Burt's Bees · Body Wash
Burt's Bees Baby Bee Fragrance Free Shampoo Wash
Lower PFAS concern; traditional liquid cleanser without water-repellent or nonstick features.
Burt's Bees Baby shampoo is a water-based liquid wash with plant-derived ingredients and no reported water-repellent, stain-resistant, or nonstick coatings, the primary drivers of PFAS use in consumer products. The brand does not claim PFAS-free status, but the product category and formulation present lower inherent risk.
Shop Burt's Bees on Amazon →Material
Water, plant-derived cleansers, glycerin, botanical extracts
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
This is a water-based liquid cleanser formulated with plant-derived surfactants (likely coconut or vegetable oil esters), glycerin as a humectant, and botanical extracts. The absence of synthetic fragrance eliminates a major source of undisclosed allergens and 1,4-dioxane contamination common in fragranced products. No heavy metals, dyes, or Teflon-type coating-based coatings are present in a liquid formula, removing several hazard vectors typical of solid or coated products.
The brand's record and disclosure
Burt's Bees publishes full ingredient lists and holds Natural Personal Care Products Council certification, signaling commitment to ingredient transparency. The company has not faced major recalls or safety violations related to this product line. However, Burt's Bees remains silent on PFAS testing and supply-chain management, which is typical of smaller personal care brands but limits confidence in intentional PFAS avoidance upstream.
How it compares in its category
Baby-specific body washes are among the safest cosmetic products because marketing to parents drives stricter formulation. This fragrance-free variant is more conservative than fragranced competitors, reducing sensitizer exposure. Plant-based surfactants are standard in this segment and pose lower skin irritation risk than synthetic sulfates, though efficacy is equivalent for gentle cleansing.
If you buy it
Store below 25C in a sealed container to prevent microbial growth and preservative breakdown. Liquid cleansers do not degrade or leach over time the way ceramics or coated cookware do, so shelf life is determined by preservative system (typically 2-3 years unopened). Patch test on a small area if introducing to a new baby, as even mild formulations can trigger atopic dermatitis in sensitive individuals. Discard if odor changes or separation occurs.
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.”
1,4-dioxane (fragrance-related contaminant)
Fragrance-free formulation eliminates the primary route for 1,4-dioxane contamination. No recalls or reports of this contaminant in Burt's Bees Baby line products.
Formaldehyde releasers (preservative class)
Full ingredient list not verified in this assessment. Plant-based preservative systems typically avoid formaldehyde donors, but if DMDM hydantoin or imidazolidinyl urea are used, low-level release is possible. Check label for these agents.
Allergens from botanical extracts
Botanical extracts (chamomile, calendula) are generally well-tolerated but can trigger contact dermatitis or eczema in predisposed infants. Fragrance-free designation mitigates undisclosed allergenic fragrance compounds but does not eliminate botanical sensitizers.
Microbial growth during storage or use
Liquid cleansers rely on preservative systems to prevent bacterial and fungal colonization. Improper storage (warm, humid bathrooms) or contaminated applicators can overcome preservative efficacy, particularly relevant in infant-use products with immature immune systems.
Skin barrier disruption from over-cleansing
This product is formulated for gentle cleansing and does not carry established recall or adverse-event reports. However, frequent use can strip natural skin oils; once-daily bathing is typical for infants.
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 Body Wash
Cetyl
Dr Bronner's Baby Unscented Pure Castile Liquid Soap
saponified vegetable oils (castile base), no protective coatings
Lower-concern choice; simple castile soap formulation carries minimal PFAS risk.
⚠Risky category by default
Dr. Bronner's
Pure-Castile Liquid Soap
Plant-based soap (coconut, olive, palm oils); no coatings or treatments
Lower PFAS concern, uncoated liquid soap with no water- or stain-resistant treatments.
⚠Risky category by default
Dr. Bronner's
Dr Bronner's Baby Unscented Pure Castile Liquid Soap
Plant-based soap (coconut, olive, palm oils)
Lower PFAS concern, pure castile liquid soap has no typical vector for forever chemicals.
⚠Risky category by default
More body wash 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.