Burt's Bees · Body Wash
Burt's Bees Baby Bee Shampoo & Body Wash
Lower PFAS concern; typical rinse-off cosmetic with no known PFAS triggers.
Burt's Bees Baby shampoo is a water-based liquid rinse-off product with no waterproofing, water-resistance, or grease-resistant coatings, the primary PFAS risk vectors in cosmetics. The brand does not disclose PFAS status, but the product category and formulation type present minimal typical risk.
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water-based shampoo/wash, plant oils, 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
Burt's Bees Baby Bee Shampoo & Body Wash is a water-based formula built around plant oils (soybean, sunflower) and botanical extracts (chamomile, lavender) rather than synthetic surfactants or heavy emulsifiers. This composition matters because rinse-off products like body wash present lower systemic exposure risk than leave-on cosmetics; the product is diluted on skin and washed away within minutes. The brand avoids parabens, phthalates, and synthetic fragrances in this line, substituting plant-derived alternatives, which reduces common irritant and endocrine-disruptor concerns.
The brand's record and disclosure
Burt's Bees maintains a public ingredient list for this product and holds USDA Organic certification for the baby wash line, supporting claims of natural sourcing. The brand does not explicitly communicate PFAS testing or avoidance (as noted in the context), which is typical for smaller natural cosmetic makers and reflects industry-wide gaps in voluntary disclosure rather than confirmed contamination. No major safety recalls or complaints specific to Baby Bee Shampoo & Body Wash are on record in FDA databases or consumer safety archives.
How it compares in its category
This product sits in the premium, plant-forward segment of baby body washes, positioned against synthetic-heavy drugstore alternatives (e.g., Johnson's Baby Wash) and comparable natural brands (e.g., California Baby, Pipette). Natural and organic baby washes typically carry lower documented hazard profiles than conventional formulas because they exclude synthetic preservatives, fragrances, and dyes that trigger allergies and skin irritation in sensitive infant skin. Price reflects the organic certification and botanical content, not a safety premium, but the stricter sourcing standards do reduce heavy-metal and pesticide contamination risks.
If you buy it
Store in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight to prevent oxidation of plant oils, which can degrade efficacy and increase skin irritation risk over 12 months. Use a small amount (dime-sized) per wash to avoid over-moisturizing skin or leaving residue; rinse thoroughly with water. Patch-test on forearm first if baby has known eczema or severe sensitive skin, as even gentle botanicals (chamomile, lavender) can trigger contact dermatitis in 1-3% of infants. Do not expose product or container to temperatures above 77°F (25°C) for extended periods to preserve emulsion stability.
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 (botanical origin)
Lavender and chamomile extracts are natural allergens in 1-3% of sensitive infants, despite being plant-derived. Essential oils in baby products can trigger contact dermatitis or respiratory irritation with prolonged exposure in enclosed spaces.
Microbial contamination (preservative system)
No active recalls or contamination reports exist for this product. Plant-based preservative systems (e.g., potassium sorbate) are effective against bacteria and fungi when formulated correctly, though documentation of stability testing is not publicly disclosed by the brand.
Heavy metals in botanical extracts
Chamomile and lavender extracts sourced from non-regulated agricultural regions may carry cadmium or lead bioaccumulation. USDA Organic certification reduces but does not eliminate this risk; independent third-party testing results are not published by Burt's Bees for this product.
Formaldehyde releasers
This formula does not list formaldehyde-releasing preservatives (imidazolidinyl urea, DMDM hydantoin) on the public ingredient deck. Risk of undisclosed releasers is low given the brand's transparency and organic positioning.
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.