What is the shelf life
of an unopened tin of Badger?
An unopened tin of Badger stored at moderate temperatures
should be good for two to three years. If you open it and it smells good, it
is good. Extremes in temperature and humidity will affect shelf life, so it
is not possible to give an exact expiration date. The date of manufacture is
imprinted on the side of the tin to give you a reference point.
How long will an opened
tin last?
As soon as you open a tin of any product and stick your
fingers in, the life span varies; again it depends on storage temperature and
humidity as well as how clean the fingers are that scoop out the product.
Essential oils will slowly but surely evaporate from an open tin;
that’s the pleasant fragrance you smell when you open one. You can
expect your opened balm to stay good for 1-2 years.
How can I make sure my
Badger stays fresh?
Keep it covered when not in use. Keep your product out of
direct sun when possible. Refrigeration is not necessary, but it will
certainly prolong the life of a product.
The balm in my tin of
Badger looks different this time than the last time I bought it. Why?
Because Badger uses only natural ingredients, the
ingredients are never exactly the same from one batch to another. Normal
variance in sunshine, rain, or temperature from year to year or country
harvested can all subtly affect natural ingredients. One year’s
pressing of organic extra virgin olive oil may be greener in color than
another’s or you may experience a stronger or subtler scent with an
essential oil. These are all normal and to be expected with natural ingredients.
What happens if one of my Badger products freezes or melts?
Can I still use it?
Absolutely. You may find that the consistency will change a
little. Sometimes the product becomes much softer and creamier if it freezes
and then thaws, but it is still absolutely fine to use.
Use in Pregnancy
I'm pregnant, are your
products safe for me?
Pregnant or nursing moms should always check with their
doctors. Badger uses only the highest quality natural ingredients. No
chemicals or chemical derivatives are used, and the essential oils used are
in low percentages, therefore moderate use should be safe for all. As with
all new products, it is best to do a Skin Patch Test* to test for possible
allergic reactions.
Use in Children
Can I use your products
on my children?
Sure. We have received feedback from Moms, Dads and
Grandparents that Badger Healing Balm and Baby Balm are safe and effective
when used on even the littlest Badger’s skin irritations, cradle cap
and diaper rash. Many people also use our Anti-Bug Balm, Sleep Balm and Bali
Balm as natural alternatives for their children. As with all new products it
is best to do a Skin Patch Test* prior to full usage to test for any skin
allergies and if you have any questions please check with your doctor.
Use in Pets
Is it ok to use Badger
on my cat?
No, it is not okay to use any product containing essential
oils on a cat. They cannot process essential oils in the same way that dogs
or humans do and it may make them sick.
My dog, cat, lizard ate my tin of Badger,
will he/she be OK?
All the ingredients contained in Badger products are natural
and in most cases if consumed by a pet will not be harmful. It never hurts to
check with your vet since different animals have different sensitivities to
essential oils.
Against Animal Testing
Do you do animal
testing?
Nope. W.S. Badger conducts absolutely no product testing on
animals, as all the ingredients are safe and “food grade” when
used in the proper amounts. (Essential Oils are always properly diluted.) We
test all prototype products on families, friends, volunteers and ourselves.
It’s fun. If the new product does not pass our tough standards it does
not make it to the marketplace. We have also gone through the process of
getting certified by Leaping Bunny which means that not only do we not test
our products on animals, but we have confirmed that none of our suppliers
test their ingredients on animals either.
Ingredients
What is Castor Oil and
where does it come from?
It is a soothing and emollient, cold-pressed oil extracted
from Castor “Beans.” The Castor plant is a lovely semi-tropical
shrub or tree whose common name is “Palma Christi.” By the way,
Castor Beans are poisonous, but Castor Oil is not. The toxic part of the bean
is water-soluble and is not present in the oil.
What makes Extra Virgin Olive Oil Extra
“Virgin”?
It is a “First cold-pressed” oil of olive that
has been pressed while the olive fruit is still fresh, resulting in a
low-acidity oil (this is what qualifies it as “extra virgin”)
that is a lovely greenish color, fragrant, flavorful and nutritious, and when
applied topically, very soothing and healing for your skin.
Do Badger products contain any animal
ingredients? Do you use oil made from badgers in your products?
No, our products do not contain any animal ingredients and
this includes badger oil. Most of our products do contain beeswax, which is
produced by bees.
Do Badger formulas contain any chemical
ingredients?
Absolutely not! Read our labels and you will not see any of
the following: petroleum derived products, sodium lauryl sulfate, chemical
additives, chemical preservatives, synthetics, dyes or fragrances, parabens,
or carcinogens. We are committed to being chemical-free and 100% natural. We
have also become a USDA certified manufacturer and almost all of our products
now bear the USDA Organic seal.
Do your products contain sunscreen?
Only our SPF 15 and SPF 30 products contain sunscreen. Our
other balms do help heal and soothe dry parched skin but offer no protection
from the sun. See our SPF 15 and SPF 30 Face & Body, and SPF 15 Lip Balm
Sticks for more information.
Do Badger products contain antioxidants,
particularly vitamin E?
Yes, Badger products have antioxidants and vitamin E, which
is naturally occurring in the oils, butters, waxes, and extracts we use to
formulate our powerfully pure products. We never add synthetic or laboratory
produced anti-oxidants or other vitamins; we believe that the best place to
get these is from the plants they naturally occur in.
Do our plastic tubes contain Phthalates?
No, they are phthalate free.
PRODUCT SPECIFIC QUESTIONS
Anti-Bug Balm
Can I use your Anti-Bug
Balm on my children? How about my baby?
Anti-Bug Balm is formulated with all natural ingredients,
including essential oils known to have insect repellant qualities. Essential
oils in high concentrations have the potential to be irritating to the skin;
however, the percentages in our product should not cause irritation unless
your child has an allergy or specific sensitivity. We have heard from many
users that the Anti-Bug Balm has proved to be safe and effective for their
children. As with all new products, it is best to do a skin patch test prior
to full usage and if you have any questions check with your doctor.
Is Anti-Bug good for ticks?
We have anecdotal evidence that it is helpful, but due to
the risks associated with these diseases we do not recommend counting on the
Anti-bug balm to keep you or your pet tick free.
How does is the Anti-Bug balm
effective for against mosquitoes and stable flies ?
Badger Anti-bug Balm is highly effective in controlling
mosquitoes and stable flies for up to one and a half hours post application,
in terms of 95% repellency. Efficacy remained high for up to 3½ hours against
mosquitoes and 3 hours again stable flies.
Sleep Balm
Where does one apply the
sleep balm to?
Just rub a little under the nose, temples and pulse points (as a temple areas, carotid area on
the neck and the radial pulse area)
Does the sleep balm helps those with
insomia requiring sleeping pills?
The sleep balm is not a hypnotic. It does not make you
sleepy. What it does is that it helps clarify the mind so as to enable you to
calm down and quiten your thoughts so as to enable you to fall asleep
naturally.
Does Sleep Balm contain any chemicals or
drugs?
Like all Badger products, Sleep Balm is all natural. The
fragrant, relaxing mixture of essential oils, such as lavender, helps to calm
your thoughts, and then you fall asleep naturally.
Winter Wonder Balm
Is Winter Wonder Balm a
decongestant?
Winter Wonder Balm can act as a natural decongestant,
especially when you use it in a steam. Just put 1/4 teaspoon of balm in a
basin of hot water, make a tent over the basin with a towel and breathe the
steam in deeply. The eucalyptus and other essential oils will help to clear
your stuffy nose so that you can breathe easier. You can also apply Winter
Wonder Balm directly to your sore, chapped nose and not only will it help to
clear your stuffy head, it will soothe your poor skin.
Healing Balm
Can Badger help heal
eczema and psoriasis?
Our products are not medicines or drugs, they are natural
remedies that support your body’s innate ability to heal itself. We
have received regular feedback from customers that Badger Healing Balm has
helped with skin conditions including eczema and psoriasis.
What is your best product for dry skin?
Tough question. Badger Healing Balm is great for dry,
chapped skin anywhere on your body. It has been used in Antarctica and in the
Arctic to protect skin exposed to very harsh
elements. Trapeze artists use it to soothe hands beaten by the bar.
Dish-washers, drywallers and medical professionals love it. So you
can’t miss there. That being said, all of our products are designed to
moisturize the skin in addition to their other properties.
Can I use Healing Balm on my lips/face or
is it just for hands?
The Original Badger Healing Balm and the Unscented Badger
Healing Balm can be used on any body part that needs it. We Badgers use it on
hands as well as legs, elbows, feet, faces and lips. Badger will soothe any
parched and thirsty skin.
Sore Muscle Products
Does Sore Muscle Rub
help relieve arthritis symptoms?
This is not a medicine or a drug and is not marketed for
arthritis pain. We do receive regular feedback that Sore Muscle Rub and Sore
Muscle Therapy Oil help ease the symptoms of arthritis. Scientific studies do
support the use of both cayenne and ginger as natural anti-inflammatories in
the treatment of muscle and joint stiffness.
Most of our products are safe to use anywhere on your body. Do use caution on
sensitive areas because essential oils may be irritating. Be especially
cautious with Sore Muscle Rub and Sore Muscle Oil, because they contain an
extract of Cayenne Pepper which is especially painful if you get it in your
eye. In particular, the Chilli pepper in the Sore Muscle Rub Extra Strength,
may stay on your hands for hours after application and can be painful if you
rub your eyes with your hand.
Badger SPF Products
Does the Badger SPF
contain PABA?
No, the active ingredient in our SPF products is micronized
Zinc Oxide which is very gentle and non-irritating.
What is the expiration date for the SPF
15 and SPF 30 Sunblock ?
These products are good for one year from the date they are
manufactured, which is printed on the tube. After that they may not protect
effectively from the sun and you should dispose of the old tube and replace
it.
Why is there a whitish colouration after
I use the SPF15 lip balm ?
This is a natural, mineral-based SPF15 lip balm and it does
have a slight whitening effect initially, but once you rub it over a few
times, it leave a nice pinkish/purplish glow to your lips. To minimize the
whitish colour, apply sparingly and use your fingers or lips to spread the
lip balm thoroughly. Acts as a good sunscreen base for lipsticks too.
Evolving Body
Balm
Is Evolving Body Balm
good for scars?
Yes, this is a good product to use on healing wounds or scars.
The Sea buckthorn Berry
is a particularly good ingredient for skin rejuvenation and has been used
traditionally for thousands of years for this purpose.
Bali Balm and Cuticle Care Balm
What are those bumps in
my Bali Balm/Cuticle Care Balm ?
Those bumps are precious little pieces of Shea Butter. The
Shea Butter will occasionally separate a bit, but it is not a problem and the
little bumps will melt right away as you rub the balm into your skin.
Soaps
Are Badger soaps
biodegradable?
They sure are! Our soaps are natural and unmilled and
contain only natural saponified oils; they are 100% biodegradable as well as
super gentle due to their high glycerin content.
Body Butter
Why is my body Butter runny or too solid
to squeeze out of the tube?
Body Butters are made with lots of natural and unrefined
cocoa butter and the melting point for cocoa butter is about 98 degrees
Fahrenheit (or 36.7oC). Therefore, if you leave your Body Butter where the
temperature is above 90 oF (or 32.2 oC) it can get quite liquid, or if it is
below 70 oF (or 21.1 oC) it will be quite firm. If you warm the tube in your
hand or stick it in the fridge this should solve the problem.
*Skin Patch Test: We mentioned this a few times. Some people
are sensitive to essential oils. When in doubt, test. Apply a small amount of
the product you are testing to the inside of your elbow or any other
sensitive area. Best to cover it with a band-aid. Leave it overnight. In the
morning check for signs of irritation or other skin sensitivity.
