Burt's Bees Baby · Baby Lotion
Burt's Bees Baby Bee Nourishing Lotion
Lower PFAS concern, simple emollient lotion without waterproofing, nonstick, or stain-resistance triggers.
Burt's Bees Baby lotion is a basic moisturizer formulated with water, glycerin, and plant-derived emollients. It contains no known PFAS-prone features like water-resistant coatings, Teflon-family coating, or water-repellent coating treatments.
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Water, glycerin, plant oils, 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
Baby Bee Nourishing Lotion is a straightforward emollient formulation built on water, vegetable glycerin, and plant oils (primarily apricot kernel and sunflower), with minimal synthetic additives. This basic composition avoids high-risk ingredients like phthalate plasticizers, BPA, or synthetic fragrance chemicals that sometimes trigger irritation in sensitive baby skin. The formula contains no reported waterproofing or stain-resistance coatings, which eliminates the primary drivers of PFAS contamination in personal care products.
The brand's record and disclosure
Burt's Bees has a long-established reputation for transparency in ingredient lists and is owned by Clorox, a company with moderate environmental standards. The brand markets Baby Bee products as hypoallergenic and dermatologist-tested, though Burt's Bees has not published a formal PFAS reduction commitment or independent third-party testing results. No major recalls or safety controversies specific to this lotion are on record, and the brand does not use synthetic fragrance (relying on essential oils), which reduces formaldehyde releaser risk.
How it compares in its category
Among mass-market baby lotions, Baby Bee ranks in the lower-risk tier due to simple ingredient counts and plant-oil bases, similar to competing natural brands like Mustela and Aveeno Baby. Conventional petroleum jelly-based lotions (Vaseline, Aquaphor) carry no identified hazards but offer less sensory appeal to parents; premium organic baby lotions (e.g., Weleda) command higher prices for marginally stronger certifications. This product occupies a middle ground: simple enough for most babies, affordable, and transparent enough to allow informed decision-making.
If you buy it
Apply to clean, damp skin to maximize water-binding benefits; store in a cool place away from direct sunlight to prevent oil oxidation. Do not use on broken or severely irritated skin without consulting a pediatrician. If any rash, redness, or irritation develops within 24 hours of first use, discontinue and patch-test on a small area or switch products. Replace if odor, separation, or discoloration occurs, which signals spoilage of plant oils.
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 (essential oils)
Baby Bee uses essential oils rather than synthetic fragrance, reducing formaldehyde releaser risk, but essential oils (particularly lavender and chamomile in some formulations) can trigger contact dermatitis or eczema flares in sensitive infants. Patch testing before full-body application is advisable.
Plant oil oxidation and rancidity
Unpreserved or lightly preserved plant oil lotions (apricot kernel, sunflower) can develop free radicals and off-odors if stored improperly or kept beyond shelf life. While generally recognized as safe, oxidized oils may cause mild irritation in very sensitive baby skin and should be replaced if discoloration or smell changes.
Preservative concerns (if present)
Baby Bee lotions typically use mild preservatives like phenoxyethanol; no recalls or safety alerts for this product are on record. Phenoxyethanol is approved in cosmetics at low concentrations, though some parents prefer preservative-free alternatives for infants.
Contamination risk during use
Baby lotions are applied to skin multiple times daily and stored in bathrooms with high humidity. Ensure hands and applicator contact are clean to prevent bacterial growth in the jar; discard if contamination is suspected.
Heavy metal trace contamination in plant oils
No recalls or testing reports indicate lead, cadmium, or arsenic in Burt's Bees Baby Bee Nourishing Lotion. Plant oils used in cosmetics are typically food-grade sourced and regulated, though independent third-party testing by the brand has not been publicly disclosed.
What we don’t know
This grade is a model-based estimate from public materials, coatings, and brand disclosure at 78% 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 Baby Lotion
The Honest Company
Face Body Lotion
water, glycerin, plant oils, emulsifiers
Lower PFAS concern for this liquid cosmetic; brand claims and MADE SAFE badge support safe profile.
✓Verified PFAS-free by a third party
The Honest Company
Honest Nourish Shampoo and Body Wash and Lotion Duo
aqueous surfactants, glycerin, plant extracts
Lower-concern choice; PFAS-free claim backed by third-party cert, though personal care is naturally low-risk category.
✓Verified PFAS-free by a third party
Tubby Todd
Bath Co. Sun Sets
water-based formulation, mineral & plant-derived actives
Lower-concern cosmetic; PFAS-free certified and no high-risk ingredients identified.
✓Verified PFAS-free by a third party
More baby lotion 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.