Dove Deep Moisture Nourishing Body Wash
Lower PFAS concern for typical body wash without known triggers.
This water-based liquid body wash contains no nonstick, water-repellent, or stain-resistance coating driving PFAS use. Dove has not published PFAS-free claims.
We flunk more products than we pass. This one earned its grade. How we grade
Material
aqueous liquid cleansing base (water, surfactants, humectants)
Brand disclosure
Brand is silent on PFAS
Lab data
No public lab test
What’s concerning
Category baseline
PFAS exposure happens more often with clothing products.
No PFAS disclosure
The company has not publicly discussed PFAS in this product.
Fragrance allergens
Product contains fragrance; individual sensitivity varies. Dove markets this as hypoallergenic, but fragrance is still listed. No specific allergen incidents are on record for this formula, but fragrance-free alternatives exist for sensitive skin.
Skin irritation from surfactant load or pH imbalance
Body washes are inherently designed to strip some skin oils. Dove's formulation is marketed as milder than conventional soaps, but individual sensitivity to even gentle surfactants occurs. The product is pH-balanced according to marketing claims, reducing irritation risk relative to high-pH bar soaps.
What’s reassuring
Safe base material
Made from ceramic, mineral, or natural fiber with no PFAS risk.
1,4-dioxane (surfactant contaminant)
1,4-dioxane can form as a byproduct in ethoxylated surfactants. No published tests or recalls document 1,4-dioxane in Dove body wash. Unilever has stated commitment to minimizing this contaminant across products, though no public data is available for this specific SKU.
Formaldehyde / VOCs
Dove Deep Moisture does not list formaldehyde-releasing preservatives (DMDM hydantoin, diazolidinyl urea) in publicly available ingredient declarations. Standard Dove preservative systems do not rely on this class.
Source: ATSDR ↗Heavy metals
This product is a clear or translucent gel with minimal or no added pigments. No iron oxides, titanium dioxide, or lake pigments requiring heavy metal monitoring are documented in the formula.
Source: FDA ↗The full breakdown
What it's made of and why it matters
Dove Deep Moisture is an aqueous liquid cleanser built on mild anionic and amphoteric surfactants, humectants (glycerin, dimethicone), and emollients designed to minimize skin barrier disruption. The formulation contains no soap; instead it relies on synthetic detergents chosen for gentleness. No heating or cookware contact occurs during use, eliminating thermal degradation hazards typical of topical products applied at room temperature.
The brand's record and disclosure
Dove (Unilever subsidiary) has published ingredient lists transparently and maintains no known safety recalls on this product line. The brand does not market PFAS-free status or make public PFAS reduction commitments, reflecting industry-wide silence in body wash rather than a red flag specific to Dove. Third-party certifications (Dermatologist Recommended, hypoallergenic claim) are marketing-level assurances, not regulatory safety seals.
How it compares in its category
Body washes occupy a middle safety tier: lower risk than cosmetics with pigments or fragrances, comparable to generic bar soaps. Dove's formulation avoids reported irritants like high-sulfate alternatives and sulfite preservatives. Most competitors in the 'gentle' segment use identical surfactant chemistry, making this a category-standard product rather than an outlier in either direction.
If you buy it
Use as directed on skin; no special storage precautions beyond keeping the bottle sealed and cool. Discontinue if rash or irritation develops. Replace when empty; no reuse or refill safety concerns. Avoid contact with eyes; rinse thoroughly if exposure occurs. No data supports benefits of intentional skin barrier changes from extended use.
What we don’t know
- Basis
- Model estimate, 78% confidence, not a lab result
- Lab test
- None on record for this exact product
- Brand statement
- Dove has made none
Formulations change between production runs, so check the current label. How we grade.
More body wash grades
How we score: every product runs through the same public 0–100 rubric based on materials, coatings, brand disclosure, lab findings, and recalls. See the full methodology → Spotted a mistake? Report an error.