Badger Sport Unscented Broad Spectrum Sunscreen SPF 35

9 Reviews

1. 

   innocentPiglet7

   Reply

   This sunscreen is an instant fave for me. It’s ocean safe, non-nano, biodegradable, cruelty free, and with one of the highest ratings of zinc oxide I’ve seen (22.5%). I was really worried when I first put it on because it is WHITE. However, I found that using small portions and slowly covering my face and neck by patting it in worked pretty well.
   I recently started combining this with other things to help its spreadablitiy. I still use the same amount of sunscreen, however I combine with aloe vera gel (and sometimes other face treatments, like rose hip oil and hyaluronic acid), rub it together in my hands, and then spread it over my face. This seems to really help speed up the process of putting it on, and helps the white cast to fade a bit. I do get a bit of build-up in some of the fine lines under my eyes, but if I pat them, they go away.
   The smell kind of reminds me of crayons, but it’s still a light smell and not really noticeable once it’s on the face.
   I gave the packaging good marks because I think it just does exactly what it needs to do with no fuss or trying to be clever. It works. It could maybe be sleeker packaging, but I don’t really mind it. Besides, the badger is cute.
   I recently switched to this from Drunk Elephant spf because I needed something water resistant as I’m moving to a more humid climate soon, but also just from sweating at work. I was out marshaling aircraft yesterday, with no hat and the sun on my face the entire time for many hours. I thought I must have tanned or been burnt. However, I did neither. The sunscreen really stood up (even though I really should have been reapplying it).
   Badger is also half the cost of Drunk Elephant, with more zinc and a better spf rating (and cruelty free, ocean safe and all those other things I mentioned). It may not feel as lux as Drunk Elephant, but I think it’s an overall better product that will do more for me in the long run.

2. 

   dearCaribou1

   Reply

   I brought this for my teen. I love natural high number SPFs. The kid said very little goes a long way.

3. 

   excitedPorpoise8

   Reply

   Great natural sunscreen , BUT there is a slight learning curve with it: apply the VERY thick paste formula to your palm, then swirl and mash it for a good 10 seconds to warm the formula up, before dabbing dots of it all over your face. Then using your fingertips, press and pat the formula into your skin. A lingering touch (to further warm it) really helps. Minimal rubbing is key, instead focus on patting and spreading with your finger tips. I find a little bit of rubbing toward the end, when the formula is all warmed up and evenly spread, and disappearing, helps to disperses the slight white cast, which if done properly, patiently, is minimal. When you can just barely discern a white cast, you’re done.

   The very, very slight lingering white cast will dissipate further, over 30 minutes or so. However, there may be a hint of it left, depending on your coloring. This is just the nature of the beast with non-nano zinc exclusive sunscreens, period. I don’t find it too ghost-eee or noticeable—more of a lightening effect—and consider it a very acceptable trade off for the benefits of Badger’s Sport formula–incredible staying power and the best UVA protection possible from one of the highest zinc contents on the market.

   I find this formula moisturizing for my dry skin, though after several hours, like most zinc formulas, and particularly on low humidity days, it might feel a little drying and “maskey”. I much prefer the natural oil and wax formula of Badger’s paste formula over the almost universal silicone formulas of everyone else. Again, the maskey feeling is just part of mineral formulated sunscreens—the zinc needs to sit on the top layer of your skin to bounce the sun’s rays away, and is not suppose to sink into your skin.

4. 

   hushedSeagull5

   Reply

   One of the greasiest sunscreen I have ever used.

   One thing I’ve noticed “natural” companies do with their products is that they put a lot of oils in them. It seems that they lack the technical knowledge to create water based formulations. It is so much easier to whip everything up using oily ingredients.

   It doesn’t matter anymore if this uses mineral sunscreen compared to a chemical one if you can’t actually use it.

   I don’t know any normal people who would be using this product. Perhaps only those with the driest skin on the planet can be slightly interested in this.

5. 

   cruelWeaver4

   Reply

   I’ve been on MUA for nearly 10 years and I’ve spent most of that time knocking and mocking Badger sunscreens. I’ve used the term “Badger-like” as the epitome of unwearable chalky greasy clown-face horror, applied to the kinds of sunscreen that give zinc oxide and all things green, sustainable, and ethical a bad name. Those things were true of the last version of this sunscreen that I tried, several years ago, before its 2014/15 reformulation. It is now not only no longer “Badger-like” but—on me, anyway—a perfectly wearable and decent sunscreen.

   WHY ON EARTH DID I EVEN TRY THIS STUFF?

   Pure luck. I was on a work trip in January 2017, and the good people of airport security considered that my sunscreen (decanted into a 50 ml container, how I’ve travelled with things like this for nearly 20 years) looked dangerous so they confiscated it. So I went shopping for sunscreen tired, in a hurry, and with jet-lag. And this is what I ended up with.

   PACKAGING

   It’s in a flip-cap tube and still squeezes out as a thick paste. Yes, it is still a greasy paste. And it has a picture of a friendly-looking badger surfing on the front. The badger doesn’t look especially athletic but looks happy, contented, comfortable, and comforting. I’m not prone to packaging, branding, and marketing and usually consider them all to be manipulative heinous evils; but I admit that I’m a sucker for a cute badger.

   APPLICATION

   I found it worked best applied to moisturised dry skin. Squeeze out enough of the sunscreen to cover the top joint of a finger. Rub hands together to warm the sunscreen up and make it spreadable. Dot onto neck and ears, then spread. Repeat process for face. Put remainder or more on hands.

   The Badger settled well, better than silicone-base sunscreens. I got some chalky beading on areas that were still damp: lesson learned, make sure skin is completely dry first. It doesn’t seem to transfer or run off, if it runs into eyes it doesn’t sting, and skin feels comfortable and soft. No, it didn’t make me look like some dewy celebrity creature, or turn me into a shimmering glowing transcendence, or even just allow me to feel like a deity for a quick fleeting moment. But so far it’s given me the superpower of going outside without bursting into flames or allergic boils.

   CAVEATS

   YMMV as ever, as per the ancient aphorism: “know thyself.” My skin is physically thin / fragile, has on-off eczema and assorted amusing sensitivities, and is dryish. It needs sun protection, as I’m a flammable redhead. It reacts with shock and horror to most filters but likes zinc oxide. It is also photosensitive and super-reactive in the springtime, combined with other seasonal allergies. It likes bland vanilla really boring things. Non-boring is usually bad on this skin, as it means damage and pain.

   While this sunscreen has been fine in spring, which is a good test for tolerance at this skin’s most intolerant time of year, I haven’t yet tested it in strong summer sunshine. I will update this review as needed depending on what happens next…

   COMPARISONS

   Other sunscreens used recently / in the last couple of years:
   CoTZ sensitive / pediatric SPF 40
   Derma E face / body SPF 30
   Replenix sheer physical spray SPF 50
   Vanicream SPF 50

   ETHICS

   Cruelty-free company, with a long exemplary record in sourcing ingredients sustainably and employing humans equitably and ethically, and not insulting customers. For example, not treating them as cash-cows for short-term profiteering. Costs from $ 13.59 to CA $ 23.50

   INGREDIENTS

   Non-Nano Uncoated Zinc Oxide 22.5%
   Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Seed Oil, Cera Alba (Beeswax), Simmondsia Chinensis (Jojoba) Seed Oil, Tocopherol (Sunflower Vitamin E).

6. 

   kindSeafowl7

   Reply

   I love that this brand is non toxic. Great for kids and babies too. They also have fragrance free which I love. The thing I find with natural sunscreen is that they seem to sit on the skin and it’s ends up on my car door, but I don’t mind the product is good and I can carry it around.

7. 

   gutturalCamel0

   Reply

   Pro’s
   * Great UVA/UVB protection – I used this all last summer on my body while bike commuting and running and didn’t even tan…
   * No allergic reactions or rashes (body)
   * Fragrance (& essential oil) free
   * No irritating ingredients

   Cons
   * GREASY!! This product is so thick and creamy/greasy that it is nearly impossible to rub in. Once it’s on your hands, it gets over everything else you touch and coats it with oil/Wax. Dirt (and little bugs if you are biking) will stick to your skin like a magnet. It just feels dirty and gross..

   * Whitening! I’m talking “geisha, Casper the friendly ghost, friends and family asking me if I’m sick” white…. This sunscreen has an ungodly high zinc content and no matter how many minutes you spend rubbing this stuff in or waiting, it will leave a very obvious white cast on your skin. It’s great protection but looks ridiculous!

   * Can be sweated off – This stuff will come off after vigorous activity and it will roll off your skin in weird, milky white droplets. If you’re a hard core biker, it will get all over your bike seat….

   * Expensive…

   * Streaky and very difficult to apply – It’s very, very difficult to apply this. Even if you do it right, it creates white streaks and it just sits on top of the skin in a waxy/oily costing and feels uncomfortable.

   * Not for your face!! – It kind of goes without saying that something with this much beeswax and heavy oils will be pore clogging. I always broke out in red, blotchy acne when I tried using this on my face for an extended period of time. Not only that, it’s way too white to wear on the face.

   Summary: Although the high zinc content of this sunscreen offers great protection and is truly fragrance-free, it is far too greasy, heavy, and whitening for me to like.

8. 

   pacifiedAntelope2

   Reply

   I’ve been devoted to wearing sunscreen for years-rain or shine. I prefer mineral sunscreens, especially those with a high percentage of zinc oxide as it does not irritate my skin or eyes and provides excellent UVA/UVB protection. I always resort back to Badger sunscreen because I find that their formulas wear longer than most. My favorite is the Sport SPF 35 because it has their highest percentage of zinc oxide. You do have to take the extra time to let it absorb a bit and it does leave a white cast. If you want something quick that doesn’t require extra rubbing in or absorbing time then steer clear of this product. On the other hand, if you are looking for a simple and natural formula that provides great protection then take the plunge.

9. 

   boredSeahorse3

   Reply

   This review is for the Badger Sport spf 35. It has 22.5% non-nano zinc oxide and is unscented (no citrus or lavender oils), but the other ingredients are the same. Labels says it’s water resistant for 80 minutes. It comes off with my Theraplex lotion (seems cetaphil won’t remove it all).

   Application tips:
   #1 squeeze enough onto your fingers and rub it around there first to warm the wax and butter/oils, and it will spread like, well, butter.

   #2 I like to pat it in rather than rub as I find it’s kinder to my face and seems to get into all the little areas better this way.

   #3 after the white disappears, use a blotting paper to absorb the extra oils. This is actually a great technique for me, but those with dry skin probably will want the extra moisturizers. After I do it, I can actually see the white cast again, so I know the zinc is still there

   #4 I’ve timed it, and it takes about 4-5 minutes for the white cast to disappear on my fair skin. I usually wait that long, then do any concealer I may need before following it
   with powder to combat any remaining shine.

   I find this ss works better than any other physical I’ve tried at protecting against getting any color, freckles, etc.

   I use this on all my face except my chin as that’s the area I tend to be most acne prone, and I use Keys Solar RX there (actually all over before I apply the Badger) since it has never caused a breakout for me. I have not used this ss on my chin yet, so it may be fine.