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On each product's packaging, you'll find simple instructions to follow – it's usually on the back or bottom of the pack. For best results, we recommend you use products for the purpose they were developed for. If you have any other questions, always feel free to contact us.
Frequently Asked Questions
At Dove we are here for you. We have advice and tips ranging from beauty, skin care, hair as well as hand and body tips. See our FAQ section to answer any questions you might have on how Dove products can work for you. Beauty is for everyone, and Dove is for real people. See our Dove Real Beauty Pledge now.
Our Brand Purpose
Dove is committed to creating a world where beauty is a source of confidence, not anxiety. We want to inspire all women to reach their full potential by caring for themselves and each other.
We've always championed women and will continue to use ad campaigns as an opportunity to redefine beauty, challenge stereotypes and celebrate what makes women unique. To reinstate this commitment to championing real beauty, and coinciding with the Dove 60th anniversary, we launched our Real Beauty Pledge. We made three vows to uphold for women everywhere, that we carry today:
1) We always feature real women, never models
2) We portray women as they are in real life
3) We help build girls' body confidence and self-esteem
And since then, we're always looking for new opportunities and ways to stand up for the women we care for.
In 2019, we co-funded the CROWN Coalition to advance anti-hair discrimination legislation called The CROWN Act.
Our No Digital Distortion Mark is a continuation of our Real Beauty Pledge. This is our promise to always show women as you'd see them in real life. We vow to never show manipulated, unachievable images of 'perfect' beauty created by digital distortion. No alterations to body shape or size, just 100% real beauty.
In 2019 and 2020 Dove partnered with Getty Images and Girl Gaze to create an image bank to shatter all beauty stereotypes. The bank features women and non-binary individuals from all over the world including many from South Africa.
The project #ShowUs holds over 10,000 stock images to offer a more inclusive vision of beauty for all media and advertisers to use.
In 2020, Dove in South Africa seeded Dove women in casting videos, placing real women in front of advertising directors, asking them to give real women a chance. Several companies have since chosen our diverse beautiful women to feature in adverts thereby helping to shatter the previously seen stereotypical beauty.
In 2021 Dove launched the Reverse Selfie film, which draws attention to the damage of social media filters and the way that these seemingly innocent filters can be detrimental to self esteem. A study done with South African girls revealed that 83% of young girls in our country have used an app or a filer by the age of 13. This is a higher percentage than the global average – revealing that social media can play a huge role in shaping, breaking or building self esteem.
The Dove film exposes the editing changes that take place and how sometimes girls might not even look like themselves post the editing process.
80% of the young girls surveyed believed that brands and influencers could play a role by not editing images themselves and standing up against distortion.
The Dove confidence kit can be found on the Dove Website and can help teachers, parents and mentors to make a real difference in young people's awareness of social media pressures and help them to navigate social media safely and confidently.
We started the Dove Self-Esteem Project (DSEP) back in 2004 for the next generation. We wanted to help young people experience a positive relationship with the way they look, and help them reach their full potential; improving their body confidence and ultimately their self-esteem.
We’ve partnered with leading experts in the fields of psychology, health and body image to create a programme of evidence-based resources for parents, mentors and youth leaders to help young people form healthy friendships, overcome body image issues and be their best selves. We’ve already reached over 60 million young people in 142 countries. And we won’t stop there. Our global mission is to reach 1/4 billion by 2030.
In South Africa we have also started a partnership with the Department of Basic Education to further our impact in schools and make a real difference to the lives of young South Africans. Want to find out more? Head to the Dove Self-Esteem Project.
We're working towards a Positive Beauty vision – and as part of that vision, we said goodbye to the word 'normal'. Alongside our parent company, Unilever, we've removed all mentions from our website, product labels, social media, and campaigns. While we know that removing the word 'normal' alone will not completely fix the problem, we believe it is an important step towards a more inclusive definition of beauty.
To develop our wide-ranging actions, we used learnings from a review of all our marketing campaigns and products. We know we haven’t always got it right in our marketing, and we are committed to learn from this and transform our business for the better.
Find out more about the Unilever mission.
We use advertising and marketing as a way to tell you about everything from our latest innovations to important issues: whether that's what’s in our products, recommending how you should use them, or helping us change society for the better.
Take the Dove Real Beauty campaign – we challenged appearance-based stereotypes to create a more inclusive vision of beauty. As a continuation of this Real Beauty Pledge, our No Digital Distortion Mark is our commitment to always show women as you'd see them in real life. The images you see on our website or social media channels will never be manipulated, unachievable images of 'perfect' beauty created using digital distortion. No alterations to body shape or size, just 100% real beauty.
We've also been working on The CROWN Act, working to eradicate race-based hair discrimination in several countries across the world.
As they say, with great power comes great responsibility – and this power of marketing communications demands our care. We have signed up to (and helped to define) global standards for the industry, centred on the promise that our advertising and marketing will always be 'legal, decent, honest and truthful'. Independently, we have also made landmark decisions about our own practices. For instance, we never use models in our advertising – only everyday women, sharing their everyday lives with us.
We are committed to widening the definition of beauty. This is why we don't cast professional models in our campaigns – to us, they often represent a narrow view of beauty and while all women are beautiful we don't want to be part of the perpetuation of stereotypes.
Dove has always championed women and will continue to use ad campaigns as an opportunity to redefine beauty, challenge stereotypes and celebrate what makes women unique. To reinstate this commitment to championing real beauty, and to coincide with the Dove 60th anniversary, we launched the Dove Real Beauty Pledge, onsisting of three vows to uphold for women everywhere:
1) We always feature women, never models
2) We portray women as they are in real life
3) We help build girls' body confidence and self-esteem
Our No Digital Distortion Mark is a continuation of our pledge, as our promise to always show women as you'd see them in real life. The images we share will never be manipulated, unachievable images of 'perfect' beauty created by digital distortion.
We are committed to creating a world where beauty is a source of confidence, not anxiety. We want to inspire all women and non-binary individuals through sharing real stories – and we're honoured to hear you'd like to be a part of that. Get in touch: have a look at our full contact information or DM us on Instagram.
Sustainability Commitments
Globally, Dove does not test on animals and is certified Cruelty-Free by PETA. We use non-animal approaches to assess the safety of our products and ingredients. Dove has enacted a policy prohibiting any animal tests, anywhere in the world.
Learn more about our work on and commitment to non-animal testing approaches.
Globally, Dove does not test on animals and is certified Cruelty-Free by PETA. We use non-animal approaches to assess the safety of our products and ingredients. Dove has enacted a policy prohibiting any animal tests, anywhere in the world.
Our products proudly display the PETA Cruelty-Free logo, so you can instantly know which products have been produced without animal testing of any kind.
Learn more our work on and commitment to non-animal testing approaches.
PETA is the largest animal rights organisation in the world, with more than 6.5 million members and supporters. We know consumers trust their Beauty without Bunnies programme, and their iconic Cruelty-Free logo instantly shows you which products have been produced without animal testing of any kind.
Palm oil is a really important issue for us and our parent company, who've been at the forefront of driving industry-wide change for more than 15 years. This is why we choose to use sustainable palm oil in our products.
When products, industries and livelihoods depend on the use of palm oil, it's essential that we source responsibly to tackle the issue of deforestation. That's why we're working towards 100% physically-certified sustainable palm oil.
If you want to know if your favourite Dove product contains any derivatives of palm oil, you can find full ingredients lists on every product page.
Supporting independent palm oil farmers
Need more information? Find out how you can contact us
We want to help you recycle as much of our packaging as possible so we can use it again. That's why all Dove bottles are fully recyclable. Every Dove bottle has an icon on the front so that you can be sure that the bottle is 100% recycled and recyclable. Depending on local recycling facilities being available. Find out more about our commitment to cutting plastic waste.
We're proud to say Dove bottles are made using 100% recycled plastic. We are committed to a landmark new initiative as part of our 2025 commitment to reduce plastic waste – reducing the manufacture of more than 20,500 tonnes of virgin plastic per year. You can find a recycling symbol on the back label or bottle of all of our products.
Find out more about our commitment to cutting plastic waste.
As one of the world’s biggest beauty brands, our actions to tackle the growing issue of plastic waste make a huge impact. Based on information publicly available, we can confidently say that our ongoing initiatives form the largest known reduction plan of its kind in the global beauty industry – and we hope these actions inspire others to do the same.
As well as using 100% recycled plastic to make our bottles, our iconic beauty bar single packs will soon be plastic-free. Development is also underway to replace the plastic outer-wrap of our beauty bar multipacks with a zero-plastic material.
This is a really important question for the beauty industry today. We love our exfoliation, but not at the expense of our beautiful oceans. To protect them – and us – from micro-plastics, we stopped using plastic scrub beads in our exfoliating products back in 2014. Now we use ingredients that give your skin the exfoliation you need, without threatening our environment. We work with several bioplastics suppliers to explore new technologies and next-generation materials which are sustainably sourced. Find out more about the changes we've made.
About Our Products
Whether you can't find your favourite product in-store or prefer to shop from home, you can find out which products are available online from the comfort of your couch. Simply search for your product, choose the size you want (if needed), and then click 'Shop now' to find out where you can get your favourite product online. Dove is available on all main shopping sites and platforms.
We currently don't have information on the availability of products outside South Africa.
If you can't find your product online, we're sorry to be the ones to tell you... it might have sold out. Don't worry! It will be back soon. And we are also always working on new formulas and, if you take a look around, you might find a new and improved replacement for your beauty routine.
You can find Dove products in South Africa leading supermarkets, pharmacies and most of your favourite shops. To find out where a product is available, head to your favourites stores product page and in the search bar type in Dove, to see a list of Dove products that they stock (we don't currently have information for you on the availability of products outside South Africa).
If you can't find your product in-store or online, we hate to be the ones to tell you... it might have sold out. And every now and again we do discontinue options that people don't seem to love as much as others. But don't worry! We're always working on new formulas and trying to bring more popular fragrances and variants to you. If you take a look around, you might find a new and improved replacement for your beauty routine.
Jetting off? Dove travel-size products are available on a limited basis, but some of our products are perfect for travel at their full size. For more information on where to find travel-specific sizes, we recommend asking in-store (wherever you get your Dove products). You should be able to find a small Dove Body Wash, and mini shampoo and conditioner, and the Dove bar is always travel ready.
Also, remember to send an email with an image of your travel-sized versions of Dove products.
We've made a whole host of Dove bars, shampoos, conditioners, body washes, body lotions, hand creams, roll ons and antiperspirant deodorant sprays. Plus, new Dove facial cleansing foam and Dove shower mousse – you can explore them all here. Simply type in your product in the search bar. Alternatively head on over to your favourite stores online page and search there – Clicks and Dischem have a great selection of the Dove range too.
Great choice. Whether new innovations or timeless classics, our body washes are firm favourites for a reason. Explore our full range of beauty bars and body washes. Did you know that the body wash cleanses like a bar and moisturises like a cream – Softer Smoother skin after just one shower. Go ahead and try it!
Can't find the product you're looking for? We might have bad news... it might be so popular that it has sold out, or perhaps we have discontinued your favourite. But we always provide an alternative. Don't worry though, we're always working on new and improved formulas – and we're 99% sure you'll find a new favourite.
You're one step away from our complete Dove Hair Care collection. Can't find the product you're looking for? Don't worry, we're always working on new and improved formulas, so your next favourite Dove product might be waiting to be discovered.
Hello touchably soft, beautiful skin. Enter body lotion heaven. We've got plenty more products to care for your skin too, see our full skin care range. Can't find your go-to body lotion? We're always working on new and improved formulas. Whether you're after long-lasting nourishment or an indulgent scent, we hope you'll find your next favourite.
We're always here to help keep you feeling fresh. Head to our complete antiperspirant and deodorant collection. Can’t find your go-to deo? It's likely been discontinued – but don't sweat it. We're always coming up with new and improved formulas. Have a look at our range to find your next favourite fragrance.
Yes! Dove Men+Care products are specially engineered to help men care for their skin.
Yes! Baby Dove was made specially for delicate baby skin. Discover gentle, hypoallergenic, and fragrance-free formulas perfect for your parenting routine.
Unfortunately, we don't have any specific products for treating acne, but our Beauty Bar can be used from head to toe – and it suits acne-prone and eczema prone skin. No matter which variant you choose, they all have the same base formula to give your skin the same level of care. And the sensitive range is fragrance free if you are looking for the mildest care from Dove.
Yes. Our Sensitive product range is especially formulated for sensitive skin. This range is fragrance free and offers you the mildest care from Dove. We have a bar, body wash and deodorant suited for your sensitive skin under our products.
Noncomedogenic products are specially formulated to not clog pores and are suitable for oily skin.
This is a simple one for you to check on your product. If it states 'Non Comedogenic', the product has been tested. If the product does not state 'Noncomedogenic', it has not been tested.
You can find the full list of ingredients on each Dove product's page. Simply search for the product you're looking for and scroll down to see the full ingredients list. Want to learn about the ingredients in our products, their benefits, or our approach to developing safe formulas? Head to Unilever for more. Can't find what you're looking for? Please get in touch.
Whether you're looking for a daily nourishing boost or glow, we've got lots of expert tips to help you care for your skin. Explore our skin care tips now.
Whether you're looking for boosted shine, nourishment, hydration, or strength – we've got lots of expert advice to help you figure out what works for your hair – and transform the look of your locks. Explore our tips now.
We've created a wide range of shampoos, conditioners, and styling products for all hair types. To find the best products for you, you can filter our formulas by your hair type and needs – start your hair care search now.
Your hair wash schedule is up to you, and the answer's different for everyone. There's no right or wrong, we just recommend washing your hair as often as you feel you need to. Depending on your hair type, and your hair needs and moisture levels, washing your hair every day might be perfectly fine.
Just be sure to use a shampoo that cleans thoroughly without stripping away your hair's natural moisturisers, like Dove. And pair with a nourishing Dove conditioner. Head to our full hair care range to discover the shampoo and conditioner that’s right for you.
Like two peas in a pod, we make all our shampoos and conditioners to work together. The cleaning properties of the shampoo are balanced by the moisturising properties of the conditioner. And let's not forget, the compatible fragrances will take your locks to another level. Head to Hair Care to find your match.
Our antiperspirant and deodorant ranges come in lots of different formats.
Looking for a discreet and easy-to-apply deodorant? Our roll-on deodorants are the perfect option.
For a quick-to-apply deodorant that will keep you feeling fresh all day, deodorant sprays combine antiperspirant and deodorant care. The spray goes on and dries instantly, leaving no visible residue. It gives sweat protection and keeps you smelling fresh all day long.
When you’re on the go and want something compact, our stick deodorant gives the odour protection you need. And thanks to it's solid nature, it’s the ideal travel companion, too.
If you’re looking for our most effective range, try one of our Maximum Protection Antiperspirants or Deodorants
This is an ongoing debate but to find the right one for you, it’s important to know the difference – luckily, it’s simple. Deodorants help prevent underarm odour, but don't prevent sweat. Antiperspirants help prevent odour, with the extra benefit of also reducing your sweat.
Here's how to help make sure your wardrobe stays intact. First off, it's important to apply your antiperspirant before getting dressed for the day. Be sure not to apply too much, and wait for it to dry for best results.
Got any more questions? Get in touch.
We’re sorry to hear about your experience. Here are some tips for removing stubborn underarm stains. This should work on most types of fabric: For white marks... Carefully rub the fabric in cold soapy water or soak the item in a biological washing powder overnight to help dissolve the stain. Then, gently wash the item. For yellow stains... Gently rub a damp cloth and laundry detergent on the stained area, on both sides of the garment, then rinse with water and let dry. Repeat these steps if the stain remains.
You can also try these household classics: Baking soda... Mix some baking soda with a small amount of water to form a paste. Apply onto the stain with a brush and follow the directions above. Vinegar... Soak the affected area of the garment in white vinegar for an hour, then scrub with a brush. Wash the garment as usual (you can pop into your washing machine with the detergents you usually use) to remove the smell of vinegar. If you're trying the baking soda or vinegar methods, remember to test on a small area first to ensure that the colour of the garment will not be damaged.
We’re sorry to hear about your experience. Hold the can upside down after shaking it for a minute or so, then spray it again. Just make sure the nozzle is not facing you. The pressure buildup should release the softened matter clogging the nozzle. Please get in touch with us to ensure this issue is resolved. You can reach us here.
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Safety & Dietary Information
All of our caring formulas have a shelf life based on when they'll be most enjoyable for you to use.
Antiperspirant deodorants and dandruff shampoos have more of a set expiration date because of their active ingredients. Store them at room temperature and try to use them all up in time, to experience your product at its best.
For everything else, store at room temperature and use within three years of the product's manufacturing date to enjoy their best performance.
We know some of our communities are looking for vegan products, and we are exploring routes to offer vegan-accredited Dove products to meet this demand.
Before we answer, a quick science refresh: Gluten is a protein found in wheat, rye, barley, and processed oats. For ingredient labelling, our company follows the guidelines of the US Food & Drug Administration (FDA) and uses the International Nomenclature for Cosmetics Ingredients (INCI).
If any wheat, rye, barley, or oat-derived raw materials are in our products, they will be listed on the labels. This includes any hydrolysed protein from wheat, rye, barley, or oats which may contain gluten.
Saying this, it is possible (although very unlikely) that an unintended presence of small amounts of gluten might be occasionally present. This happens as a result of cross-contamination in the supply chain.
We recommend that you check with your physician as to whether use of grain derivatives in personal care products will cause the symptoms of Celiac-Sprue Disease.
Any product which is Kosher will have the designated symbol on the packaging, to let you know it's a Kosher product (keep an eye out for symbols like: K, OU, P or PARVE, U).
Since we're always perfecting our product formulations, we recommend checking your package for the most up-to-date Kosher designation.
This is a tricky one for us to answer in one swoop. On the surface, it's simple: some products do contain nut oils and nut derivatives, some don't. We label all of our products in accordance with the European Cosmetic Regulation. That means if a nut ingredient is specifically added, you'll find it in the ingredient list (watch out for the allergen names written in Latin and get Googling).
Saying this, we cannot guarantee that any of our products are completely nut free. Our products are not made in nut-free factories, so it's possible that all products could contain trace levels of nuts. If nut allergies are a worry for you, we advise checking with your doctor to find out more information on which products you should use.
Before we answer, a quick reminder: Hypoallergenic products are designed to have a very low potential for allergic reaction. The term doesn't put a stop to any possibility you might have an allergic reaction to a particular product, but it just means that the average person with sensitive skin that we've tested on, didn't show signs of an allergic reaction.
Our hypoallergenic products have been tested according to internationally recognised standards. We subject the finished products to a well-recognised protocol known as Human Repeat Insult Patch Testing (HRIPT), using internationally accredited Laboratories around the world. Only if the finished products pass the HRIPT test do we make claims such as “hypoallergenic” or “suitable for sensitive skin”.
This means it's possible that a Unilever product marked as “hypoallergenic” or “suitable for sensitive skin” may still contain an ingredient to which a consumer could be allergic. So, if you have an allergy to a specific ingredient, it's still worth you checking the product listing, on-pack or in our ‘What’s in our Products’ database in the EU to check that the product is suitable for you to use. Explore our hypoallergenic products.
We're so sorry to hear you've had a reaction to one of our products.
If your reaction is severe, we recommend calling your doctor or the emergency services, if needed. If you would like to talk to us, please call our safety information number:
8:00am - 4:00pm
Mon to Fri
Call us:
0860 572861
Email us:
consumer.affairs-za@unilever.com
One of our knowledgeable personnel will be there to give you precise information and instructions.
On each product's packaging, you'll find simple instructions to follow – it's usually on the back or bottom of the pack. For best results, we recommend you use products for the purpose they were developed for. If you have any other questions, always feel free to contact us.
Dove Corporate Information
Unilever is our parent company; listed on the London, Amsterdam, New York and South Africa stock exchanges.
Visit the Unilever website to access our download library, read our Annual Report, and find many more Unilever publications. Or head straight to Unilever Annual Reports.
Unless you see otherwise on the label, all of our products sold in South Africa are manufactured in South Africa. Products made outside of South Africa will list its manufacturer country on the back label.
Although we do have several manufacturing plants for Dove products, we're not offering factory tours at the moment.
Thanks for your interest in sharing the Dove love. For this type of enquiry, we need to hand you over to our parent company, Unilever.
Please email your request to: export inquiries@unilever.com
In your email, please clearly explain that Dove is the Unilever brand you would like to export. Then state the country you wish to export to.
Please note that Unilever will only respond to enquiries from established companies and not from individuals.
Could you be the next member of our team? Find all our latest employment and human resource information and opportunities – good luck!
Our parent company Unilever has been a pioneer in understanding skin’s outermost layer, the stratum corneum. This investigation has covered how our skin works, the interaction of cleansing products and lotions, and the impact of simple daily routines.
The Dove Medical Programme started in the US in 1980, and today it operates worldwide. The primary role of the programme is to provide dermatologists and other healthcare professionals with the latest research into skin cleansing and care. Through medical outreach, we can help healthcare professionals better understand the science behind skin products and recognise the importance of mild cleansing in a daily skincare plan. Doctors can then pass this knowledge on to their patients and explain the importance of choosing the right products.
Feedback & Suggestions
We're constantly striving to improve our products in response to your preferences, testing and research. And this means we sometimes need to update our products and packaging. Keeping you stocked up on your favourite Dove products is really important to us, so if you have any feedback, please get in touch.
We're so sorry to hear you've had this experience. We have an extensive line of products, each specifically formulated to meet the different needs of our community. We’re always concerned when we hear of a problem involving one of our products and will share your comments with the appropriate team. Please get in touch to tell us more about your experience, so we can help you further.
We love to hear that you're coming up with new concept ideas and suggestions, but please understand that we cannot accept any unsolicited ideas in the areas of advertising, new product names, marketing, artwork, etc.
If your submission relates to a design or technological solution, or if you are the owner of a published patent application which relates to technology, head to the Unilever site.
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When it comes to your body, love the one you're with
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