Burt's Bees · Lip Balm & Long-Wear Lipstick
BURT'S BEES/LIP SHINE
Lower concern. Beeswax-based lip balm with no coating on record.
Burt's Bees Lip Shine is a beeswax-based lip balm with natural waxes, oils, and plant-based emollients. No water-repellent finish or treatment is on record. The brand has no PFAS statement on record.
We flunk more products than we pass. This one earned its grade. How we grade
Material
Natural waxes, oils, and plant-based emollients (beeswax-based lip balm)
Lab data
No public lab test
What BURT'S BEES/LIP SHINE is made of, ingredients and materials
Burt's Bees Lip Shine is formulated primarily from beeswax, plant oils (often jojoba or coconut), and natural plant extracts. Beeswax is a minimally processed natural emollient that forms a protective barrier on lips without synthetic polymers or extensive chemical treatment. The wax-based formula avoids common synthetic ingredients like silicones or plasticizers that carry higher chemical exposure risk, making the ingredient list inherently simpler and more transparent than many competitors.
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 / essential oil sensitivity
Burt's Bees Lip Shine typically contains botanical extracts and natural fragrance compounds (often mint, honey, or citrus oil). While generally mild, natural fragrances can trigger contact dermatitis or allergic reactions in sensitive individuals, particularly on the lips where skin is thin and permeable.
Microbial contamination from applicator
Lip balms and glosses with wand applicators can accumulate bacteria or fungi if the applicator contacts lips repeatedly over months. This is a usage issue rather than manufacturing defect, but natural wax formulas without synthetic preservatives may have slightly lower antimicrobial stability than heavily preserved competitors.
What’s reassuring
Base material not linked to PFAS
The main material recorded for this product is not one associated with PFAS.
Heavy metals
Burt's Bees Lip Shine uses minimal synthetic dyes and relies on natural pigments (mica, iron oxides) or plant extracts for color. No recalls or testing reports indicate heavy metal contamination in Burt's Bees lip products in public records.
Source, FDA ↗Formaldehyde / VOCs
Natural wax-based formulas like this typically avoid formaldehyde-releasing preservatives (such as DMDM hydantoin or dioxolan) in favor of natural preservative systems. No documented formulation issues with this product class suggest this hazard is not a concern for Burt's Bees Lip Shine.
Source, ATSDR ↗Talc contamination
Burt's Bees Lip Shine is wax and oil-based and does not typically list talc as an ingredient. This product class avoids talc-related risks that affect powdered lip products.
The full breakdown
The brand's record and disclosure
Burt's Bees is owned by Clorox and markets itself on natural and minimal ingredient positioning. The brand does not publicly highlight PFAS testing or commitments, which is typical for smaller lip care lines but represents a gap in transparency. The product line has no major recalls or widespread safety controversies in established databases. Burt's Bees maintains voluntary cosmetic labeling that exceeds FDA baseline requirements.
How it compares in its category
Most mainstream lip glosses use synthetic film-formers, plasticizers, and often Teflon-type coating (Teflon) for slip and shine durability. Burt's Bees Lip Shine relies on natural wax and oil, making it chemically simpler but with shorter wear time and less glossy finish than high-performance synthetic alternatives. It sits in the 'clean beauty' segment where ingredient transparency is a selling point; typical mass-market competitors offer more shine durability but higher chemical load.
If you buy it
Lip balms and glosses are applied to a highly permeable mucous membrane, so contact time is brief and systemic absorption is generally low. Store in a cool, dry place away from direct heat, as wax-based products can soften or separate. Replace every 6-12 months to avoid bacterial growth if the applicator wand contacts lips directly. No special precautions needed beyond normal cosmetic hygiene (do not share applicators; wash hands after application).
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.