Burt's Bees · Lip Balm & Long-Wear Lipstick
Burt's Bees Lip Gloss
Low risk. Traditional cosmetic shows no fluorochemical triggers.
Burt's Bees Lip Gloss uses conventional wax and oil bases without disclosed water-resistance treatment or fluorochemical additives. No lab testing or recalls indicate PFAS issues.
We flunk more products than we pass. This one earned its grade. How we grade
Material
Wax, oils, and natural emollients (typical formulation)
Lab data
No public lab test
What Burt's Bees Lip Gloss is made of, ingredients and materials
Burt's Bees lip glosses are formulated primarily from beeswax, plant oils (often jojoba or sesame), and natural emollients like vitamin E and shea butter. This wax-and-oil base is inherently low-risk because waxes do not leach heavy metals or endocrine disruptors the way synthetic polymers or mineral oils can. The absence of synthetic plasticizers, phthalates, or silicone compounds typical of conventional glosses reduces exposure to volatilization and skin penetration of problematic chemicals.
What’s concerning
Category baseline
The starting point for this type of product, before anything specific to this product is counted.
No PFAS disclosure
No public statement from the brand about PFAS in this product.
Fragrance allergens (if scented variant)
Some Burt's Bees lip gloss variants include essential oils or natural fragrances (e.g., mint, berry); these can trigger contact dermatitis or allergic reactions in sensitive individuals, though no product-specific incidents are established.
What’s reassuring
Base material not linked to PFAS
The main material recorded for this product is not one associated with PFAS.
Beeswax purity and contaminants
No recalls or reports of contaminated beeswax in Burt's Bees formulations. Beeswax is a stable, non-toxic emollient when sourced from reputable suppliers; risks are low.
Preservative concerns (sorbic acid or similar)
Burt's Bees uses mild preservative systems (often sorbic acid or tocopherol) approved by FDA and low-hazard in topical formulations. No contamination or toxicity data on record for this product.
Microplastic or synthetic polymer shedding
Wax-and-oil formulas do not shed microplastics; this is not a concern for Burt's Bees lip gloss as it lacks the acrylate or polyethylene polymers found in some glosses.
Heavy metals
Burt's Bees uses primarily natural pigments (mica, iron oxides) in lip glosses; no lead, cadmium, or arsenic has been reported. Colorant safety relies on supplier compliance and FDA cosmetic colorant lists.
Source, FDA ↗The full breakdown
The brand's record and disclosure
Burt's Bees has a documented history of transparency in ingredient labeling and has avoided major safety recalls or litigation related to cosmetic hazards. The brand is certified by the Natural Products Association and follows FDA cosmetic ingredient guidelines. While the company has not published a formal PFAS elimination statement, its reliance on natural wax and oil chemistry makes fluorochemical additives unlikely in formulation.
How it compares in its category
Most conventional lip glosses rely on synthetic polymers, silicones, or acrylates that can off-gas volatile compounds and harbor preservative concerns. Burt's Bees' wax-based formula is closer to traditional balms and avoids the synthetic coating risks common in glossy finishes from larger beauty brands. This places it in the lower-hazard segment of the category, though it offers less shine intensity than silicone-heavy competitors.
If you buy it
Store lip gloss away from direct heat (above 75°F beeswax softens and may separate). Replace the product every 12-18 months; wax-based products degrade more slowly than synthetic formulas but can accumulate bacteria if applicator wands touch mucous membranes repeatedly. If you have a documented sensitivity to beeswax or plant oils (sesame, jojoba), patch-test before full application. No special maintenance is needed beyond keeping the cap sealed.
What we don’t know
- Basis
- Model estimate, 78% confidence, not a lab result
- Lab test
- None on record for this exact product
- Brand statement
- Burt's Bees has made a specific claim
Formulations change between production runs, so check the current label. How we grade.
More lip balm & long-wear lipstick grades
How we score, every product runs through the same public 0-100 rubric based on materials, coatings, brand disclosure, lab findings, and recalls. See the full methodology → Spotted a mistake? Report an error.