Burt's Bees Review, Is Burt's Bees Non-Toxic?
Burt's Bees averages 70 out of 100 on PFAS Authority's PFAS and toxin screen across the 18 Burt's Bees products graded as of October 2026, and 16 of them reach its 70 point pass mark.
Burt's Bees grades Good on our four-band scale.
PFAS Authority is a scoring system, not a laboratory. We do not test products ourselves. Grades are model-based, built from published ingredients, materials, certifications, brand disclosures and third-party lab results where they exist. See the rubric.
What Burt's Bees says and does about PFAS
In a statement to CBC Marketplace, Burt’s Bees said the company doesn’t use PFAS in its products, and Marketplace’s 2023 lab tests found no measurable levels of the PFAS it tested for in two Burt’s Bees products. Mamavation’s organic fluorine screening, a broader marker test, found fluorine in 5 of 7 Burt’s Bees makeup products, including 357 ppm in All Aflutter Mascara. A 2022 class action alleging undisclosed PFAS in Burt’s Bees cosmetics ended in a joint voluntary dismissal.
- Independent testCBC Marketplace’s 2023 testing found no measurable levels of the PFAS it tested for in Burt’s Bees Nourishing Mascara in black brown and Good Glows Tinted Moisturizer in chestnut. CBC News ↗
- Brand statementIn a statement to Marketplace, Burt’s Bees said it was not surprised by the results, as the company doesn’t use PFAS in its products. CBC News ↗
- Independent testMamavation’s lab found organic fluorine in 5 of the 7 Burt’s Bees makeup products it sent for testing, including 357 ppm in All Aflutter Mascara. Mamavation ↗
- Legal caseA class action filed on February 15, 2022 against Clorox alleged that Burt’s Bees cosmetic products contain undisclosed forever chemicals. ClassAction.org ↗
- Legal caseThe consolidated case ended with a joint stipulation of voluntary dismissal. CourtListener ↗
Sources checked September 14, 2026. A brand statement is the company’s own claim, which we report but have not verified. Our grades are model-based estimates, not lab tests.
Burt's Bees is one of the brands we researched by hand for our record of what every brand has published about PFAS, where the same question is answered for each of them in one line.
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Does Burt's Bees have PFAS, by category
Which Burt's Bees products are PFAS-free? Good or better, best-graded first
- Natural waxes, oils, and pigments (beeswax, jojoba oil, mineral mica)
- Fragrance allergens (essential oils). Product contains essential oils (lavender, peppermint reported in…
2 hazards checked on this product, all on its full breakdown.
- Liquid lipstick, likely pigments, oils, and waxes
- Fragrance allergens or sensitizers. If the formulation contains essential oils or fragrance compounds…
- Natural waxes and oils (beeswax, plant oils, pigments)
- Lead. Natural mineral mica and iron oxide pigments can occasionally carry trace heavy metal contamination…
3 hazards checked on this product, all on its full breakdown.
- Wax, pigments, natural oils (typical mascara base)
- Fragrance allergens and undisclosed sensitizers. Burt's Bees products often contain essential oils and…
2 hazards checked on this product, all on its full breakdown.
- Wax-based balm (beeswax, plant oils, minimal synthetic content)
- Allergenic fragrance compounds. The gloss may contain fragrance or essential oils (common in Burt's Bees…
- Wax, oils, and natural emollients (typical formulation)
- Fragrance allergens (if scented variant). Some Burt's Bees lip gloss variants include essential oils or…
- Natural waxes, oils, and plant-based emollients (beeswax-based lip balm)
- Fragrance allergens / essential oil sensitivity. Burt's Bees Lip Shine typically contains botanical extracts…
2 hazards checked on this product, all on its full breakdown.
- wax, oils, pigments (standard lip color base)
- Fragrance allergens and essential oils. Burt's Bees lipsticks contain natural fragrances and essential oils…
3 hazards checked on this product, all on its full breakdown.
- water-based emulsion lotion with mineral sunscreen (zinc oxide)
- Fragrance/botanical allergens. Formula includes green tea extract, gotu kola, and fragrance oils; while…
3 hazards checked on this product, all on its full breakdown.
- Water, glycerin, botanical extracts, emollients
- Fragrance allergens (botanical essential oils/extracts). Chamomile and calendula are generally mild but…
2 hazards checked on this product, all on its full breakdown.
- beeswax, oils, natural wax blend
- Fragrance allergens and undisclosed components. Burt's Bees SPF 30 lists 'natural flavors' and essential oils…
3 hazards checked on this product, all on its full breakdown.
- Wax, oils, pigments, beeswax base
- Fragrance allergens (essential oils, fragrance compounds). Burt's Bees formulas typically include beeswax…
2 hazards checked on this product, all on its full breakdown.
- Water-based emulsion with mineral sunscreen (zinc oxide/titanium dioxide) and botanical extracts
- Formaldehyde / VOCs. While Burt's Bees avoids parabens, the full preservative system is not always disclosed…
2 hazards checked on this product, all on its full breakdown.
- water-in-oil emulsion base; mineral/mica filters (SPF 30 active)
- Fragrance allergens (essential oils). Burt's Bees uses essential oils and natural fragrance compounds instead…
2 hazards checked on this product, all on its full breakdown.
- wax, oils, pigments, natural base
- Fragrance allergens. Burt's Bees lipsticks contain natural fragrance components (beeswax scent plus essential…
2 hazards checked on this product, all on its full breakdown.
- mineral sunscreen (zinc oxide/titanium dioxide) in lotion base
- Fragrance allergens and undisclosed components. Burt's Bees formulas often include essential oils or…
3 hazards checked on this product, all on its full breakdown.
Which Burt's Bees products contain PFAS? Poor and Bad, we’d swap these
- Wax, oils, and pigments (waterproof mascara base)
- 1,4-dioxane (processing contaminant). Wax-and-oil mascaras are lower-risk than synthetic polymers for…
3 hazards checked on this product, all on its full breakdown.
Find an alternative on Amazon
- waterproof film-forming polymer coating (unspecified)
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Find an alternative on AmazonWhat to buy instead Good or better, in the categories Burt's Bees sells
- Glycerin, silicones, pigments, film-formers (typical liquid cosmetic gloss)
- We found no PFAS statement from the brand
- Fragrance allergens and undisclosed components
- Oil-based lip product (mineral oil, plant oils, waxes)
- Fragrance allergens and sensitizers
2 hazards checked on this product, all on its full breakdown.
- mineral oil and shimmer mica, no waterproofing treatment
- We found no PFAS statement from the brand
- Fragrance allergens
2 hazards checked on this product, all on its full breakdown.
- Mineral sunscreen, zinc oxide base
- A third party reports verifying it as PFAS-free
- 1,4-dioxane (non-intentional contaminant from surfactants/emulsifiers)
2 hazards checked on this product, all on its full breakdown.
- mineral sunscreen (zinc oxide or titanium dioxide base)
- The brand calls it PFAS-free, which we have not verified
- Synthetic fragrance allergens
- Aqueous lotion with mineral sunscreen (titanium dioxide/zinc oxide) and ceramides
- Fragrance allergens and sensitizers
2 hazards checked on this product, all on its full breakdown.
Burt's Bees and PFAS, common questions
- Does Burt's Bees have PFAS?
- Burt's Bees averages 70 out of 100 on PFAS Authority's PFAS and toxin screen across the 18 Burt's Bees products graded as of October 2026, and 16 of them reach its 70 point pass mark. Grades are model-based estimates built from published materials, ingredients and disclosures, not lab tests. Burt’s Bees says it does not use PFAS, and CBC Marketplace’s 2023 tests found no measurable PFAS in two of its products, though Mamavation’s fluorine screening flagged 5 of 7 of its makeup products.
- Is Burt's Bees non-toxic?
- BURT'S BEES Lip Shimmer is the highest-graded Burt's Bees product we have scored, at 75/100. It depends on the product line rather than the brand, so check the grade of the exact item you are buying.
- Which Burt's Bees products are lower concern for PFAS?
- The highest-graded Burt's Bees products we have scored are BURT'S BEES Lip Shimmer, 3 Burts Bees Liquid Lipstick 802 Niagra Nude 0.2oz Ea, Burt's Bees 100% Natural Moisturizing Lipstick, Fuchsia Flood, 1 Tube, Pink. That is our model-based estimate from materials and public disclosure, not a lab test.
- Which Burt's Bees products should I avoid?
- The lowest-graded Burt's Bees products we have scored are BURT'S BEES All Aflutter Waterproof Mascara, Burt's Bees Natural Nourishing Mascara. Each one links to the evidence behind its grade.
Every grade uses the same public rubric. How grades work →