If you have been using Dove and are wondering is Dove cruelty-free or want to know is Dove vegan you are not alone. Dove is one of the brands that has been surrounded by controversy. The cosmetics industry has been experiencing significant changes and a large portion of buyers want to know the animal testing policies of different types of brands. Although there are many individuals who could not be bothered, the quest for cruelty-free and vegan makeup as well as skincare products has been growing steadily.
Is Dove Cruelty-Free?
Dove is cruelty-free. Dove is a well-known cosmetics company that is almost a household name for men, women, baby products. The brand develops and markets a range of effective skincare and hair care products including lotions, soaps, treatments, deodorants, shampoos, and body wash. The brand’s wide range of products is a favorite of many people with different skin types and hair types all across the world. It’s is a popular brand, that is also cruelty-free.
| ASPECT | DOVE |
| CRUELTY-FREE | YES |
| VEGAN | SOME PRODUCTS |
| SOLD IN CHINA | SOME PRODUCTS |
Dove is one of the brands that is owned by Unilever since 1955. The cosmetic brand has chosen to adhere to policies that are different from those of its parent company. Unilever is not cruelty-free and includes some forms of animal testing.
Unilever allows different brands under its portfolio to operate under different policies. The well-known brand has maintained its policies and doesn’t conduct testing on animals both pre-production as well as during production for product development purposes. It also doesn’t conduct post-production testing.
Examples of cruelty-free brands under the Unilever portfolio include Hourglass, Simple and Tatcha. Tresseme is also a brand under Unilever that is not cruelty-free.
The brand Unilever states that as an international company that sells worldwide it aims to supply its products to its customers through authorized retailers as well as through the official website. However, different nations have different testing requirements.
Is Dove Sold in China?
No, and yes, some products are sold in China while others are not. Dove is cruelty-free because it does not agree to or pay for animal testing a requirement for the items to be sold in physical stores in Mainland China. The Asian country still requires all cosmetic brands sold in physical stores in the nation to pay and participate in post-production animal test activities.
However, Dove does sell domestically manufactured non-special use products in the Chinese market. The Chinese regulators don’t require animal testing on this group of products. Although these products are sold in physical stores, they are not subject to being pulled off the shelves and tested.
The brand has not been submitting and paying for its special use products to be tested on animals and is therefore not allowed to sell them in Mainland China. Many other companies agree to the testing so as to abide by the mandatory registration requirements set by Chinese regulators.
Where is Dove Made?
The brand Dove manufactures its products in about 22 countries including China, U.S., and Egypt. Dove is made in all these different locations and then distributed to the regions near the production centers.
Is Dove 100% Vegan?
Dove is not vegan. The brand indicates that none of its products are certified as vegan. However, the brand uses beeswax, honey, and other animal-derived ingredients when making most of the products which makes them non-vegan.
It’s advisable to check the list of ingredients if you are searching for Dove vegan products. It would be advisable to check a brand that is clear on its list of vegan products.
Is Dove Organic or Natural?
Dove is not organic or natural. The company doesn’t make any claims that any of its products are made with organic or natural ingredients. However, it does indicate that it is increasing the sourcing and use of certified organic materials. In fact, the brand has in the past received criticism because of the toxic chemicals in some of its products.
Is Dove Paraben-Free?
Dove is not paraben-free. The cosmetic industry has been dealing with controversy when addressing the use of some of the compounds such as parabens.
There is a group that feels the compounds are harmful and should not be included in cosmetics. The second group feels that the compounds have been approved by the FDA and other organizations and are therefore okay.
So, if you’re wondering is Dove paraben-free? Dove has products that are paraben-free as well as those that are not. Most Dove baby products are paraben-free. It’s advisable to check the products’ ingredients before making a purchase.
Is Dove Gluten-Free?
Most Dove, products are gluten-free. The brand does indicate that some of its products are gluten-free. The best way to know for sure is to contact the brand’s customer service and ask if a particular product is gluten-free or not.
Is Dove Hypoallergenic?
Some Dove products are labeled as hypoallergenic. An example is the Dove Sensitive Beauty Bar which can be used by people with sensitive skin. However, there is no official list of Dove hypoallergenic products.
The company also provides no guarantee that any of its products are allergy tested or developed in an environment that is allergen-free.
Is Dove PETA Cruelty-Free Approved?
Dove is PETA approved. The popular brand Dove doesn’t agree with animal testing and is, therefore, PETA certified. Now you have the answer to is Dove cruelty-free?
The brand was certified as cruelty-free in late 2018. Prior to then, the brand was surrounded by controversy. Many people claimed that Dove was not cruelty-free because it was selling products that require animal testing in China. The brand has since then stopped and been approved as cruelty-free but can still be found on some none cruelty-free lists.
It can sometimes be challenging to know for sure whether brands are cruelty- free or not. The confusion is confounded further when it comes to brands that are themselves cruelty-free but owned by brands that are not cruelty-free.
The words most of the brands use on the website are also deceptive and aimed at confusing the public. Sometimes brands use words such as “not tested on animals” or cruelty-free”. Many brands also claim that they don’t advocate animal testing which is a rather vague claim.
However, it’s important to note that even though they don’t conduct any animal testing in their private testing facilities, some brands pay third parties to do it for them. It is also not unheard of for brands to use ingredients from suppliers who conduct tests on animals.
Dove Cruelty-Free
Dove has not been certified by Leaping Bunny although its cruelty-free. The most common type of animal cruelty reported by far in the cosmetics industry takes place after the final products are manufactured. Many of the cosmetics brands conform to post-production-testing requirements.
The brands agree because they want to access large markets such as Mainland China. The choice made by each of the brands is company-specific depending on the convictions of the owners.
One of the ways of eliminating any doubts related to whether a company is cruelty-free is checking the Leaping Bunny or PETA website for the list of brands that have been approved as cruelty-free. Sometimes, organizations that are cruelty-free approved have the bunny logo on their websites, especially under the FAQ. Some even include the bunny on product labels.
Dove develops great skin and hair products and has been in the business for many years. The brand also manufactures its products in countries where the drive for ending animal cruelty has been building gradually. Although, that doesn’t automatically mean that the brand or its products are cruelty-free. The brand claims that it has been involved in supporting the end of animal testing for many years.
It is also good to note that not all brands seek certification from different bodies. Different brands have different ways of approaching certification. Dove has chosen to seek cruelty-free certification from PETA only.
Where to Buy Dove Products?
Dove products are available on the company’s website which ships to different locations. The brand products are also available in almost all retailers that stock cosmetics including CVS, Walmart, and Target. You can also buy the products online here at Amazon.
The brand expanded to sell in physical stores in other parts of the world including the United Kingdom, and Canada. In the locations that the brand sells, there are no requirements that include animal testing. The brand avoids selling products that require animal testing in countries such as China and Brazil. The choice has made the brand to be classified as cruelty-free.
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