Product
Information
Manufacturer:
Badger
Year of Manufacture: 2009
Manufacturer Website: www.badgerbalm.com
Guarantee: "Badger stands behind
the quality of every product we make. If ever a product
doesn’t meet the standards of quality you expect
from Badger we will gladly replace it or refund your
money-whichever you prefer."
Badger
Lip and Body Balm:
Listed Weight:
0.75 oz (21 g) tin (this is the weight of the
product and does not include the tin)
Actual Weight: Chai Rose: 1.30
oz (37 g); Cinnamon Bay: 1.35 oz (38 g); Lavender
& Orange 1.25 oz (35 g)
Measured Tin Size: 2 in (5 cm)
diameter, 0.75 in (2 cm) height. Noted on the
manufacturer's website that these are travel sized
tins.
Available Flavors: Chai Rose,
Cinnamon Bay, Ginger & Lemon, Highland Mint,
Lavender & Orange, Tangerine Breeze
Tested Flavors: Chai Rose, Cinnamon
Bay, and Lavender & Orange
Ingredients: Base:
Extra Virgin Olive Oil, *Golden Yellow Beeswax,
*Castor Bean Oil, extracts of *Aloe Vera, and
CO2 extracts of Rosehip & *Seabuckthorn Berry.
- Essential Oil Blends-Chai Rose: *Cardamom,
*Vanilla & Rose
- Essential Oil Blends-Cinnamon Bay: *Cinnamon,
Bay Leaf, *Sweet Orange & *Cardamom
- Essential Oil Blends-Lavender & Orange:
*Lavender, *Sweet Orange & *Sicilian Orange
* = Certified Organic
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MSRP: $5.50 USD
The Badger Lip and Body Balm products
are USDA certified organic. The tins are very colorful
with a picture of a badger with different background
scenery on each of the different flavors. The main color
schemes of the tins are also different for each flavor.
The sides of the bottom portion of the tins have the
words "Try it. Use it. Never lose it." and
badger paw prints in white that nicely contrasts the
main tin color.
The each tin had a "Best By"
date stamped on the rim of the lid. Each tin has the
name of the flavor printed on the back with "Soothing,
smoothing, fragrant & relaxing. This stuff works.
Rub it in!" printed below the flavor name. Below
this text is a list of ingredients with the USDA Organic
stamp. The company address and website is listed on
the back of the tin with the distributor information.
These travel sized balms have a tin
container that opens by turning the lid clockwise or
counterclockwise and by slightly lifting upward on the
lid. The lid closes by pressing the lid downward on
the bottom of the tin.
The balm itself has a solid consistency
and it is applied with my finger tips. This consistency
is not so hard that when I rub my finger tips on it
I have any struggle getting the product on my fingers.
It has a consistency that becomes softer when rubbed
with my fingertips. The color of the balm is a golden
yellow color for each of the flavors.
The Chai Rose balm has a light scent
that has more of the chai characteristics than the rose
scent. The Cinnamon Bay balm has a slightly stronger
scent than the Chai Rose and is purely scented with
cinnamon. The Lavender & Orange balm has a light
scent of lavender in which I can not smell the orange
scent. All the scents smell pleasant and light to me.
The lip and body balm is indicated
for use as a lip balm and to refresh dry skin anywhere
on the body. The manufacturer states "We hear they
are superb for achieving the after-leg shaving effect
known as Badger Smooth Legs".
| Badger
Sore Joint Rub:
Listed Weight:
2 oz (57 g) tin (this is the weight of the product
and does not include the tin). Also available
in 0.75 oz (21 g) travel sized tin.
Actual Weight: 3.05 oz (86 g)
Measured Tin Size: 2.75 in (7
cm) diameter, 1 in (3 cm) height.
Available/Tested Blend: Arnica
Blend
Ingredients: Extra Virgin Olive
Oil, *Cayenne Extract, *Golden Yellow Beeswax, *Castor
Oil, CO2 Extracts of *Black Pepper, *Ginger, Arnica,
& Rosehip, Essential Oils of *Lemongrass, *Cardamom,
*Rosemary, *Sage, & Thyme.
* = Certified Organic
MSRP: $13.00 USD
The Badger Sore Joint Rub is an Arnica Blend
that is indicated to soothe muscles and joints
in recovery from injury. The manufacturer states
"Sore Joint Rub with powerful Arnica and
Black Pepper CO2 Extracts. The Arnica flower is
well known for its remarkable muscle and joint
soothing qualities and for aiding muscles and
joints in recovery from injury. CO2 Black Pepper
Oil is a circulatory stimulant. As such, it can
help soothe the discomfort associated with poor
circulation, general stiffness, sprains, and sciatica".
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The fragrance base is black pepper
in which I find to smell appealing. The manufacturer
indicates that the "black pepper fragrance is said
to support mental clarity and focus".
The Sore Joint Rub tin has a colorful
design with a picture of a badger and the side of the
bottom portion of the tin has the words "Badger
• Hard Working • Hard Playing • Sore &
Achy Joint Relief • Rub it in". The tin has
a "Best By" date stamped on the rim of the
lid. The back of the tin lists the product name and
a list of ingredients with the USDA Organic and a Cruelty
Free stamp. There is also a caution statement "May
irritate some skin types. Test on small area of skin
before full use. To remove, use baking soda & cold
water". I tested the product on my wrist and I
did not have any reaction or irritation. The company
address and website is listed on the back of the tin
with the distributor information.
The Sore Joint Rub is in a tin container
that opens by turning the lid clockwise or counterclockwise
and by slightly lifting upward on the lid. The lid closes
by pressing the lid downward on the bottom of the tin.
The balm itself has a solid consistency
and it is applied with my finger tips. This consistency
is not so hard that when I rub my finger tips on it
I have any struggle getting the product on my fingers.
It has a consistency that becomes softer when rubbed
with my fingertips. The color of the balm is a light
orange color.
Badger
Healing Balm:
Listed Weight:
2 oz (57 g) tin (this is the weight of the product
and does not include the tin). Also available
in 0.75 oz (21 g) travel sized tin.
Actual Weight: 3.00 oz (86 g)
Measured Tin Size: 2.75 in (7
cm) diameter, 1 in (3 cm) height.
Ingredients: *Extra Virgin Olive
Oil, *Golden Yellow Beeswax, *Castor Oil, *Aloe
Vera Extract, and Essential Oil of Sweet Birch.
* = Certified Organic
MSRP: $8.00 USD
The Badger Healing Balm is a certified organic
product that is indicated for use for cracked,
chapped, rough, weathered, and dry skin. The lid
of the tin has the words "For Hardworking
Hands". This is also indicated to soothe,
heal, and protect. The directions on the bottom
of the tin state "Just rub it in, use it
regularly & expect results". The manufacturer
indicates that this product is "tough enough
to soothe rough, dry skin, but gentle enough to
use every day".
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The tin has a colorful design with a picture of a badger
and the side of the bottom portion of the tin has the
words "Badger • This Stuff Works• Try It•
Rub it in" and some badger paw prints. The tin
has a "Best By" date stamped on the rim of
the lid. The back of the tin lists the product name
and a list of ingredients with the USDA Organic stamp
and a Cruelty Free stamp. The company address and website
is listed on the back of the tin with the distributor
information.
The scent of the Healing Balm is a
very light wintergreen scent. I think this scent is
very pleasing and not overpowering. According to the
manufacturer the sweet birch ingredient "has been
traditionally used as an antiseptic, a muscle rub, and
to ease the occasional symptoms of skin problems like
psoriasis and eczema".
The Badger Healing Balm is contained
in a tin container that opens by turning the lid clockwise
or counterclockwise and by slightly lifting upward on
the lid. The lid closes by pressing the lid downward
on the bottom of the tin.
Just as the other balms in this report
series, the Healing Balm has a solid consistency and
it is applied with my finger tips. This consistency
is not so hard that when I rub my finger tips on it
I have any struggle getting the product on my fingers.
It has a consistency that becomes softer when rubbed
with my fingertips. The color of the balm is a golden
yellow color.
Initial Impressions
I am very happy with my initial impressions of all the Badger
balms I received. Upon opening each product I noticed
that they all have a similar consistency and they all
smell very pleasant. The texture of the balms did not
appear too greasy for my initial impression. When I
rub my fingertips on the balm it seems to easily apply
to my fingertips. I will be adding more information
on my impressions of these products after I test them
in the field for approximately three months.
The Badger website is informative and
lists the ingredients, indicated usage, and testimonials
of the products. All these products can be ordered directly
from the manufacturer.
Long
Term Report
July
7, 2009 |
Testing Locations
During the testing period of the Badger products
I have used them almost daily. The products have been
used in both Utah and California.
Utah: I used the Badger Balms
while visiting my former home state of Utah for
day-hikes, a century bike ride, and daily use. My
day hikes were in the Wasatch-Cache
Mountain National Forest. The temperatures
were in the mid 40's to low 70's F (7 to 21 C) and
it was partly cloudy to raining. The century bike ride
started in Wellsville, Utah and the temperatures
were in the mid 40's to low 70's F (7 to 21 C) with
mostly cloudy skies with a few rain showers.
California: The Badger Balms were
mostly used in California at multiple locations during
the testing period. Here I used them on backpacking
trips, day-hikes, while mountain and road biking, while
rollerblading, on my daily walks, and for generally
everyday use. They were used at the following locations:
La Jolla, Crystal Cove State Park, Whiting Ranch Wilderness
Park, Aliso and Wood Canyon Regional Park, San Jacinto
State Park, Huntington Beach, and the Costa Mesa area.
The general temperature range that the products were
used ranged from 50 F (10 C) to 101 F (38 C).
Performance
in the Field
Lip & Body
Balm •Sore
Joint Rub• Healing
Balm
All the products have
been exposed to temperatures ranging from 35 F (4 C)
to 101 F (38 C). At lower temperatures the balms are
more solid and it is more work to get the balm rubbed
on to my finger tips. At this temperature it takes
a few extra seconds of rubbing with my finger tips
until I get the desired amount of balm that I want
to use. When the temperatures are above 80 F (27 C)
or exposed to sunlight for any period of time the balms
become less solid and more greasy and oily like.
I have not encountered
any skin irritation from using these products. All
the products have a pleasant scent in my opinion. The
Sore Joint Rub has a strong spicy sent, but I like
it. The tins are durable and the lids are easy to remove
and put back on in the range of temperatures these
products were tested in. The large tin lids are not
so easy to open that they magically pop off in my
backpacks, jersey pocket, or in my purse. However,
the lids have occasionally popped off the smaller tins
(Lip & Body Balm).
I like the fact that
the balms are made from natural, organic ingredients.
Lip & Body Balm
At the conclusion of my long term reporting, I still
find the Lip and Body Balms (Chai Rose, Cinnamon
Bay, and Lavender & Orange)
to have a pleasant fragrance. My personal favorite
is the Chai Rose. I like the small tin size. I think
this is a perfect size for a lip type of balm.
During the testing of the Lip and Body Balm I determined
that I prefer a waxy, stick type of lip balm. These
lip balms give my lips a greasy feeling that gets absorbed
into my lips faster than a traditional stick
balm. I found that I had to reapply the lip balm too
often for my liking. My fingers stayed slightly greasy
after applying the balm to my lips, but I would just
wipe the remains on my other fingers, my arm, or even
my clothing (when outdoors or not in a fancy public
place).
I used this balm to moisturize small dry skin patches
on my legs and my face, and it worked well. After a
few applications the dry areas were no more.
When riding my bike I find more small gnats stuck
to my lips when wearing this lip balm. It may be because
of the greasy consistency.
Sore Joint Rub
The Sore Joint Rub was one of my favorite products
to use to help soothe my sore muscles. Especially during
and after a century bike ride in Utah. I used the Sore
Joint Rub one time during the event around the 70 mi
(113 km) mark to help reduce my leg cramping and fatigue.
In the evening after my century ride my legs felt like
they were on fire. I applied the Sore Joint Rub two
times that evening and once the next morning and my
legs felt like I had never ridden in the century ride.
I did not carry the large tin with me during the ride
just because it was so large and I was trying to cut
down on the weight. I scooped some of the balm out
of the large tin with a knife and I put it in a small
plastic container that had a snap lid.
The Sore Joint Rub in my opinion has a strong spicy
smell to it. This is from the black pepper. I find
the scent to be pleasant, but I had one person tell
me it stinks. I did not take notice in my initial report
how strong the scent is. If I forget to wash my hands
after applying it, and then rub my eyes, they tear.
Even when the Sore Joint Rub is on the skin for a good
30 minutes I can still smell it, but I do not mind.
This product works great for tendonitis behind my
left knee, tenosynovitis of my thumbs (from riding
my bike long distances), and for tight neck muscles.
The product gave me temporary to complete relief from
these conditions. I have been applying it behind my
left knee prior to hiking and walking to prevent tendonitis
and I must say that the area behind my knee is less
sore or not sore at all. I like to rub it on my thigh
muscles after riding my bike long distances. It definitely
helps with muscle cramping.
When the product is applied to my skin I can feel
a tingly sensation. When I put a large amount in the
same area the tingling sensation increases. I actually
like the sensation. With a liberal
application my skin absorbs the balm and there is a
slightly greasy feeling for a short period of time.
When I over-do the application my skin tends to stay
greasy for about an hour.
This product is now one of my favorite Badger items.
I will continue to take it with me while biking, hiking,
and backpacking; but I will most likely scoop some
into a smaller container for use on the go, just to
save weight and space.
Healing
Balm
Out of all the balms I have used the Healing Balm
the most. This is one of my favorite products. I can
skip pedicures at the salon by applying the balm to
my feet and then donning a pair of socks. I generally
apply the balm to my feet once a week and wear socks
to bed. When I wake up in the morning my calluses
are softened and there is no dry skin on my heels.
The Healing Balm works great for cuts and scrapes.
At times I would put the balm on the cut and top it
off with an adhesive bandage. The balm speeds up the
healing process. I tested this by only applying it
to half of a cut for three days.
I also used the balm
for dry nasal passages, dry patches of skin, rough
skin on my knees/elbows and for sunburn to prevent
peeling. It did not cool the sunburn, but it provided
enough moisture that my skin did not peel. In areas
where I forgot to apply the balm on my sunburned
skin that started to peel, there was enough moisture
that the peeling was not severe, and it quickly healed.
This is another product that I scooped into a smaller
container for use on the go.
Things That
Rock:
- I love the Sore Joint Rub and the
Healing Balm
- The scents are pleasant
- The large tin lids stay closed
and all the tins are durable
- No skin irritation from any of
the products
- Made from natural, organic ingredients
Things That
Are So-So:
- The larger tins are too large and
heavy for me to use on the go. I have been scooping
the balms out of large tins and placing them in small
plastic containers with snap lids.
- The consistency when they are exposed
to high temperatures
- The small tin lids pop off occasionally.
Remarks
This
concludes my long term reporting on the Badger Lip
and Body Balm, Sore Joint Rub, and Healing Balm.
Thank you Badger and backpackgeartest.org
for providing me with the opportunity to test these
products. I have enjoyed testing these balms so much
that I recently purchased the Sleep Balm, Headache
Soother, and the Stress Soother. |
