Barbasol · Shaving Cream
Barbasol Soothing Aloe Thick Rich Shaving Cream
Lower concern; typical aerosol shaving cream with no known PFAS triggers, but brand offers no explicit statement.
Barbasol Soothing Aloe is a conventional water-based shaving cream with no known Teflon-family coating coatings, non-stick surfaces, or water-repellent treatments that would require PFAS. The brand makes no PFAS claim either way.
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Water-based shaving cream with aloe and emollients
Brand disclosure
Brand is silent on PFAS
Lab data
No public lab test
Why this grade
Category baseline
cosmetics is a category where PFAS exposure is more common.
No PFAS disclosure
No public statement about PFAS in this product.
Safe base material
Made from a material with no inherent PFAS use (ceramic, mineral, or natural fiber).
The full breakdown
What it's made of and why it matters
Barbasol Soothing Aloe is a water-based aerosol shaving cream, not a soap or gel. The base is water plus emulsifiers, stearic acid (a fatty acid for slip), and glycerin for hydration, with aloe extract added for soothing claims. This formulation avoids the metal-leaching risk of shaving soaps in hard water and the burn-risk of heating gels; the aerosol propellant is typical nitrogen or isobutane, which poses no inhalation hazard in brief bathroom use. No talc, no silica powder, no heavy-metal colorants are listed on the label.
The brand's record and disclosure
Barbasol is owned by Perio Inc. and has no publicized safety controversies or product recalls in recent record. The brand does not publish detailed ingredient breakdowns or third-party certifications (e.g., EWG verification), and offers no explicit statement on PFAS avoidance or testing. This silence is typical for mainstream shaving-cream brands; it reflects industry norms rather than a red flag. The product is sold widely in US drugstores and has no documented regulatory warnings.
How it compares in its category
Barbasol's water-based aerosol formula sits in the mainstream middle of shaving creams: safer than bar soaps in hard-water regions, simpler than premium brushless creams with added silicones, and less prone to residue buildup than thick gel formulas. Compared to organic or certified-natural brands, it lacks third-party safety vetting but also costs a fraction as much. For basic shaving comfort with no special skin needs, it performs at parity with store-brand competitors.
If you buy it
Apply a thin layer to damp skin and shave within 30 seconds for best glide; the formula dries quickly if left on the skin longer. Store the aerosol can upright at room temperature, away from heat or flame (propellant is flammable). Do not spray directly into eyes or mouth. If skin irritation or rash develops after first use, rinse thoroughly and switch brands; sensitivity to fragrance or aloe is rare but possible.
Beyond PFAS: other things we checked
Established hazard classes for this product type, assessed from public information. These never change the PFAS grade; a Likely flag caps the Verdict at “Buy with care.”
Fragrance allergens
Barbasol Soothing Aloe contains fragrance and aloe extract; fragrance is a known allergen source for sensitive skin, though this product is formulated for mainstream use and no recalls for contact dermatitis are on record.
1,4-dioxane (ethoxylated surfactants)
Water-based shaving creams with emulsifiers may contain trace 1,4-dioxane as a manufacturing byproduct of ethoxylation. Barbasol does not disclose this testing, and no violations or detections specific to this brand have been published; typical levels in rinse-off products are below EPA health advisory thresholds for single-use exposure.
Aerosol inhalation risk
Propellants in shaving-cream aerosols (isobutane, nitrogen) are not toxic at the brief exposure levels typical of bathroom use. Inhalation risk becomes relevant only in confined spaces or intentional huffing, neither of which applies to normal shaving.
Formaldehyde releasers
No formaldehyde or formaldehyde-releasing preservatives (e.g., dmdm hydantoin, imidazolidinyl urea) are listed on the Barbasol label. Water-based formulations typically use phenoxyethanol or sodium benzoate instead, which do not release formaldehyde.
Talc or silica contamination
Barbasol Soothing Aloe is a liquid aerosol with no powder or talc listed; talc-related inhalation and ovarian-cancer concerns do not apply to this product format.
What we don’t know
This grade is a model-based estimate from public materials, coatings, and brand disclosure at 72% confidence. It is not a lab result.
No independent PFAS lab test is on record for this exact product. A lab test could move the score in either direction.
The brand has not made a specific, verifiable PFAS-free statement, so part of this score reflects that missing disclosure rather than a confirmed material.
Formulations and coatings change between production runs. Always check the current label before buying.
Safer alternatives in Shaving Cream
Baxter of California
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✓Bare metal or glass, no coating at all
Kiehl's
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Lower PFAS concern, standard razor and aftercare gel with no known PFAS triggers, but brand discloses nothing.
⚠Risky category by default
Aesop
Moroccan Neroli Shaving Duet with 60ml Serum and Lotion
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Lower PFAS concern for this leave-on cosmetic; no special coatings flagged.
⚠Risky category by default
More shaving cream 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.