Is Dove Cruelty-Free?

Trying to find out whether a brand is cruelty-free or not can be a real hassle. With all of the different statements out there made by these companies, you never know what to trust. We’re here to eliminate that confusion and educate you about the true status of the brand’s animal testing policies. Specifically, let’s talk about Dove.

Is Dove Cruelty-Free?

Dove is not cruelty-free. Although Dove makes statements that they no longer test on animals, they are not necessarily cruelty-free. They still sell their products in countries that require animal testing, so they cannot be 100% cruelty-free.

Here is the statement that Dove makes on their website:

“Dove has been globally accredited “Cruelty-Free” by the animal rights organization PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals) in recognition of the Dove global commitment to permanently end tests on animals everywhere in the world.”

However, this is not necessarily true.

Dove still sells its products in mainland China where animal testing is required by law. Therefore, they are knowingly allowing their products to be tested on animals. So they cannot be 100% cruelty-free until they stop selling their products in mainland China.

They are in the process of pulling out of China, but they are still in that grey area. So, for right now, we cannot yet consider Dove to be cruelty-free.

Is Dove Vegan?

No, Dove is not 100% vegan. They have reformulated their products many times throughout the years. But they are still using ingredients derived from animals. Until Dove reformulates all of their products without ingredients derived from animals, we cannot label them as vegan.

To find specific products from Dove that are vegan, you can always read the label and ingredient list.

Is Dove Organic?

No, Dove is not organic. They do make any claims saying that they are natural or organic. The brand has even received some negative feedback about the harmful ingredients in their products. Because of this, Dove is attempting to be more natural with their ingredients, but they are still not organic.

Is Dove Owned By A Parent Company?

Yes, Dove is owned by Unilever. Unilever is one of the most popular parent companies supporting over 400 brands pertaining to personal care, beauty, nutrition, and more.

Where is Dove Made?

Dove is manufactured all around the world. Some countries include the United States, Egypt, China, and more. From there, they are shipped to other locations around the world.

Since Dove is manufactured in so many places, it is difficult to regulate the standards of which their products are made.

Is Dove Sold in China?

Dove has tried pulling out of selling their products in China, but it is not official yet. Since they have technically pulled out, they’ve gotten away with saying they do not test on animals. However, they are trying not to shed light on the fact that some of their products are still being tested on animals in China.

Is Dove Paraben-Free?

No, Dove is not paraben-free. Parabens have been a controversial ingredient over the past decade. Companies like parabens because they increase shelf-life. But they are starting to turn against them because they have negative reactions to people’s skin.

But, Dove does have products that are paraben-free. In the case that you don’t want any parabens in your products, simply check the label and ingredient list to ensure if the product is paraben-free or not.

Is Dove Gluten-Free?

Most of Dove’s products are gluten-free, but some are not. Again, your best bet is to check the label and ingredient list before purchasing the product.

Is Dove Phthalates-free?

Some of Dove’s products are phthalates-free, and some are not. More of their gentle products for babies and/or sensitive skin is free from phthalates. Check the label and ingredient list to ensure that the product is phthalates-free.

Is Dove Non-comedogenic?

Some of Dove’s products are non-comedogenic and some are not. Their gentle products are more likely to be non-comedogenic, as they are meant for sensitive skin. Again, we advise you to check the label before making a purchase if this is important to you.

Is Dove PETA Cruelty-Free Approved?

Here lies a bunch of confusion. PETA actually has approved Dove as a cruelty-free brand. But PETA has had a history of not being the most reliable resource out there. They’ve made mistakes, and this is definitely one of them.

Unless Dove pulls out of selling its products in mainland China, it cannot be considered to be completely cruelty-free.

Where To Buy Dove

Dove is an extremely accessible brand, as it can easily be found both in stores and online. When looking in stores, you can find Dove pretty much anywhere. You can find it at your local grocery department stores such as Target or Walmart. You can find it at your local drugstores such as Walgreens or CVS. You can also find it at other stores such as TJ Maxx and beauty department stores.

Here are the best places to buy Dove online:

Final Thoughts

If you’ve been looking for the answer as to if Dove is cruelty-free or not, it can be a little confusing. Dove claims that they are cruelty-free and they are even certified by PETA. But they do still sell some of their products in mainland China where animal testing is required by law. So they cannot technically be 100% cruelty-free just yet. In addition, they are not 100% vegan either. However, we do hope to see these things change in the near future.