Always looking for good hand creams, I surprised myself the other day by picking up the Badger Balm For Hardworking Hands. The reason I was kind of surprised by my impulse buy is that it’s a solid hand balm in a tin. I’m not a huge fan of dipping my fingers into tins because I feel like dirt and pet hair always seems to follow my fingertips, resulting in a jar full of dingy fur. I also figured it would be terribly thick and/or greasy, which is another pet peeve of mine when it comes to hand creams. But still, something in me said, “try this!” I am SO glad that I did! J
I suppose part of my attraction was that the container is cute. I’m a sucker for cute packages, and the little badger holding a ball on the lid and the paw prints on the side just sucked me in. Plus, I kind of liked the idea of it being in a tin…that day anyway. I was hoping to find something more nourishing than the hand creams I have been using. Though I love my Out of Africa and my Nubian Heritage Hand Creams, I’m having more trouble finding them and I feel like they don’t absorb as well as I would ideally like. So, a new balm for the hands that came in a cute tin was the perfect addition to my basket.
The ingredients are simple, it is USDA certified Organic and carries the Leaping Bunny logo, plus it is a generous 56g/2oz (you need a teeny tiny amount so this should last quite a while). It is made from Extra Virgin Olive Oil, Beeswax, Castor Oil, Aloe Extract, and Essential Oils of Birch and Wintergreen. Simple! Nothing fancy in here, but it doesn’t need anything fancy because it’s amazing! I can smell a hint of wintergreen blended with something else – I would assume the birch, but it’s not too strong, the scent doesn’t really linger, and it is not at all offensive.
The product itself is definitely solid, but melts easily with the warmth of your fingertips. It is soft enough that you can also dig into it and get out kind of an ointment-type consistency as well. I know, that sounds weird and potentially really greasy. It’s not…well, I suppose too much could be, but I use about a pea-sized amount for each hand. Using that tiny little amount makes my hands instantly soft, supple and just healthy looking. After applying this genius balm, my hands have a slight sheen to them, but they just look youthful and hydrated, not greasy. I concentrate it on the backs of my hands because that’s really where I need it, and I despise having greasy palms – that’s not to say this makes your palms greasy because it hasn’t in the manner I just described. I can sort of feel something on my hands initially, but it’s not a greasy feeling. I guess I’d say they feel protected, softened and hydrated, but not greasy. I don’t feel the need to let the balm soak in before I can touch anything. If I have to wait for a cream to absorb before going about my day, I won’t use it. This does not give me that feeling. Yay! J
About how much I use to cover each hand
Another way to use this lovely little Badger Balm, is to just swipe your fingers over the top of the balm to pick up a thin layer of product. This works just as well, but it takes me a little longer to cover my hands if I don’t dig into it a bit, so I tend to only graze the top of the balm when I just want a tiny bit of hydration, or for a smaller area like my cuticles.
Also, don’t think that the Badger Balm For Hardworking Hands is only for the hands! It can be used anywhere you need so moisture. I’m not sure I’d use it on the soles of my feet, and I’m not sure it is safe to be used on the lips, but my elbows are thanking me for testing the balm on their poor cracked, peeling skin. My elbows are always flaking and often get sore from the dryness. I immediately tried this balm on my poor little elbows and they were almost perfectly smooth after applying just a thin layer of product! Not only did it instantly improve my elbows, but they haven’t been dry, flaky or sore since that first application! I have used it maybe twice a day since I bought it, and I think my elbows have been cured! J
I absolutely love the Badger Balm For Hardworking Hands. I find the scent pleasant, it absorbs nicely and does not feel greasy, my hands are ridiculously soft and moisturized, and it cured my elbows (almost instantly)!!! The only fault I can find is that the lid of the tin literally just lifts off, so it would not be great for throwing in a bag. There is a travel size version that may have a lid that screws on, but I haven’t seen the smaller version so I cannot be sure. Overall, if you’re looking for something to deeply hydrate and soften hands (or any rough patches) without leaving a horrible greasy mess behind – or even just in the market for a new hand cream, I would recommend checking out the Badger Balm For Hardworking Hands. I am in love, and now I want to try everything from Badger Balm!
I have seen Badger Balm products at a variety of places including Whole Foods and Ulta. It can also be found on their website. The Badger Balm For Hardworking Hands retails for $7.99.