dove Men’s Body Wash
dove Dove Men’s Body Wash lists 21 ingredients on its label, 21 decoded. See what each one does, its irritancy and comedogenic tendency, and its status in national inventories.
Ingredients overview
Label order. Colour is our internal rating: green routine, yellow restricted or worth a look, red prohibited or high-risk, grey not yet decoded.
Ingredients are listed in label order; the order reflects the label only, not exact concentrations.
Highlights
Free of alcoholFree of parabensFree of siliconesContains sulfatesContains mineral oilContains EU-26 allergensContains fragranceContains formaldehyde releasersContains essential oils
Formulation view Water-based system with sulfate surfactants, petrolatum occlusion, and acrylate film formation. Focused on lather and conditioning for dry to normal skin. Formulator note: DMDM hydantoquin requires strict control due to formaldehyde release; multiple fragrances may increase sensitization risks.
Key ingredients
- SOLVENT
- Aqua
- CLEANSING
- Sodium Laureth Sulfate
- ANTISTATIC
- PetrolatumAcrylates Copolymer
- FRAGRANCE
- Parfum
- DENATURANT
- Glycerin
- SURFACTANT - FOAM BOOSTING
- Cocamide MEA
- BULKING
- Sodium Chloride
Other ingredients
Sodium HydroxideCitric AcidTetrasodium EDTADMDM HydantoinAlpha-Isomethyl IononeButylphenyl MethylpropionalCoumarinHexyl CinnamalLimoneneLinaloolCi 17200Ci 19140Ci 42090
Skim through
| Ingredient | What it does | Irr. · Com. | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aqua | SOLVENT | 0 · 0 | Green |
| Sodium Laureth Sulfate | CLEANSING, SURFACTANT - EMULSIFYING, FOAMING, SURFACTANT - CLEANSING | 2 · 0 | Green |
| Petrolatum | ANTISTATIC, SKIN CONDITIONING - EMOLLIENT · 限制 II/904 (except if the full refining history is known and it can be shown that the substance from which it is produced is not a carcinogen) | 0 · 0 | Yellow |
| Acrylates Copolymer | ANTISTATIC, BINDING, FILM FORMING | 0 · – | Green |
| Parfum | FRAGRANCE, PERFUMING | 2 · 0 | Yellow |
| Glycerin | DENATURANT, HAIR CONDITIONING, HUMECTANT, ORAL CARE, SKIN PROTECTING, SOLVENT, VISCOSITY CONTROLLING, PERFUMING, FRAGRANCE, SKIN CONDITIONING - HUMECTANT | 0 · 0 | Green |
| Cocamide MEA | SURFACTANT - FOAM BOOSTING, VISCOSITY CONTROLLING | 0 · – | Yellow |
| Sodium Chloride | BULKING, FRAGRANCE, ORAL CARE, VISCOSITY CONTROLLING | 0 · 0 | Green |
| Sodium Hydroxide | BUFFERING, DENATURANT · 限制 III/15a | 3 · – | Green |
| Citric Acid | BUFFERING, CHELATING, FRAGRANCE | 1 · 0 | Green |
| Tetrasodium EDTA | CHELATING | 0 · 0 | Green |
| DMDM Hydantoin | PRESERVATIVE · 限制 V/33 | 2 · – | Yellow |
| Alpha-Isomethyl Ionone | SKIN CONDITIONING, PERFUMING · 限制 III/90 | 0 · 0 | Yellow |
| Butylphenyl Methylpropional | FRAGRANCE, PERFUMING · 限制 II/1666 | 0 · – | Green |
| Coumarin | PERFUMING · 限制 III/77 | 1 · – | Yellow |
| Hexyl Cinnamal | PERFUMING · 限制 III/87 | 1 · 0 | Yellow |
| Limonene | DEODORANT, SOLVENT, PERFUMING · 限制 III/88 III/167 III/168 | 1 · – | Yellow |
| Linalool | DEODORANT, PERFUMING · 限制 III/84 | 1 · 0 | Yellow |
| Ci 17200 | COLORANT, HAIR DYEING · 限制 IV/37 (CI 17200) III/254 (Acid Red 33) | 2 · – | Green |
| Ci 19140 | COLORANT, HAIR DYEING · 限制 IV/44 (CI 19140) III/189 (Acid Yellow 23; Acid Yellow 23 Aluminum lake) | 0 · 0 | Green |
| Ci 42090 | COLORANT, HAIR DYEING · 限制 IV/63 (CI 42090) III/190 (Acid Blue 9; Acid Blue 9 Ammonium Salt; Acid Blue 9 Aluminum Lake) | 0 · 0 | Green |
Ingredients explained
- Aqua
- Solvent, main base; microbial control is critical
- Sodium Laureth Sulfate
- Common anionic surfactant, strong foam but drying; check cationic compatibility, high eye irritation
- Petrolatum
- Mineral oil occlusive and antistatic; requires full refining history to ensure absence of potential carcinogens.
- Acrylates Copolymer
- Acrylate synthetic polymer for film forming and antistatic; breathable film, control dosage carefully
- Parfum
- Fragrance for scent; may contain allergens, caution for sensitive skin, full labeling required.
- Glycerin
- Workhorse humectant at 3–10%; tacky at high levels, pair with occlusives
- Cocamide MEA
- Foam booster and thickener for cleansing products; 1-3%, check compatibility with anionic surfactants
- Sodium Chloride
- Salt for gel viscosity control; used as precipitant in soaps
- Sodium Hydroxide
- Strong base neutralizer for pH adjustment; handle with extreme care
- Citric Acid
- Buffer and chelator at 0.1–2%; adjusts pH, may irritate sensitive skin at low pH
- Tetrasodium EDTA
- Chelator removing metal ions to enhance antioxidant and preservative efficacy; very low usage, typically 0.05-0.1%, no direct skincare function.
- DMDM Hydantoin
- Formaldehyde-releasing preservative (V/33 limit); monitor cumulative formaldehyde with fragrances.
- Alpha-Isomethyl Ionone
- Vanilla-like fragrance ingredient; one of EU 26 allergens, caution advised for sensitive skin.
- Butylphenyl Methylpropional
- Synthetic fragrance with floral notes; EU regulations limit usage, strict monitoring required.
- Coumarin
- Classic fragrance and photosensitizer, EU restriction III/77; high allergen risk, limit in facial products
- Hexyl Cinnamal
- Common fragrance component (jasmine/vanilla note); listed EU allergen, requires labeling at >10ppm (leave-on).
- Limonene
- Natural fragrance solvent, EU allergen; poor photostability
- Linalool
- Natural fragrance component at ≤0.05%; one of EU 26 allergens, caution for sensitive skin
- Ci 17200
- Acid Red 33 hair dye; restricted use, potential scalp irritation
- Ci 19140
- Acid Yellow 23 lake; for coloring and hair dyeing. High water solubility and precipitation risk, pH control required.
- Ci 42090
- Acid Blue 9 lake; for coloring and brow tints. Non-permanent hair dye, watch for lake precipitation and batch shade variance.
Source: full ingredient list published on the product label, collected 2026-09-21. Ratings are our internal reading, not a regulatory conclusion. · Product page
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