Burt's Bees · Shaving Cream
Burt's Bees Cooling Shave Cream For Men Aloe Hemp Seed Oil 5 Oz
Lower-concern cosmetic; no known PFAS triggers, but brand transparency is absent.
Burt's Bees shave cream is a water-oil emulsion with natural-origin ingredients (aloe, hemp seed oil); it lacks the coatings, water-repellency treatments, or nonstick surfaces that typically require PFAS in personal care.
Shop Burt's Bees on Amazon →Material
cream base (emulsified water, 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
This is an oil-in-water emulsified cream combining water, plant oils (hemp seed, aloe), and botanical extracts with standard cosmetic emulsifiers and preservatives. The cream formulation means ingredients are dissolved or suspended in a stable base, reducing risk of concentration or degradation during use. Shaving creams are brief-contact rinse-off products, so skin exposure duration is short and absorption minimal. Burt's Bees does not include fragrance in this line; it relies on botanical extract scent, which reduces fragrance allergen complexity.
The brand's record and disclosure
Burt's Bees is owned by Clorox and maintains a publicly stated commitment to natural and plant-derived ingredients; the brand voluntarily discloses ingredient lists in plain language on packaging and online. The company has not faced documented recalls or regulatory actions for this product line. However, Burt's Bees remains silent on PFAS testing and PFOA avoidance in cosmetics, which is typical for the industry but represents a gap in transparency relative to leading skincare brands.
How it compares in its category
Shaving creams span from simple soap-based formulas to aerosol foams and premium creams. This product sits in the mid-tier natural segment; it avoids synthetic fragrance and prioritizes botanical actives, which is consistent with Burt's Bees positioning but does not differentiate it chemically from competitors. Most mainstream shaving creams (including this one) use standard preservatives and emulsifiers with established safety profiles. The hemp seed oil and aloe are marketing differentiators but do not substantially alter hazard profile versus equivalent unscented creams.
If you buy it
Store in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight to preserve botanical oils and prevent rancidity, which can cause skin irritation. Use as directed: apply thin layer, lather with water, and shave. Rinse thoroughly with water. If skin irritation or allergic reaction occurs (rare but possible with plant extracts), discontinue and rinse skin thoroughly. A 5 oz tube typically lasts 2-3 months with regular daily use; replace when separated or dried out.
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 contact sensitizers
Although synthetic fragrance is absent, aloe and hemp seed oil extracts contain natural compounds (limonene, linalool, other terpenes) that can sensitize or irritate reactive skin. Incidence is low but documented in botanical extract cosmetics.
Formaldehyde-releasing preservatives
Burt's Bees publicly avoids DMDM hydantoin and imidazolidinyl urea; ingredient lists available online do not indicate these preservatives in this product. Standard safe preservatives (e.g., sodium benzoate, potassium sorbate) are typical for this brand.
Heavy metals in colorants and pigments
This is an uncolored or naturally pigmented cream; Burt's Bees does not add synthetic colorants to this line. No documented contamination issues in the product category or brand.
Talc and talc contamination
Shaving creams do not typically contain talc. This product is oil-and-water based; talc is not listed in published ingredient disclosures.
Microbial growth and preservative efficacy
All water-based cosmetics require preservatives to prevent bacterial and fungal growth. If stored in humid conditions or container is left open, preservative efficacy can degrade. Standard use and storage minimize this risk.
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.
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⚠Risky category by default
Aesop
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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.