ValueHunta

In the past few years, animal testing for cosmetics has been a hot topic. In fact, many companies have banned their products from being tested on animals. But what about Dove? This brand is on everyone’s lips, but has it banned animal testing?

We will explore whether Dove is cruelty-free by looking at its animal testing policy, whether it sells in China, and whether any of its ingredients are tested on animals.

About Dove

Dove is a brand of soap, skincare, deodorant, and hair care products owned by Unilever. It is one of the most popular brands in the world with over a billion dollars in sales and thousands of messages about how amazing its products are. 

Dove was founded in 1944 as a company that manufactured soaps and cleaners. It was acquired by Unilever in 1957, which expanded its distribution to Europe and Latin America before introducing it to the United States in 1964.

Dove is now known for its long-running ad campaigns promoting self-esteem and beauty. Their “Real Beauty” campaign, which started in 2004, featured women of different ages, shapes, and sizes which was a stark contrast to the ultra-thin models that were typically used in beauty advertising at the time. It makes brand promises such as “No more body shaming.”

Is Dove cruelty-free?

The answer to this question is a little complicated. Dove is owned by Unilever, which does tests on animals. However, Dove does have a cruelty-free certification from PETA. This means that the company does not conduct animal tests itself.

Dove has been manufacturing their products in a cruelty-free way for over 25 years. They do not test on animals and don’t allow any third party to test on animals on their behalf. Dove also goes beyond what is required by law, ensuring that all of the ingredients used in their products are safe for both humans and animals.

Some of Dove’s products are also vegan, meaning that they do not contain any animal-derived ingredients. Dove also claims to use sustainable ingredients, which means that they are not harming the environment. 

Dove’s stance on animal testing

Dove does not test any of its products or ingredients on animals. The company is against the cruelty committed by companies who do animal testing, which is why Dove has partnered with Cruelty-Free International to help end this practice. It states that it will only partner with other companies whose actions align with Dove’s commitment to ethical practices and that it can provide a “cruelty-free” guarantee.

Dove is against animal testing and states that no animals are used in the creation of their products, with this being stated on Dove’s website: 

"We don't test our products or ingredients on animals - nor would we ever!" 

In October of 2015, Dove was recognized as a company that is against animal testing. This recognition came from cruelty-free International which puts together an annual list of cruelty-free companies called the “Caring Consumer List” and they awarded Dove with their “cruelty-free” status for not testing on animals in any stage of product development.

Dove is also a member of the Leaping Bunny Program which is an international cruelty-free certification program that requires companies to pledge that they do not test their products on animals and do not use any ingredients that have been tested on animals. 

Has Dove reinforced this policy in China?

Yes, it’s true. But they trying to use a loophole for them not to have any animal testing and just sell on the Chinese market.

Dove on its website stated that it is aimed to make the brand cruelty-free. It has been a global effort, and the company is taking it one step further by not experimenting on animals anywhere. This means that if they test any product or ingredient in their laboratories, then those tests must be performed without employing any creatures who are being abused for experimentation.

Dove has made key decisions on how and what products they sell in countries where animal testing may still be a mandatory requirement, such as China. All new products launched by Dove into this market will not undergo any animal experimentation at the Chinese authorities’ behest. 

What is Dove’s stance on pre-market testing?

In 2014 China, the world’s largest consumer market for cosmetics and personal care products has eliminated all requirements on pre-marketing animal testing. However, mainland Chinese stores still require this when exporting their product internationally or selling them within China itself.

After it, Dove was announcing it will stop selling some of its products there. They want to stay competitive but also avoid being treated unfairly.

To do this, Dove products that are still sold in mainland China must be manufactured there and also don’t fall into the specialty product category. Specialty cosmetics have special claims used for a specific effect/function such as sunscreen or hair dye but they can’t just show up on any store shelves because of government regulations about what’s allowed within their borders.

By not selling products in China that do not meet these criteria, they have avoided Chinese pre-market animal testing laws.

Post-market animal testing

In 2019, the Chinese government announced that it would no longer require routine post-market testing of cosmetics. 

For all products sold in mainland China, non-routine postmarket animal testing is still possible for Dove. However, this happens in the case if customers complain or health concerns arise about the product. So far, no such incidents have been noticed.

Is Dove vegan?

As a brand, Dove is not 100% vegan. Some of their products contain animal-based ingredients like Gelatin and Beeswax which makes them unable to be certified as entirely plant-based options. 

However,  the company has been making strides in the past few years to become more vegan-friendly. Dove has been removing animal-based ingredients from its products and working to create new, plant-based ones.

Detailed reviews

Dove Whipped Body Cream — the best for nourishing the skin

Item form:  Use for:	Cream Whole-body
Benefits	– Beautiful scent due to moisturizing lotion with indulgent praline, vanilla, and bright pomegranate fragrance; – Suitable for all skin types; – Leaves your skin feeling soft, smooth, and radiant.

Currently, many people have problems with moisturizing their skin. Dry skin is a very common problem because it is affected not only by the internal processes of the body but also by polluted air or a lot of stress. This cream will help you restore skin radiance and softness thanks to special formula with pomegranate and creamy shea butter.

It is impossible not to mention the special scent of this cream because many users are positive about it. So if you want to use this cream in the morning, all day long you will have a light and pleasant aroma of indulgent praline, vanilla, and bright pomegranate fragrance.

Thanks to the special consistency of the cream and using 100% natural nutrients, it is suitable for all skin types, makes your skin soft, smooth, and radiant.

Dove Nourishing Secrets Shampoo — the best for hair nutrition

Item form:  Use for:	Wash Hair
Benefits	– Makes your hair silky and eliminate dryness after the first use; – Suitable for daily use; – The bottle is recyclable and made with recycled plastic

Do you have dry hair and split ends? Many people face this problem, but it can be solved quite simply. This shampoo will leave your hair silky and soft thanks to the creamy formulation and natural ingredients that gently cleanse your hair.

This lavender shampoo has become the choice of thousands of people and is very popular due to its special texture, which after the first use will make your hair silky and eliminate dryness. The composition uses only natural elements and it is enriched with lavender oil and rosemary.

One of the most important points is that this Nourishing Secrets Collection is certified cruelty-free by PETA and the bottle is recyclable and made with recycled plastic. Therefore, buying and using this shampoo you do not cause any harm to the planet and the environment.

Dove Antiperspirant — the best protection against irritation

Item form:  Use for:	Stick Underarms
Benefits	– Consists of the moisturizing cream, made of 1/4 of natural oils that care for the skin of the underarms; – The most natural scent with crisp cucumber, juicy pear, and honeydew melon blended with green tea; – Does not test on animals, and is certified cruelty-free by PETA

Gone are the days when you could experience an unpleasant odor because now you can feel 100% confident with Dove deodorants. It has the best protection against irritation thanks to an alcohol-free formula which helps skin recover from underarm irritation that shaving can cause.

Also, this deodorant has the most natural scent with crisp cucumber, juicy pear, and honeydew melon blended with green tea. This collection of deodorants has several models with different scents, so it will be easy for you to choose the one that will be best for you. 

It is important to mention that this consists of the best moisturizing cream, made of 1/4 of natural oils that care for the skin of the underarms, so you can not only be sure that this deodorant keeps your underarms dry and odor-free for up to 48 hours but also be sure that your skin is sufficiently nourished.

Dove Hypoallergenic Skin Body Wash — the best for sensitive skin

Item form:  Use for:	Wash Whole-body
Benefits	– The best moisturizing due to Moisture Renew Blend body wash, which works with the skin’s moisture barrier while delivering natural skin nourishment that goes deep into the surface layers of your skin; – Almost imperceptible, but light aroma allows you to keep fresh all day; – A large number of scents to choose from

Forget about dry skin and irritation after taking a shower. This body wash will not only cleanse your skin of impurities but also will be able to moisturize your skin and give it softness and tenderness. This body louse is one of the best in the line, as it is completely hypoallergenic and specially adapted to delicate skin.

It has the best moisturizing due to Moisture Renew Blend body wash, which works with the skin’s moisture barrier while delivering natural skin nourishment that goes deep into the surface layers of your skin. So you can be sure that your skin will not be overdried when using this body wash.

If we are talking about this body wash, it is made especially so as not to cause allergies when used, so there are used 100% gentle cleansers, no sulfates, and this is pH balanced. But if you still want to feel a special scent, you can choose a body wash from the line. There are many different options and you will find exactly the one that suits you.

Dove Beauty Bar — the most effective cleaning

Item form:  Use for:	Bar Face/Hands
Benefits	– Helps to maintain your skin’s natural moisture barrier and hydration; – Gentle enough to use every day on both your body and your face; – Has no pungent odor and is therefore pleasant to use

Nowadays, it is especially important to keep your hands clean and sterile to prevent the spread of bacteria and viruses. Everyone is used to the fact that soap protects you from bacteria, but instead dries the skin and can cause irritation. But not this beauty bar. Thanks to a special formula it has the most effective cleaning due to hypoallergenic formula with mild cleansers and ¼ moisturizing cream.

This beauty bar is made in such a way that you can even wash your face with it because it helps to maintain your skin’s natural moisture barrier and hydration without any irritation. 

It is also important that this soap contains almost no odor, so if you care for your health and wash your hands often, the smell of this soap will not bore you. In general, if you are looking for a soap that can perfectly combine the functions of effectively washing the bacteria and moisturizing the skin, this beauty bar is what you are looking for.

Summary

So, is Dove cruelty-free? The answer is yes. Although some animal testing practices have occurred in the past, they no longer do so and their products are now available for purchase by all consumers who care about whether or not a company tests on animals. Unilever, Dove’s parent company, tests on animals only when required by law, so you be the judge on whether or not that constitutes being cruelty-free. 

Also, if Dove will sell their products in China, its ingredients or products may be tested on animals by a third party. 

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