About Badger's Natural & Organic Sunscreens

Badger’s sunscreens are in a class all of their own! Our simple natural and organic sunscreen formulas use particles of zinc oxide (a mineral that protects your skin from the sun) suspended in an organic ultra-moisturizing balm base (the cream that is made only from pure plant oils and beeswax). Most other sunscreens are full of chemicals, just read their ingredients. Our natural & organic sunscreens have earned the highest ratings from the Environmental Working Group's Cosmetic Safety Database and have become famous around the world for being safe, natural, and highly effective!

Why use Badger Natural Sunscreens?

Badgers Emily & Mike cruising in the sun.

Badger Rebecca surfing, Mexico!

High Performance Natural Sunscreen
• Stays on the skin when you sweat or play in the water (water-resistant)
• Won't run and drip into your eyes when you sweat
• Starts working as soon as you put it on. No waiting
• Allows your skin to breathe
• Is strong and effective enough to protect you from extreme conditions
• Has no irritating ingredients

Highest Ratings for Safety and Efficacy
According to the Environmental Working Group's Cosmetic Safety Database, Badger makes the world's safest and most effective sunscreens. Currently we make 3 of the top 10 sunscreens in their list of over 1600! Other sunscreens contain chemicals that do not provide broad spectrum protection and many be harmful to human health and the environment. We don't use any of this bad stuff! We are also #1 in SafeMama.com's 2010 Safer Sunscreens.

Protects with Minerals not Chemicals
Badger sunscreens use micronized zinc oxide as its active sunscreen agent. Zinc oxide is a mineral that provides broad-spectrum protection against UVA and UVB rays. It works by sitting on top of your skin, acting as a protective barrier that blocks the sun’s damaging rays before they reach your skin. It is also said to have anti-inflammatory properties and is considered the safest and most protective active sunscreen ingredient. Click here to read details about the zinc oxide we use in our sunscreens.

A Badger fan in the BVIs.

Natural and Organic Sunscreen Ingredients
All of our natural and organic sunscreens contain 100% USDA Certified Organic plant oils and most contain organic beeswax as the base that carries the particles of zinc oxide. Because our formulas contain no water they do not need any chemical emulsifiers, nor do they need preservatives. These rich ingredients further protect your skin from the sun’s damaging rays. The CO₂ extracts of Seabuckthorn Berry and Rosemary in all of our natural and organic sunscreens provide antioxidant benefits to the skin. Badger's organic sunscreens do not contain any synthetic fragrances, preservatives, or dyes.

Ultra Moisturizing for Your Skin
The plant oils in our natural and organic sunscreens provide ultra-moisturizing nourishment for your sun exposed skin. We use organic and natural botanicals like Extra Virgin Olive Oil, Jojoba Oil and Shea and Cocoa Butters, which are all rich in vitamins and antioxidants and are great for your skin.

Water Resistant or Waterproof Sunscreen
Badger natural and organic sunscreens are formulated in an oil and wax balm base (no water) and as such they are naturally quite water resistant. All Badger sunscreens are tested for water resistance by an independent laboratory. Each sunscreen has been found to retain its original SPF on human skin after 40 minutes of exposure to vigorous warm water. We still recommend that for maximum protection you reapply as needed based on your skin type. Click here to read more about water resistant sunscreens.

Un-named Badger slacking at the pool.

Blocks UVB and UVA Rays
For decades most sunscreens only protected skin from UVB rays, the ones that cause sunburn. Scientists are now learning that UVA rays are also very damaging to the skin and dermatologist are recommending sunscreens that offer ‘broad spectrum’ protection, or protection from UVB and UVA rays. Our active sunscreen ingredient, zinc oxide, is a simple mineral that does an excellent job of protecting skin from UVB and UVA. It does this better than any other single sunscreen ingredient, even titanium dioxide. Click here to read more about broad spectrum UVA protection in sunscreen.

A lover of all things Badger (and an inspiration for our Anti-Bug Sunscreen!)

Safe for your Whole Family
We use simple wholesome ingredients in our natural and organic sunscreens that have all been used in personal care products for hundreds of years. Our active ingredient, zinc oxide, is approved by the FDA for diaper rash creams and for use on sensitive skin. Our other ingredients are all USDA Certified Organic food grade plant oils, butters, extracts, and beeswax. Badger has signed the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics committing to making products that are free of questionable and potentially harmful ingredients.

Safe for the Environment
Recent scientific studies have shown that several common synthetic sunscreen ingredients may cause damage to coral reefs and marine organisms. Many eco-resorts, coral reefs, and swim-with-the-dolphins parks are now requiring that their patrons only use mineral based natural sunscreens in an effort to minimize impact on the local marine life. Badger is exactly the type of sunscreen they are hoping you will have. The active ingredient in Badger sunscreens is the mineral zinc oxide that acts as a physical filter protecting your skin from the sun. The few particles of zinc oxide that do wash off of your skin when you’re in the water will eventually settle to the sea floor, like silt, and become buried along with the other sediment.

The base of our sunscreens (inactive ingredients that make up 80-88%) is made entirely of natural plant oils, butters, extracts, and beeswax almost all of which are USDA Certified Organic. Sunscreens do not get any safer for the environment. Click here to read more about biodegradable sunscreen and why our sunscreen is reef-safe.

Cruelty Free
Badger complies with the Leaping Bunny Standard ensuring that none of our products or ingredients are ever tested on animals. For this we proudly bear the Leaping Bunny Logo on all of our products.

Badger Sunscreen Frequently Asked Questions

Badger Chris surfing, Cape Cod!

1. How do I use Badger's natural sunscreens?
   a. To be effective, sunscreen must be applied liberally to all exposed skin. An average sized body (in a swimsuit) requires about 1oz (about 2/3 of a shot glass) for full and complete coverage.The FDA tests sunscreen efficacy using 2 miligrams of sunscreen per square centimeter of skin. The average human body is 18,000 square centimeters. By our calculations this means 1.2oz of sunscreen would adequately cover an entire human body.
   b. Rub in sunscreen to reduce whitening effect.
   c. Mineral based sunscreens, such as ours, are immediately effective and do not require time between application and sun exposure.
   d. If separation in product occurs, knead tube to remix product before use.
   e. To maintain maximum effectiveness, sunscreen should be reapplied often (depending on skin type), particularly when sweating, in the water or after towel drying.
   f. For sensitive skin, always do a skin patch test*. Apply a small amount of the product to test before full use.
   g. Keep out of eyes and keep off broken or unhealthy skin.
   h. Adult supervision recommended when using this product on children.

Do Badger sunscreens contain PABA?

No. The active ingredient in our sunscreens is micronized zinc oxide which is very gentle and non-irritating. We would not use an ingredient like PABA in our natural and organic sunscreens.

What is the expiration date for your natural and organic sunscreens?

These products have been tested to remain stable for at least 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.

What is the difference between “physical barrier” and “chemical” sunscreens?

Physical Barrier Sunscreens (like Badger's) form a film on top of the skin that reflects or scatters UV light. Most physical barrier sunscreens contain either zinc oxide or titanium dioxide. We choose micronized zinc oxide for our sunscreens because we feel it is the safest & most effective option - and zinc oxide has been used on the skin for hundreds of years.
UV light is divided into three wavelength bands: UVA, UVB and UVC. UVA and UVB are the two that reach the earth and Physical Barrier sunscreens are effective at blocking both. By the way, our sunscreen covers a spectrum of protection that also blocks UVC light. So this would be a good option for astronauts and pilots, who are exposed to UVC - no kidding!

Chemical sunscreens differ from physical barrier sunscreens as they soak into the skin, absorbing UV rays before they can do any damage. Usually, single chemical ingredients protect against either UVA or UVB, but not for both. So for broad-spectrum protection, you would need to choose a chemical sunscreen containing several active ingredients. Chemical sunscreens can be absorbed into the skin, are more likely to cause irritation or allergy, and can degrade over time.Visit our Broad Spectrum UVA Sunscreen page to learn more.

Badger Rebecca sailing, USVIs.

What is an SPF rating anyway?

SPF, or Sun Protection Factor, is a measurement of how well a sunscreen will protect skin from UVB rays, the kind of radiation that causes sunburn and is thought to contribute to some types of skin cancer. Visit our What Does SPF Mean? page for more detailed information about SPF ratings for sunscreens.

What about nanoparticles in sunscreens?

There is no short answer to this. Please visit our Sunscreen Zinc Oxide & Nanoparticles page for the full story.

Sunblock, sunscreen or sun screens; what's the difference?

Short answer: Sunblocks are an out of date term for skin products that block the sun's rays. The FDA no longer allows the use of the term 'sunblock'. Sunscreens are skin products that either reflect or absorb UVB and/or UVA rays and are FDA registered drugs in the USA. Sun screens are some sort of physical object like a screen, an umbrella or clothing. Please visit our Sunblock, Sunscreen or Sun Screen page for more.

*Skin Patch 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.