Burt's Bees · Body Wash
Burt's Bees Baby Foaming Shampoo & Wash
Lower concern, liquid baby wash unlikely to contain PFAS, but brand offers no explicit commitment.
Burt's Bees Baby Foaming Shampoo & Wash is a rinse-off liquid cosmetic with no known PFAS-prone features (no waterproofing, stain resistance, or nonstick coatings needed). The brand makes no public PFAS disclosure or claim, which is typical for rinse-off products.
Shop Burt's Bees on Amazon →Material
water-based formula, 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 Foaming Shampoo & Wash is a water-based formula containing botanical extracts (shea butter, honey, coconut oil) and mild surfactants designed for sensitive infant skin. The product is free of synthetic fragrances, phthalates, and parabens according to product labeling. Water-based formulations for baby care carry substantially lower leaching and volatility risks than oil-based or solvent-heavy alternatives, and botanical extracts are generally regarded as lower-hazard than synthetic actives in rinse-off products.
The brand's record and disclosure
Burt's Bees holds NSF certification for natural personal care and has a long-standing reputation for transparency on ingredient sourcing. The brand does not explicitly disclose PFAS testing or commitments, which is not unusual in the baby care segment. No significant recalls or regulatory actions against this product line have been publicly documented. The company provides ingredient lists on packaging and website, supporting consumer verification.
How it compares in its category
Among foaming baby washes, this product is positioned in the premium natural segment and avoids common budget-brand hazards such as triclosan, undisclosed fragrance allergens, and harsh sulfates. Compared to unscented clinical alternatives (CeraVe, Cetaphil), it offers botanical appeal but carries slightly higher inherent complexity due to extract ingredients; however, in a rinse-off format, this complexity poses minimal risk. It is comparable to other certified-natural baby washes in hazard profile.
If you buy it
Use as directed and rinse thoroughly; foaming formulations are designed to be rinsed away quickly, minimizing skin contact time. Store in a cool, dry place and discard if the formula separates or changes color, which would indicate microbial growth or ingredient breakdown. Discontinue if any skin irritation occurs, particularly in infants with known sensitivities to botanical extracts. The product is not intended for ingestion; keep out of reach of children.
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 extracts)
Although free of synthetic fragrance, the product contains shea butter, honey, and coconut oil, which are known botanical allergens in some infants. Risk is low in a rinse-off product but should be monitored on first use.
Formaldehyde releasers
No formaldehyde-releasing preservatives (DMDM hydantoin, imidazolidinyl urea) are listed on the product label. The brand's natural positioning and NSF certification suggest avoidance of this hazard.
Heavy metals in botanical extracts
Botanical ingredients such as honey and shea butter can accumulate trace metals (cadmium, lead) from soil; however, in a diluted rinse-off formula applied to intact skin, bioavailability is minimal. The brand does not publish trace metal testing data.
Microbial contamination (water-based formula)
Water-based products require preservatives to prevent bacterial and fungal growth. Burt's Bees does not publicly disclose its preservative system for this product; if expired or stored improperly, foaming products can support pathogenic growth.
1,4-dioxane (impurity from surfactants)
1,4-dioxane can occur as a trace impurity in ethoxylated surfactants used in foaming cleansers. No testing data for this product is publicly available; however, rinse-off application and Burt's Bees' natural positioning suggest minimized use of high-ethoxylation surfactants.
What we don’t know
This grade is a model-based estimate from public materials, coatings, and brand disclosure at 82% 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.