Manscaped Beard Shampoo Review – Serviceable at Best
Manscaped Beard Shampoo
Manscaped brings us a Beard Shampoo with a thin, yet clean-feeling lather that leaves my beard feeling nice and soothed. Unfortunately, it is let down by a dense ingredient list and a smell that is a major turn-off.
Pros
Easy to Use and Easy to Lather
Great Price Point
Perfect for Thick and Coarse Beard Hair
Glycerin-based formula traps moisture in the beard
Relieves an Itchy beard
Vegan and Cruelty Free
Cons
Extreme Medicinal Smell
Lather is very thin
Dense Ingredient List
Not much in the bottle
There was a time when every other male YouTuber on the internet seemed to be pushing Manscaped. It ranked right up there with Dollar Shave Club and Raid: Shadow Legends for the number of times I had to wade through self-promoted ads.
Now they have enough of a market share to show up on store shelves in everyone’s favorite pharmacy section at their local grocery store.
We’ve previously reviewed Manscaped products, including their Body Groomers, and I used and reviewed the Beard Hedger Trimmer. Now, we will examine their Beard Shampoo and then their Beard Oil in the following review.
Description and Features
The beard wash comes to us in a small, black bottle that fits easily in one hand.
It’s not heavy, but the plastic bottle feels quite stiff, making it difficult to squeeze out the shampoo.
The cap features a pop-top design that makes it easy to use with one hand. You would be surprised how often most manufacturers forget that you need to be able to open this easily without spilling everything.
While I don’t like the opaque bottle because I can’t tell how much is left, I understand that it is easier to use than attempting to make something out of clear glass.
I would assume that the heavy-duty bottle is for ease of travel, but considering it contains 4 fl oz (118ml), and you can only carry 3.4 oz (100ml), I would think this might need revising.
Ingredients
The Ingredients are very dense. There is some very good content in there, but it is mixed with ingredients that require a chemist’s expertise to decipher.
Full List: Aqua/Water/Eau, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate, Acrylates Copolymer, Glycerin, Polyquaternium-7, Sodium Chloride, Eucalyptus Globulus Leaf Oil, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Oil, Lavandula Angustifolia (Lavender) Oil, Lavandula Hybrida Oil, Panthenol, Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate, Phenoxyethanol, Caprylyl Glycol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Sodium Hydroxide, Linalool, Limonene
Here is a breakdown list that highlights any potential irritants:
- Base & Cleansing Agents:
- Aqua (Water), Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate, Acrylates Copolymer, Sodium Chloride
→ Function: Cleanses beard and skin, creates foam, thickens product.
→ Irritant Risk: Low to moderate (mainly from Cocamidopropyl Betaine or salt).
- Aqua (Water), Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate, Acrylates Copolymer, Sodium Chloride
- Conditioning & Moisturizing Agents:
- Glycerin, Polyquaternium-7, Panthenol (Provitamin B5), Caprylyl Glycol, Ethylhexylglycerin
→ Function: Adds softness, moisture, and smoothness to beard and skin.
→ Irritant Risk: Low.
- Glycerin, Polyquaternium-7, Panthenol (Provitamin B5), Caprylyl Glycol, Ethylhexylglycerin
- Fragrance & Essential Oils:
- Eucalyptus Leaf Oil, Rosemary Leaf Oil, Lavender Oil, Lavandin Oil, Linalool, Limonene
→ Function: Adds scent, mild antimicrobial, and antioxidant effects.
→ Irritant Risk: Moderate to high (common allergens for sensitive skin).
- Eucalyptus Leaf Oil, Rosemary Leaf Oil, Lavender Oil, Lavandin Oil, Linalool, Limonene
- Preservatives & Stabilizers:
- Phenoxyethanol, Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate
→ Function: Prevents microbial growth and stabilizes formula.
→ Irritant Risk: Moderate (mainly from Phenoxyethanol).
- Phenoxyethanol, Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate
- pH Adjuster:
- Sodium Hydroxide
→ Function: Balances product pH.
→ Irritant Risk: Moderate to high (depends on concentration).
- Sodium Hydroxide
I’m not one of those people who think that everything on a product label needs to be completely pronounceable, but the more advanced my chemistry class, the more I need to understand what I am putting in my skin, and the more alarms are going off in my head.
Most of what I would consider the good ingredients are there for the scent. Herbs such as Rosemary, Eucalyptus, and Lavender are renowned for their soothing scents.
The shampoo is fortified with Vitamin B5, which is essential for clear and smooth skin. Not only does it lock in moisture, but it also has anti-inflammatory properties that help soothe acne and irritation.
Scent
The aroma of this shampoo is really where Manscaped dropped the ball for me.
While it isn’t absolutely terrible, it has a very medicinal smell. It has a very citrus-forward smell, but that citrus isn’t any specific fruit. It could be lemon, lime, or orange. It is like describing a citrus fruit to someone who has never smelled it before.
Underneath that aroma is a scent that reminds me of a floor cleaner or sanitizer in a Doctor’s office.
Luckily, the aroma disappears very quickly after rinsing everything off.
User Experience
For this review, I shampooed my beard with this product every other day for two weeks during my shower. I alternated between using a washcloth and just lathering it with my hands to see if there was any difference in the texture or in how it left my beard feeling after I was done.
Overall, I did enjoy the clean feeling it left on my beard.
I also found that it would easily soothe any itching or flaking that I would develop due to dry skin.
How is the Texture?
The texture of the Manscaped Beard Shampoo is very light and easy to lather up.
I found the process of lathering up with my bare hands actually better than using a washcloth in this instance. I have found that this is normal for more glycerin-based shampoos.
While I prefer to use a washcloth, using my hands is never a bad option.
How Easy is it to use?
Like most other shampoos, this is very simple to use. All you need to do is lather up about a dime-sized worth of shampoo in your hands and work it into your beard.
Though I typically use somewhat more because I have a larger face, and I like the feeling of suds.
Afterward, simply rinse everything out and enjoy a clean-feeling beard.
Overall, it is exceedingly easy to use and can be added to almost anyone’s beard routine.
Value for Money
As of now, on Amazon, you can purchase Manscaped Beard Shampoo for $13 USD.
For those following my reviews on the Pizza scale, that is one pizza and some change.
Overall, I believe this is a pretty good deal for a clean beard. If you are using this every day or every other day, it should last you about 3 weeks to a month. For 13 bucks, that is not a bad price.
Final Thoughts – (Verdict – Who’s it For?)
Manscaped Beard Shampoo does a decent job of cleaning your beard and ensuring it feels great afterward.
My personal dislikes are the large ingredients and a smell reminiscent of my local dentist’s office (keep in mind scent is subjective, and this is only my experience).
If you are looking for an inexpensive option for a dedicated Beard Shampoo, then you would do much worse than Manscaped Beard Shampoo. However, if you have sensitive skin or a sensitive nose, I would definitely recommend something better, like Scotch Porter Beard Wash.
