Figuring out whether Burt’s Bees cosmetic products are vegan can be a bit tough.
Cosmetic products often contain many ingredients of animal origin.
To make sure you’re only consuming products that align with your vegan diet and ethics, I’ve examined the ingredients in Burt’s Bees.
Here’s what I’ve found.
Are Burt’s Bees Vegan?
Sadly, Burt’s Bees are not vegan.
Burt’s Bees say so themselves. Most of their products contain milk, honey, royal jelly, lanolin, beeswax, and carmine.
With a number of animal products in their ingredients list, they can hardly be vegan.
Beeswax is made by bees to build their hives. Carmine is a red pigment extracted from insects. Lanolin comes from sheep’s wool. And royal jelly is a substance secreted from the heads of bees and fed to their larvae. Milk and honey, well, those don’t really need an explanation.
These ingredients are in many different Burt’s Bees products. So while they are known for their great cosmetic products, they’re not vegan. Fortunately, there are plenty of other amazing cosmetic brands out there that align with your ethical values.
Is Burt’s Bees Cruelty-Free?
Burt’s Bees are cruelty-free. Burt’s Bees animal testing policy states that they do not test their products on animals nor do they allow others to test on their behalf. So, no, Burt’s Bees does not test on animals.
Burt’s Bees are also listed on Leaping Bunny’s website as a cruelty-free company. Leaping Bunny is an organization that works to end animal testing in the beauty industry.
To be listed on the Leaping Bunny website, a company has to prove that they do not test their products on animals at any stage of production. They also cannot use any ingredients that have been tested on animals.
So while Burt’s Bees are not vegan, they are cruelty-free.
Is Burt’s Bees Sold Where Animal Testing Is Required By Law?
According to the website, Burt’s Bees only sell their products through direct-to-consumer eCommerce channel, which is exempt from Chinese animal testing regulations that apply to imported cosmetics.
China is a large market for many cosmetic companies. Unfortunately, pre-market animal testing is required by law in China for all imported cosmetics. This means that any company that wants to sell its products in China must allow its products to be tested on animals.
Good thing Burt’s Bees only sell their products online in China so they don’t have to participate in that!
What Are Burt’s Bees Made Of?
Here are some common ingredients in Burt’s Bees products:
- Milk
- Honey
- Royal jelly
- Carmine
- Stearic acid
- Glycerin
- Aloe
- Buttermilk
- Cocoa butter
- Cotton
- Cranberry
- Eucalyptus
- Flower waxes
- Kokum butter
- Lavender
- Lemon
- Mango
- Orange
- Peppermint
- Pomegranate
- Shea butter
- Willow bark
- Sunflower
- Beeswax
- Lecithin
- Polyhydroxystearic acid
- Lanolin
- Tocopherol
Let’s break down each ingredient of Burt’s Bees:
Milk
Milk is, of course, not vegan. It is used to make Burt’s Bees blush products.
Honey
Honey is a sweetener made by bees. It is used in some Burt’s Bees blushes.
Royal jelly
Royal jelly is a substance secreted from the heads of bees and fed to their larvae. It is found in several Burt’s Bees products, including face creams, lip balms, and soaps.
Carmine
Carmine is a red pigment extracted from insects. It is used to give some of Burt’s Bees blushes their color.
Stearic acid
Stearic acid is a fatty acid found in animal fats and oils. It is used in Burt’s Bees mascara.
Glycerin
Glycerin is a sweetener and humectant (a substance that helps skin retain moisture). It can be of animal or plant origin. Which Burt’s Bees uses is unclear, so it’s better to be safe and assume it is of animal origin.
Aloe
Aloe is a plant that has been used for centuries for its medicinal properties. It is found in many Burt’s Bees products including soaps, lotions, and face creams.
Buttermilk
Buttermilk is a dairy product made from the liquid left behind after making butter. It is used in some Burt’s Bees soaps and lotions.
Cocoa butter
Cocoa butter is a fat derived from cocoa beans. It is used in some Burt’s Bees soaps, lotions, and lip balms.
Cotton
Cotton is a plant fiber often used in cosmetics to absorb oil and sweat. It is found in some Burt’s Bees blotting papers and face wipes.
Cranberry
Cranberries are a type of fruit. They are used in some Burt’s Bees soaps and lotions for their antioxidant properties.
Eucalyptus
Eucalyptus is a tree native to Australia. The leaves of the eucalyptus tree are used to make oil, which is found in some Burt’s Bees soaps and lotions.
Flower waxes
Flower waxes are made from the wax secreted by flowers. They are often used in cosmetics as emollients (substances that soften and moisturize the skin). Flower waxes are found in some Burt’s Bees lip balms and face creams.
Kokum butter
Kokum butter is a type of vegetable fat derived from the kokum tree. It is used in some Burt’s Bees soaps and lotions.
Lavender
Lavender is a type of flower that is often used for its calming properties. It is found in some Burt’s Bees soaps, lotions, and face wipes.
Lemon
Lemons are a type of citrus fruit. They are used in some Burt’s Bees soaps and lotions for their astringent properties.
Mango
Mangoes are a type of fruit native to India. They are used in some Burt’s Bees products for their moisturizing properties.
Orange
Oranges are a type of citrus fruit. They are used in some Burt’s Bees soaps and lotions for their astringent properties.
Peppermint
Peppermint is a type of plant often used for its refreshing properties. It is found in some Burt’s Bees soaps, lotions, and lip balms.
Pomegranate
Pomegranates are a type of fruit native to Iran. They are used in some Burt’s Bees products for their antioxidant properties.
Shea butter
Shea butter is a type of vegetable fat derived from the nuts of the shea tree. It is used in many Burt’s Bees products for its moisturizing properties.
Willow bark
Willow bark is a type of tree native to Europe and Asia. The bark of the willow tree is often used for its astringent properties. It is found in some Burt’s Bees soaps and lotions.
Sunflower oil
Sunflower oil is a type of vegetable oil derived from the seeds of the sunflower plant. It is used in some Burt’s Bees products for its moisturizing properties.
Beeswax
Beeswax is a substance secreted by bees that helps them build their honeycombs. It is also used in many cosmetics as an emollient and thickener. Beeswax is found in some Burt’s Bees lip balms, mascaras, and eyeliners.
Lecithin
Lecithin is a type of fat often used as an emulsifier in cosmetics. It is found in some Burt’s Bees eyeliners.
Polyhydroxystearic acid
Polyhydroxystearic acid is a type of synthetic polymer often used as a thickener or emollient in cosmetics. It is found in some Burt’s Bees eyeliners.
Lanolin
Lanolin is a type of grease secreted by sheep and other animals with wool. It is often used as an emollient in cosmetics. Lanolin is found in some Burt’s Bees lip balms.
Tocopherol
Tocopherol is a type of vitamin E often used as an antioxidant in cosmetics. It is found in some Burt’s Bees soaps and lotions.
Why Aren’t Burt’s Bees Vegan?
Burt’s Bees is a company that prides itself on using natural ingredients. However, they are not a vegan company because they use several animal-derived ingredients in many of their products.
Beeswax, milk, honey, buttermilk, carmine, and royal jelly are all ingredients that are derived from animals and present in many of Burt’s Bees products. These are ingredients that vegans actively avoid.
Is Burt’s Bees Lip Balm Vegan?
No. Burt’s Bees lip balm contains beeswax and lanolin.
This product is not vegan.
Is Burt’s Bees Blush Vegan?
No. Burt’s Bees blush contains carmine.
This product is not vegan.
Is Burt’s Bees Mascara Vegan?
No. Burt’s Bees mascara contains beeswax and stearic acid.
This product is not vegan.
Is Burt’s Bees Eyeliner Vegan?
No. Burt’s Bees eyeliner contains beeswax, lecithin, and polyhydroxystearic acid.
This product is not vegan.
Is Burt’s Bees Sensitive Solutions Gentle Cream Cleanser Vegan?
No. Burt’s Bees Sensitive Solutions Gentle Cream Cleanser contains beeswax.
This product is not vegan.
Is Burt’s Bees Naturally Clean Hand Soap Vegan?
No. Burt’s Bees Naturally Clean Hand Soap contains beeswax.
This product is not vegan.
Is Burt’s Bees Citrus & Ginger Body Wash Vegan?
No. Burt’s Bees Citrus & Ginger Body Wash contains glycerin and lecithin, which may or may not be of animal origin.
Glycerin can be derived from plants or animals, but lecithin is usually derived from animals. And it is not clear if the glycerin and lecithin in this product are of plant or animal origin. As always, it is better to be safe than sorry and assume that these ingredients are of animal origin.
This product is not vegan friendly.
Is Burt’s Bees Renewal Firming Eye Cream Vegan?
No. Burt’s Bees Renewal Firming Eye Cream contains beeswax.
This product is not vegan friendly.
Vegan Alternatives to Burt’s Bees
If you’re looking for a vegan alternative to Burt’s Bees, there are plenty of companies that make vegan products. I’ve listed a few of them below.
These cosmetic brands create vegan products similar to Burt’s Bees. Their products do not contain any animal-derived ingredients and they are not tested on animals.
Final Words
Burt’s Bees, like many cosmetic companies, relies heavily on animal-derived ingredients. Milk, honey, beeswax, and carmine are common ingredients in many cosmetic products. If you’re a vegan, it’s important to be aware of this so that you can make an informed decision about which products to purchase.
There are many cosmetic companies out there that are cruelty-free and vegan. So, if you’re looking for a vegan alternative to Burt’s Bees, you have plenty of options to choose from.