can improve your sense of confidence by making you feel like you’re putting effort into taking care of yourself. 

Beards Can Help You Express Your Unique Personality

Beards vary greatly in terms of size, length, thickness and style.  Therefore, having a beard can be a way to express what it is that makes you so unique.  Different styles and lengths show off different personality traits, and self-expression is a great confidence booster.

Beards Are a Sign of Health

Having a beard is a sign that you’re in good health, as we need to be healthy on the inside in order to grow good-looking facial hair.  Growing your beard in a way that reflects your internal well-being will naturally improve your overall self-image.

Beards are a Conversation Starter

Having a particularly beautiful beard is a great conversation starter that can improve your sense of confidence by helping you get more attention from strangers and acquaintances.

Beards Can Distract from Other Attributes You’re Less Than Thrilled About

Lastly, growing a beard can help distract from parts of your image that you’re not so enthused about.  For instance, if you have acne, a beard can help minimize the appearance of pimples.  Similarly, if you have a less-than-flattering jawline, a beard can cover the part of your face that you most want to conceal.

Confidence Needs to Start Somewhere

If you’re trying to build up your confidence, growing a beard is a great place to start.  Having some luxurious facial hair is a great starting point that can significantly improve your overall self-image.  As you can see, having a beard is about so much more than trying out a new look.

We are happy to announce that The Bearded Bastard is now part of the (newly formed) family at Sensible Cosmetics Co.

In September of 2020, TBB founder Jeremiah Newton, approached the team at O'Douds about potentially combining their knowledge and resources in a way that would allow both brands to coexist under the same roof but operate as separate entities. Jeremiah felt that he needed to be released from the demands of running a growing business in order to enter a new phase of his life, but didn’t want the TBB brand or community to dissolve as a result of his personal creative journey. Jeremiah decided that the fine folks at O’Douds were the best group of people to take TBB forward and care for this community of bastards. The years of friendship and collaboration between TBB and O’Douds have made this decision and subsequent transition as easy as you could imagine.

In order to facilitate the distinct nature and needs of each brand, the team at O’Douds decided to form the parent company, Sensible Cosmetics Co., to house both brands and provide support to other creative projects and prospective endeavors.

As of today, the team at Sensible Cosmetics Co. is comprised of people from The Bearded Bastard, O’Douds, and a couple of newbies. We are a diverse and quirky group, but we all share one thing in common — we love creating and promoting products that use the best and most beneficial ingredients we can find.

Our best days are ahead of us. We hope all of you bastards will join us on our journey forward.

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Q: OK, but what about my favorite scent/product, will that change?

A: Hell, no. Sensible Cosmetics worked closely with Jeremiah during the transition to ensure that we could continue to make the fine products you know and love. 

Q: I love collecting The Bearded Bastard’s scents, will you continue to release new scents?

A: YES!  We have plans to continue to re-release the annual scents you’ve come to expect every year and we will also be releasing all new scents that reflect the Spirit of The Bastard. We *may* even be putting together a special Oil Of The Month club so you get first dibs on all the limited releases. Also, it’s important to point out that Jeremiah had a team, several of the scents that were released last Fall were made by team members (scents like Aegean Sea and Vetiver, Good & True, and Vetiver & Thorns).

Q: I don’t have a question, I just don’t like change and I don’t like this. 

A: Well, we have a response anyways! We all know change is a part of life, we’re devoted to continuing The Bearded Bastard’s commitment to high-quality, highly scented products for your grooming needs. The only changes we are making are that each team member is going to get to do more of the stuff they’re good at and less juggling of other tasks, which translates to a better experience for you.

Q: What about Jeremiah, we’re did he go?

A: If you’ve been on TBB’s socials any over the last 1-2 years, you’ve probably heard Jeremiah talking about taking a sabbatical. As a creative individual, he felt it was time for a seismic shift in his life and has known the O’Douds folks for a long time. Jeremiah approached O’Douds because he trusted them to take care of The Bearded Bastard community and knew that team had the nose and know how to take the company forward. Jeremiah is taking time to ground and reconnect with creativity, you can follow along @newtonsphoto on IG, although last we heard social media was a part of this break. 

Q: So what about this sale?

A: We’re moving production down to Sensible Cosmetics location in Houston and celebrating our last week in Austin with a SALE as a thank you to all you loyal Bastards. Get 10% off the entire store now through NOON 3/12/21.  We will officially shut down shipping out of Austin on Friday at noon and pick back up on Monday out of Houston. 

We welcome feedback, questions, words of encouragement and constructive criticism - email us at help@thebeardedbastard.com and share your thoughts.