Burt's Bees · Shaving Cream
Burt's Bees Cooling Shave Cream for Men, 5 Ounce -- 18 per case
Lower PFAS concern; typical rinse-off cosmetic with no high-risk coatings or water-resistant claims.
Burt's Bees shave cream is a rinse-off cosmetic with no Teflon-type coating, Teflon-family coating, or waterproofing treatments typical of PFAS-laden products. The brand makes no PFAS claims and provides no third-party testing. No public lab data or recalls exist for this product.
Shop Burt's Bees on Amazon →Material
water-based cream (soap, glycerin, essential oils)
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 Cooling Shave Cream is a water-based emulsion combining soap, glycerin, and cooling botanical extracts (typically menthol or eucalyptus). This formulation avoids synthetic foaming agents and aerosol propellants common in conventional shave gels. Water-based creams rinse completely and are not designed to form a water-resistant barrier, minimizing risk of film-forming chemical accumulation on skin.
The brand's record and disclosure
Burt's Bees has a documented commitment to natural and organic ingredients and publishes full ingredient lists publicly. The brand holds no major recalls for this product category and maintains transparency around ingredient sourcing. However, Burt's Bees does not make explicit PFAS-free claims and has not published detailed PFAS testing data; their silence reflects typical cosmetics-industry practice rather than a red flag. The company is owned by Clorox, which has faced scrutiny on sustainability but no safety violations specific to this product line.
How it compares in its category
Shave creams rank lower in hazard risk than many cosmetics because application is brief, diluted with water, and immediately rinsed away. Burt's Bees positions itself as a plant-forward alternative to conventional foaming gels that rely on synthetic surfactants and propellants. Its cream format sits mid-range in terms of ingredient simplicity: more complex than plain soap but less laden with preservative systems and fragrance compounds than commercial 3-in-1 products.
If you buy it
Apply a small amount (dime-sized) to wet skin and rinse thoroughly after shaving; no special storage beyond room temperature away from direct sunlight. Check the ingredient list if you have sensitivity to tree nuts or menthol (cooling agents can irritate sensitive or freshly shaved skin). Replace if the product separates, smells off, or shows mold growth; water-based creams have shorter shelf life than anhydrous alternatives. Patch-test on a small area first if you have reactive skin, as botanical extracts can trigger contact dermatitis in susceptible individuals.
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 and essential oils
Cooling shave creams typically contain menthol or eucalyptus oil; these are respiratory and contact irritants for sensitive users. No recalls recorded for this specific product, but fragrance reactions are individual and not always captured in safety databases.
Preservative-related irritants (formaldehyde releasers)
Burt's Bees avoids synthetic preservatives in favor of natural alternatives (e.g., vitamin E, rosemary extract); no DMDM hydantoin or imidazolidinyl urea reported in formulations. This positions the product lower-risk than conventional drugstore shave gels.
Heavy metals in colorants or botanical extracts
No recall history or third-party testing reports indicate contamination in Burt's Bees cosmetics. Plant-based extracts can accumulate trace metals from soil, but levels in cosmetics are typically negligible and not subject to FDA-mandated disclosure.
Microbial growth in water-based formulations
Water-based creams are more prone to bacterial or fungal colonization if contaminated during use or stored in humid conditions. Proper closure and storage at room temperature minimize risk; discard if visible growth or odor develops.
Talc contamination
Burt's Bees shave creams do not use talc as a base; talc risk is confined to powders and body products. This product avoids that hazard class entirely.
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 Shaving Cream
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✓Bare metal or glass, no coating at all
Kiehl's
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Stainless steel blade; gel/cream formula (water, glycerin, botanical extracts)
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.