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Thursday, April 12, 2012

Review: Badger Damascus Rose Antioxidant Face Oil

Badger is a brand that is probably best known for its very popular Badger Balm. A few months ago, I was sent an assortment of Badger products for review and today I'd like to show you a product that's stolen my heart:

 Badger Damascus Rose Antioxidant Face Oil
(retail: $11.99, 1.0 oz)

All ingredients in this product are USDA certified organic and Badger is cruelty-free as well. The Badger website contains lots of great info about the company and its philosophy. If you're interested in knowing more, please take a minute to read this excerpt from the website (it's quite informative and interesting):

Badger is a small, family-owned & family-friendly company nestled on the banks of the Ashuelot River in rural Gilsum, New Hampshire. We blend organic plant extracts, exotic oils and butters and beeswax, and make healing balms, lip balms, safe mineral sunscreens and other personal care products that work and feel remarkably good. Badger products are uniquely formulated blends of the finest organic ingredients available anywhere in the world. Our Philosophy of Formulation is simple: make products for people we love, and then share them with the world. We combine years of tradition, research, and lots of love to create products that work as well as you expect them to.

We hold every single ingredient to the "Badger Natural Standard", a rigorous look at the growth, sustainability, and supply chain of each ingredient we use. That means that when you use Badger products, you can be sure that you are using the purest, most natural products available. And because the USDA Organic Certification is a food-grade standard, our ingredients are even pure enough to eat! Badger's USDA Certified Organic Extra Virgin Olive Oil comes from a single estate in Southern Spain, and that very same Olive Oil is used by Michelin Star-winning chefs in France and Spain! In fact, all of the Badgers eat the very same Olive Oil in Badger's organic lunches, and many of us purchase it to use in our home kitchens. And of course, we use only the finest, Organic EVOO purest essential oils from the far corners of the globe. One example is the Organic Rose Oil (Rosa Damascena) that comes from Bulgaria - the blossoms are hand picked before dawn and steam-distilled the very same day. It takes about 5 tons of fresh rose blossoms to make one liter of oil, and Badger pays over $4,000 per liter for that precious stuff!
Reading the info above makes me really appreciate the fact that Badger sells this product for just $11.99 per bottle. Moving on...


There are four products in the Badger Rose Damascus Beauty Line and you can see the entire line here. This line was created for "dry, mature or combination skin" and it's described as "Antioxidant and Nutrient-Rich Care to Moisturize & Restore".

 


The bottle:



I appreciate that the "best by" date is clearly marked on the bottle of the bottle:


Yay for pump applicators:


So let's get to how this product has been working for me. First off, as you can see, this is an oil. It's got a rich, golden amber color and the fragrance is absolutely beautiful (it's a wonderful blend of rose, lavender and chamomile):



If you have never applied pure oil to your face, it does take some getting used to. I have very oily skin, and it feels counter-intuitive to rub MORE oil directly onto my skin. But trust me when I say that you do not feel like a giant greaseball after this product absorbs into the skin. Yes, it's extremely moisturizing, but my face does not feel like an oil slick when I use this product. In fact, when I apply it before bed, in the morning when I wake up my skin feels LESS oily than it usually does. I'm sure that probably has something to do with the fact that my skin doesn't feel like it needs to overproduce oil since I'm keeping it so hydrated, but more on that in a bit.

Given that this product contains nothing but pure oils, it's not something I can put on in the morning and wear under makeup. I tried it once, and my makeup slid around on my face during application. So if you have oily skin, I would suggest using this product only at nighttime, before bed. However, if you have dry or combo skin, you might very well be able to wear this under makeup. 

I've been applying this product every night before bed for the past several weeks, and it has not caused me any additional breakouts (I always break out in a few places during that time of the month, but this product hasn't made things any different or worse). What I HAVE noticed is that my skin feels more hydrated, but less oily. Like I mentioned a few paragraphs above, it's as if my skin has stopped overproducing oil (which it tends to do when I'm trying to strip it of all excess oils). Now that I'm adding oil to my face, I feel like my skin is literally saying, "THANK YOU, woman! I can take a break now!" 

I also feel like my skin looks/feels a tiny bit more "plump" and also a bit more even. Nothing terribly dramatic, but I did want to note that I feel a slight improvement in those two areas. Hey, any improvement is nice when you're in your early 40s!

FINAL VERDICT:  I know this product was designed to moisturize dry, mature and combo skin, and I do think it would work beautifully for those skin types. However, I was pleasantly surprised to find that it works beautifully to hydrate my oily skin when worn exclusively at night. During the day, this product is a bit too much for my skin type, but at night it's become a lovely ritual for me, and I think it's well worth the price tag. It smells divine to boot, and it's chock full of lovely, organic ingredients. I think it's truly a win-win.

You can find Badger products at Ulta, Whole Foods, Cracker Barrel and lots of other retail locations. Click here for a store locator or to order online. In the coming weeks, I'll be reviewing several other Badger products, so please check back soon if you're interested.

In the meantime, do you own any products from Badger? Do you think this face oil might be a good fit for you?

A sample of this product was given to Nouveau Cheap for editorial purposes, either directly from the manufacturer or from the agency that works on behalf of the manufacturer. All reviews on NouveauCheap.blogspot.com are the honest opinion of its author and editorial samples do not, in any way, affect the outcome of product reviews.
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32 comments

  1. I think I need to have this right now. It sounds LOVELY and I support small companies! Moving from SD to LV dried me out like a Craisin; I can definitely see myself using this at night!

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    1. Oh wow, I didn't know you were in SD before! :) And LOL at the "Craisin" remark!! Every time I visit LV I feel the same way. It's like the desert just zaps all moisture out of my skin.

      I love supporting smaller companies too, and I think you'll be very happy with this product if you try it--keep me posted?

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    2. yep...lived in San Diego (College Area)for 13 years. Big Lots in La Mesa and Rite Aid on El Cajon were my "jam" LOL. Moving here to LV last March meant a whole rearrangment of my beauty routine...especially hair products.

      I will let you know what I think of the Badger oil...it really does look perfect. As usual I read your blog and run out on the hunt! WHEEEEE!

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  2. It's too bad they don't have this on Ulta.com. I'll have to see if it's available at my Whole Foods.

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    1. I hope you can find it at your Whole Foods too!

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  3. Thanks for posting such a thorough review. I've been searching for a natural, cruelty free product to hydrate my my sensitive combination skin at night, and this sounds lovely. I'll definitely be picking this up on my next trip to Whole Foods or Ulta.

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    1. You are so welcome! Given what you've been searching for, this sounds like it might just fit the bill! I would love if you'd keep me posted on how it works for you if you try it. :)

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  4. I actually haven't heard of this brand, but this review has got me interested. This product sounds lovely.

    I'm on the hunt for more moisturizers/hydrating products. :)

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    1. I'm so happy that I could introduce you to Badger! :)

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  5. I'm so sold! I'd love to try natural sunscreen. Thank you for introducing me to this brand.

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    1. You are so very welcome! And guess what? I'm actually testing out their natural sunscreen RIGHT NOW! I'll be posting my review in a few weeks (I like to give skincare products a longer testing period, so they always take me a while to test/review). :)

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  6. I'll definitely have to check this out! A word of caution: It's probably best you can't use it in the AM if it contains lavender. Lavender is photo-sensitizing and therefore shouldn't be mixed with sunlight. PM use sounds like the best option for this product.

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    1. Thanks for the comment! Badger let me know some info about the lavender in this product--I hope this helps!

      From Badger:

      About Lavender being photosensitizing: the short answer is that we do not use high concentrations of essential oils, and in order for them to be photosensitizing there needs to be a certain concentration of the oil. I can’t give you the exact amount, but Lavender accounts for less than half of a percent (<0.50%) of the finished formula. In order for it to be in any sort of danger level you’d have to apply practically full strength.

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  7. I've never tried anything by Badger, but this sounds like it would be a good product for me. I use jojoba and coconut oil to moisturize my face and body, and jojoba oil to take off my eyemakeup... I have very dry skin, and my skin loves me for it! In fact, I often add a very thin layer of oil to my face underneath traditional face creams and moisturizers. At any rate, I will have to check this out!

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    1. Oh wow! Given what you already use, I think you might really love this product! Please please keep me posted if you try it? I'd LOVE to know what you think of it!

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  8. I think i'm going to need this once i'm off to purdue for college. Heard it was cold there, i think i'll need an endless supply of moisturizers -_______-
    i loooove lavender. I love anything that smells like it LOL

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    1. Oooh, congrats on Purdue! I LOVED my college years and living in the dorms... *sigh* :)

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  9. Thanks so much for this review! I do love various Badger Balms already, the sleepytime is one of my favorites. I'm definitely looking for more cruelty-free, organic, and limited-ingredient health and beauty products as I get older (and if it helps "plump" up those fine lines all the better!) And while I also have oily skin, your review of it actually seeming to diminish excessive oil production when used at night is definitely encouraging!

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    1. You are so welcome! And now I'm even MORE excited to try Sleepytime (it's one of the other products I received for review!). Since you're a fellow oily-skinned gal, I would really love to know if you agree with my take on this product if you try it. Please keep me posted? :)

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  10. Thanks for the great review! I've been eyeing the Badger Balms at Whole Foods, but was hesitant to take the plunge. I've been using straight Jojoba and Seabuckthorn oils on my oily skin, and was tinkering to make my own potion, when lo, Badger has already made something even better. I adore the scent of rose otto! Jojoba ain't cheap, so $11 for a nice glass pump bottle of all these oils together sounds like a steal. I'm a little nervous about the lavender oil as it can be photo sensitizing and mimic estrogen, but I imagine it's such a small amount it would hardly make a difference.

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    1. Thanks so much! And please do take a look at Badger's response to the lavender in this product in my comment above to Stella Louise. Hope that helps!

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  11. I've been using jojoba oil to moisturize my face and it's pretty great. I know what you mean about the unintuitiveness of putting more oil on your face, but jojoba oil is so light and blends in so well with my own skin that it doesn't feel too greasy at all. Much lighter than the other oils I've used in the past like sweet almond oil or EVOO. I've got to give this a try. Is the scent very strong?

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    1. I would LOVE to know what you think if you try it! And regarding the scent, I wouldn't say it's knock-your-socks-off strong, but it's not a subtle fragrance either (probably due to the lavender). Sorry to be so vague but I hope you understand what I'm trying to say! :)

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  12. I'm excited to try this product!! As for the comments about lavender being photo-sensitive, I think that's why Badger recommends to use it only at night before you go to bed :)
    Thanks for your review!! ^__^

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  13. I'm so excited to try this product!! as for lavender being photo-sensitive, I think that's why Badger recommends to use this only at night before bed. :)

    Thanks for the review, I'l definitely try this next after 100% Pure

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    1. Actually, please.scroll up to my response to Stella Louise for Badger's response regarding the lavender. Thanks!

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  14. Thank you for reviewing this. I was on the verge of purchasing this but was just not sure. My skin is so dry I really could use it but was worried about breaking out. I look forward to you review of the sunscreen and sleepytime!

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  15. This sounds so good! Do you think you can combine it with Retin-a? Maybe apply one early then one before be!d? Thanks

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  16. I am beyond excited to try this!!!!I have been curious about oils for awhile but hadn't found a trusted review. My face can take SUCH a beating from the outdoors. I live in Central New York and the winters are brutal and I run outside year round. My face craves more moisture than I can give it sometime! Going to take a further look at the website!

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  17. Hi, always looking for products like this. Can you use this with a Retin-a? Maybe apply the Retin early in the evening and this before bed? Thanks!

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  18. Thank you for the review. This sounds like something I need. I was just wondering two things. Is it very easy to pick out the lavender scent? It irritates me, and I hope it's not too strong for me. Does this cause any stinging at all if you get it near your eye?

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  19. wow very great review! thanks for sharing your though

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