Burts Bees Makeup PFAS “Forever Chemical” Lab Results

Do your favorite Burt’s Bees Makeup Products have any indications of PFAS “forever chemicals?” This was a question one Mamavation community member had so we decided to send very specific Burt’s Bees products off to an EPA-certified laboratory to find out. You’ve trusted Mamavation to bring you topics like best-infrared saunas, safest collagens, and best probiotics, now join us for the results from our lab on whether Burt’s Bees makeup products have indications of PFAS “forever chemicals.” Scroll down close to the bottom for the results.

Disclosure: This post was medically reviewed by Sondra Strand, RN, BSN, PHN. This post also contains affiliate links. 

Health Effects Linked to Exposure to PFAS “Forever Chemicals”

PFAS “forever chemicals” are per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances used as stain-resistant, water-resistant, & oil-resistant chemicals in commerce. They have been used for decades inside consumer products, manufacturing, and building materials. There are over 12,000 different chemicals in the PFAS chemical class (including PFOA & PTFE), and because there are so many of them, they are incredibly hard to identify and test for.

PFAS “forever chemicals” are problematic to human health and the environment. They are considered persistent, ubiquitous, and toxic, and therefore, it’s important you avoid them as much as you can to keep them from building up in our bodies. Many compounds can last for years in our bodies, therefore, it’s imperative to reduce the amount of PFAS you are exposed to from contaminated food and water.

Here’s a list of health effects PFAS chemicals are linked to presently according to our scientific advisor and Former Director of the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences and National Toxicology Program, Linda Birnbaum:

• reduction in immunity
• reduced vaccination response
• increased risk of allergies & asthma in young children
• affect the growth, learning, and behavior of infants and older children
• increase cholesterol levels
• metabolic diseases like obesity & diabetes
• cardiovascular disease
• lower a woman’s chance of getting pregnant
• lowers male fertility
• increase the risk of kidney & testicular cancers
• Causes endocrine disruption
• Disrupts normal thyroid function

Mamavation Finds Traces of PFAS “Forever Chemicals” In Other Products

PFAS, otherwise known as per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (aka PFCs or perfluorinated chemicals, including PFOA and PFOS) are added to many products we purchase to make them “stain-resistant,” “grease-proof,” and “water-resistant.”

Mamavation has finished 15 consumer studies looking for indications of PFAS inside everyday items and food we bring into our homes. In these studies, we have learned quite a bit about where PFAS chemicals hide in everyday products. Learn more about other PFAS categories here:

• Nut Butters
• Pasta & Tomato Sauce
• Cooking Oils
• Activewear
• Sports Bras
• Green Beauty Makeup
• Period Underwear
• Ketchup
• Parchment Paper
• Bamboo Flooring
• Baby Strollers
• Children’s Probiotics
• Toilet Paper 
• Dental Floss
• Tampons

Burt’s Bees PFAS “Forever Chemical” Laboratory Results

As you can see from the images we have posted in this report, when Mamavation community members asked Burt’s Bees about the PFAS contents of their products, even specifically eyeshadow from Burt’s Bees, they were told no PFAS. These community members were doubtful, so they asked us to test some donated products.

Mamavation’s EPA-certified laboratory reported back that some products contain indications of PFAS “forever chemicals.” Here’s a list of the products we tested including testing we did in 2021 for mascara & lips.

• Burts Bees Eyeshadow with Bamboo 1520 Dusky Woods — 449 parts per million (ppm) organic fluorine
• Burts Bees Blush 1210 Shy Pink — 223 parts per million (ppm) organic fluorine
• Burts Bees All Aglow Lip & Cheek Stick Peony Pool — Non-detect organic fluorine
• Burts Bees Goodness Glows Liquid Makeup Medium Sand — Non-detect organic fluorine
• Burts Bees All Aflutter Mascara — 357 parts per million (ppm) organic fluorine
• Burts Bees Nourishing Mascara — 357 parts per million (ppm) organic fluorine
• Burts Bees Lip Shimmer — 36 parts per million (ppm) organic fluorine

What does this mean? This means our lab detected indications of PFAS in Burt’s Bees makeup in 5 out of 7 products Mamavation sent for testing. We do not recommend you purchase and use products that had detections of organic fluorine, which is a marker for PFAS “forever chemicals.”

“Best” Green Beauty Makeup Tested by Mamavation

Mamavation has some better alternatives for you of green beauty makeup that has no indications of PFAS “forever chemicals.” These specific green beauty products were sent to our EPA-certified laboratory and the results were all non-detect for total fluorine, meaning our lab did not detect any indications of PFAS. We recommend you purchase these products instead.

• 100% Pure: 100% Pure Fruit Pigmented Mascara (non-detect), 100% Pure Lip Caramel Lip Gloss (non-detect), & 100% Pure Bamboo Blur Tinted Moisturizer (non-detect) (Use discount code “MAMAVATION” for 20% off all 100% Pure products)
• Aisling Organics: Aisling Organics Mascara Black (non-detect) & Aisling Organics Lip Gloss (non-detect) (Use discount code “MAMAVATION10” for 10% off all Aisling Organic products.)
• Beautycounter: Beautycounter All-n-1 Mascara (non-detect), Beautycounter Beyond Gloss (non-detect) & Beautycounter Skin Twin Featherweight Foundation (non-detect)
• Crunchi: Crunchi Shattered Mascara (non-detect), Crunchi Datenight Hydrogloss (non-detect) & Crunchi My Alibi Concealer (non-detect)
• Doucce: Doucce Punk Volumizer Mascara black (non-detect)
• FITGLOW Beauty: FITGLOW Beauty Lip Colour Serum (non-detect) & FITGLOW Beauty Vegan Good Lash Mascara (non-detect), & FITGLOW Beauty Beauty Plum Lash Primer (non-detect) (Use discount code “Mamavation20” for 20% off all FitGlow Beauty products)
• Jane Iredale: Jane Iredale HydroPure Hyaluronic Lip Gloss (non-detect)
• H&M: H&M Maximalist Mascara Deep Black (non-detect) & H&M Sheer Lip Colour Heartfelt (non-detect)
• Henne: Henne Luxury Lip Tint – Desire (non-detect)
• Lily Lolo: Lily Lolo Natural Mascara (non-detect)
• MISMACK: MISMACK Amp’d Up Mascara (non-detect)
• Prim & Pure: Prim & Pure Mineral Lip Gloss for Kids (non-detect)
• Pure Haven: Pure Haven Mascara (non-detect), Pure Haven Clear Shine Lip Gloss (non-detect), & Pure Haven Tinted Moisturizer (non-detect)
• Root: Root 100% Lash Mascara (non-detect) & Root Wonderlip Ellie (non-detect)
• Sante Naturkosmetik: Sante Naturkosmetik Lipgloss No. 02 Nude silk (non-detect)
• Sappho New Paradigm Cosmetics: Sappho New Paradigm Maximum Intensity Vegan Mascara (non-detect), Sappo New Paradigm Essential Foundation (non-detect) (Use discount code “MAMAVATION2022” for 10% off the entire order)
• Toups & Co Organics: Toups & Co. Organics Lip Gloss Ti Amo 310 (non-detect)
• Truvani: Truvani Lip Conditioner (non-detect)