Bebelyn asks…Does dove really hydrate the skin better than regular old soap? I love the scent and the creamy lather…so I probably won’t stop using it even if it isn’t any better, but I still would like to know if I am being ripped off by another advertising gimmick.
The Right Brain responds:
As far as I’m concerned, a Dove bar (or even a Haagen-dazs bar) is never a rip off. Oh wait, you’re talking about soap…
Dove is not a true soap (and that’s good!)
Dove is what is called a “syndet” bar. that means it’s a mix of synthetic detergent and soap. True soap (saponified fatty acids) can be very drying to skin whereas modern surfactants, like Sodium Lauroyl Isethionate (SCI for short) are much less drying/irritating. As you can see from the list below, SCI is the primary ingredient in a Dove bar.
Dove Bar ingredients
Sodium Lauroyl Isethionate, Stearic Acid, Sodium Tallowate or Sodium Palmitate, Lauric Acid, Sodium Isethionate, Water, Sodium Stearate, Cocamidopropyl Betaine or Sodium C14-C16 Olefin Sulfonate, Sodium Cocoate or Sodium Palm Kernelate, Fragrance, Sodium Chloride, Tetrasodium EDTA, Tetrasodium Etidronate, Titanium Dioxide.
So if you’re comparing Dove to a “regular” soap bar then yes it’s better.
Image credit: My refridgerator
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YEEEHAA another question of mine has been choosen!….at least now someone listens to my cooky questions and actually answers them! Thanks sooo much Right Brain!!!!
that’s pretty satisfying answer.. because i just love the creamy feel of dove when i hold it in my hand.. not only the face.. i use it all over my body.. im happy to know its better then any other soap!
My husband’s dermatologist “prescribed” Dove soap for his scaly, dry skin. He had been an Ivory soap user for many years without realizing how drying it is.Since he has allergies, he uses the unscented Dove. It’s wonderful – dry ness went away and stays away when using Dove.
For me, I use Yardley Lavender soap, which is the world’s best for me.
“Dove is not true soap”
Actually, it contains: “Sodium Tallowate or Sodium Palmitate, … Sodium Cocoate or Sodium Palm Kernelate.” So, it contains both soap and detergent.
My question is this: Why would they add soap in the first place? As a thickener/hardener? I believe that when Dove first came out, it was truly soap-free.
@Wade:You’re correct. It would have been more accurate to say “Dove is not a pure soap.”
Why is this product formulated with a blend of soap and detergent? I don’t know for a fact but my guess is that the soap part is cheap and cleans well while the detergent part is more expensive but improves the mildness of the bar.
Ah yes, the money… I should have guessed.
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