About Dove
Dove stands as one of the world's most recognised personal care brands, offering a comprehensive range of body washes, beauty bars, deodorants, and hair care products to consumers in over 150 countries. Owned by British multinational Unilever, Dove has built its reputation on the promise of gentle, moisturising formulas that care for skin rather than simply cleansing it. The brand's iconic Beauty Bar, containing one-quarter moisturising cream, revolutionised the soap market and remains a bestseller decades after its introduction. The Dove brand has deep roots in British consumer goods history. American chemist Vincent Lamberti developed the original patents while working for Lever Brothers in the 1950s, and the Beauty Bar launched in the United States in 1957. After remaining a niche product for over 25 years, Unilever relaunched Dove in 1979 with dermatologist endorsements, and by 1986 it had become the best-selling soap brand in America. The European launch came in 1989, starting with Italy, and by 2001 Dove held 24% market share in bar soap. Today, Unilever remains headquartered in London, maintaining Dove's British heritage. The Dove product range extends far beyond the original Beauty Bar. The body wash collection features sulfate-free formulas including the popular Deeply Nourishing, Sensitive Skin, and seasonal limited editions. The deodorant range offers 48-hour antiperspirant protection in spray, roll-on and stick formats. Hair care includes shampoos and conditioners for various hair types, with the Nutritive Solutions range addressing specific concerns like damage repair. Specialist ranges include DermaSpa for spa-inspired body care, Pro-Age for mature skin with AHA and niacinamide formulations, Baby Dove for infants with pediatric dermatologist-approved products, and Dove Men+Care launched in 2010 for male grooming needs. Dove achieved a significant milestone in 2018 when the brand stopped testing on animals anywhere in the world, earning PETA certification as a cruelty-free brand. Dove does not test finished products or ingredients on animals, nor do their suppliers or third parties. However, while Dove is certified cruelty-free, the brand is not fully vegan. Some products contain animal-derived ingredients such as beeswax, goat's milk, sodium tallowate, and tallow acid. Consumers seeking vegan options should check individual product labels. It's worth noting that parent company Unilever is not itself certified cruelty-free. The Dove Self-Esteem Project, launched in 2006 following the 2004 Campaign for Real Beauty, has become the largest body confidence education provider in the world. The programme has reached over 114 million young people across 153 countries, with a goal to reach 250 million by 2030. In 2024, Dove updated its Real Beauty Pledge to commit to never using AI to create or distort women's images, addressing concerns about artificial intelligence in beauty advertising. When comparing Dove to competitors like Nivea and L'Oreal, each brand serves different needs. Dove excels at daily moisturising and maintaining skin's natural pH balance, making it ideal for regular use. Nivea offers more intensive moisture for sensitive skin and conditions like eczema. Dove products are competitively priced and widely available across UK supermarkets including Tesco, Sainsbury's, Asda, and Morrisons, as well as health and beauty retailers like Boots, Superdrug, and Savers. Budget retailers like Poundland also stock Dove products from as little as one pound. For UK shoppers seeking reliable personal care products that combine quality with value, Dove offers an extensive range catering to all ages and skin types. The brand's commitment to cruelty-free practices, real beauty messaging, and gentle formulations has maintained consumer trust for over six decades. Using Grocefully to compare Dove prices across retailers ensures you find the best deals on these everyday essentials.