I’m not an expert but I do have a beard. Lots of products out there but rather than buy them all it’s important to understand what they do then you can buy specific beard brands or the products yourself.
Soft Beard:
Don’t wash with hair shampoo these will strip oils from your beard. Buy a beard wash or use baby shampoo as they both are not as strong and will clean your beard without stripping everything. A beard shampoo will foam more so it’s a nicer experience but baby shampoo will work.
Wash your beard only when you need to with shampoo. Once or twice a week is enough.
The secret weapon. Everyone talks about beard oil for soft beard but less is said about conditioner. Use a hair conditioner. You can do this every day. I use whatever fancy conditioner my wife is into at the time.
Oils. The two main ingredients in beard oil are Aragon Oil (morrocan oil) which costs/nourishes the hair. Jojoba oil which moisturiser the skin and prevents itching etc. You can buy these separately or buy them in a bead oil but make sure they are cold pressed. You can also buy a beard oil with these mixed together with a nice scent and other essential oils for fragrance etc. however most importantly the main ingredient has to be cold pressed oil as this is natural as opposed to put a watered down cheap beard oil on your face which won’t help.
Castor Oil - I discovered this by chance. My wife had this and did not use it on her hair as it was like glue. I put a few drops on my beard and immediately it’s like is this glue. Rub it in well and leave for a couple of hours or overnight it will be absorbed. You can the wash with a beard/ baby shampoo and all the oil will be replaced on your beard. Do this only once a week as it’s really oily.
Bore Hair Brush - I was using a plastic brush at the start. Brought a Bore Hair Beard Brush and it’s a game changer. Makes your beard really soft. If there are two things i would take from the above it would be Bore Hair brush, conditioner and if I was allowed a third beard oil.
Hope this helps.