Badger me, please!

I gave a short review of Badger Balm Face & Body Sunblock in my first post, but felt it deserved a separate and complete review. I discovered this sunscreen after spending a day last October researching various sunscreens and their effectiveness.

Let's start with the economics. Badger Balm Face & Body Sunblock in SPF 30 comes in a 2.9 ounce tube that will cost you around $16. This is quite expensive for such a small amount of sunscreen, which isn't a cost effective option for daily, all-over use. I keep Badger in my purse and use it on my hands, arms and chest. If you are planning to use this sunscreen everyday and on your whole body, be prepared to pay a pretty penny for the replenishment of this product. I would recommend using the sunscreen for extended sun exposure at the beach or pool because Badger really does deliver reliable, long-lasting protection. I have yet to find a daily, all-over sunscreen that is all-natural and cost effective, although I have been meaning to try Mexitan sunblock (5.4 oz, $19), which seems to have all these traits.

The first thing you notice with the Badger sunscreen is the rather strong lavender scent. This does not bother me, but I can see it being a bother to some. One Amazon reviewer called the scent "medicinal." It just smells like strong lavender to me.

The main active ingredient in Badger sunscreen is 20.5% micronized zinc oxide, a mineral that provides safe and effective protection against UVA and UVB rays. This high concentration of zinc oxide makes for a serious UV shield on your skin. The problem with zinc oxide is it tends to leave behind a white residue if you're not careful to sufficiently rub in the sunscreen. This will happen with Badger, so make sure to rub, rub, rub! You still might be left with a very faint, whitish tint, which I certainly don't mind. It also takes some time for the cream to absorb, depending on the amount that you use. Even if it doesn't fully absorb, you get the feeling that you are extremely protected from those harmful UV rays. This sunscreen will also keep you protected in the water and while you sweat for 40 minutes!

The lotion itself is a bit thick and has a grainy texture. The graininess disappears once you rub in the cream. Badger doesn't spread easily once you have it more or less rubbed in, so before you start rubbing in the sunscreen, make sure to dab sunscreen in different parts of the area you are trying to cover, then rub.

The sunscreen also serves as a moisturizer, and to this end, the company has added olive oil, beeswax, jojoba oil, cocoa butter, and Wild African Shea Butter, all certified organic ingredients. Safe, effective AND hydrating!

If you don't mind the relative high cost and potential white residue issues, then I highly recommend this sunscreen, at least for use on your hands, arms and chest. Click HERE to read reviews on Amazon. Most complaints are about the cost and white residue.