Avoid razors with BHT
The lubricating strip - or lubrastrip – on your razor can contain BHT, which is a suspected endocrine disruptor. We found BHT in four razors.
It is a good idea to have a closer look at the chemical content of the lubricating strip used in disposable razors to make shaving more comfortable.
Razors with lubrastrips can contain the substance BHT to ensure that the lubrication strip does not oxidize. In the test, we found four razors with BHT.
These brands are in the test
We reviewed the lists of ingredients of 15 different razors with lubrastrip for unwanted chemicals. All of them were bought in Danish stores and marketed for both men and women.
The selection of razor manufacturers is often dominated by a few brands. We selected these brands for the test:
Blot, Bic, Cien, Coop, Estrid, Gillette, Lovena, Matas, Rema 1000, Salling and The Green Razor.
Several razors are without unwanted chemicals
Our test shows that there are many razors on the market without unwanted chemicals. No less than 11 of 15 razors receive our best chemical rating, the A-rating.
If your razor is not in the test, you can use our app Kemiluppen to find out if your razor contains unwanted chemicals (only available for consumers in Denmark)
If you choose a razor without lubricating strip, it will most likely be without unwanted chemicals.
BHT was found in four razors
Four of 15 razors in the test contain BHT, which is an antioxidant that prevents or delays oxidation of a product. Oxidation can degrade the quality of materials, such as the look and mechanical properties of plastic and rubber.
We have previously found BHT in children's vitamins, chewing gum and dishwashing liquids.
The substance is a suspected endocrine disruptor, which is included on several authorities’ lists of chemicals with problematic effects for your health and the environment. ChemSec also has BHT as a potential candidate for the EU’s candidate list of problematic chemicals.
The overall exposure poses a risk
Chemicals from razors do not constitute the same risk as e.g. chemicals in lotions, which stay on your body for a long time.
But if you are exposed to small amounts of unwanted chemicals from many different sources, it can be problematic for your health in the long run. Also known as the cocktail effect.
These razors contain BHT
Four of 11 tested razors contain the antioxidant BHT, which is a suspected endocrine disruptor.
According to data from the app Kemiluppen, Gillette and Bic are the only brands that use BHT in their razors.
- Bic Flex 4 Shaver
- Bic Miss Soleil 3-blade shaver
- Gillette Sensor 3 comfort
- Gillette Venus 3 sensitive
How we tested
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In January and February of 2023, we bought 15 razors with lubricating strips in Danish stores.
We noted the ingredients on the products before contacting the manufacturers to make sure that the products are still relevant and that the lists of ingredients are correct.
The test is a declaration test. This means that we have reviewed the ingredients that appear on the products’ list of ingredients.
All products have been assessed according to their content of unwanted chemicals, such as suspected endocrine disruptors, allergenic substances or environmentally problematic substances.
In our app Kemiluppen (only in Denmark), you can find more razors that have been assessed for unwanted chemicals.
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We found BHT in four of the 15 tested razors. We found no other unwanted chemicals in the products.
BHT
BHT is an antioxidant that prevents or delays oxidation of a product. Oxidation can degrade the quality of materials, e.g. the look and mechanical properties of plastic and rubber.
The substance is a suspected endocrine disruptor. It appears on several authority lists of chemicals with problematic effects for your health and the environment.
BHT results in the lowest chemical rating, the C-rating.
What the companies say
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Coop informs us that the product is available in two versions: the tested razor and a newer version. Check the list of ingredients on the product to find out if it is the one, we tested.