Dove soap has become an internet sensation for its ability to cleanse sensitive skin gently. With its creamy lather and mild formula, many have wondered if Dove could also be used to clean delicate eyelash extensions. The answer is not so simple.
The Lash experts have mixed opinions on using Dove soap regularly to clean eyelash extensions.
While the pH-balanced, moisturizing formula may be less harsh than typical soaps, frequent use can still progressively weaken lash bonds over time. Yet, many claim Dove’s gentleness makes it safe for occasional washing to remove oil and debris.
So where is the balance?
I have identified six reasons Dove soap can be good for lash hygiene in moderation based on carefully reviewing Dove’s ingredients and considering lash extension care. But I also describe one important reason you may want to limit its use.
Curious to learn more? Discover when Dove soap can be effectively and safely used on eyelash extensions and how often you should reach for a more lash-friendly cleanser instead.
When and Why You Can Use Dove Soap On Eyelash Extensions?
Typical bar soaps have a terrible reputation for being extremely stripping in formulations, which causes dryness and irritation. Using any of these to clean your eyelash extensions weakens the lash adhesive over time and makes volume lashes feel crunchy and plastic.
However, Dove bar soap contains mild ingredients like sodium lauryl isethionate (ordinary soaps have sodium lauryl sulfate instead) that gently cleanse your skin around the eyes and eyelash extensions.
Undoubtedly, dove soap is gentle for the skin, but it may involve risk for eyelash extensions. It contains glycerin and palm oil derivatives, weakening the lash adhesive over time.
Daily use of Dove soap on eyelash extensions is generally not recommended. The repeated cleansing can still slowly weaken the bonds and lead to premature falling out.
The eyelash extensions need regular cleaning, especially when you wear makeup. Therefore, you would need specifically designed Stacy Lash Shampoo that you can use daily without damaging your volume lashes.
The following are some reasons why Dove beauty soap can be suitable for washing your eyelash extensions.
1. Dove Soap Have Minimal Ingredients
The cleanser must be free from harsh ingredients like the one mentioned above, sodium lauryl sulfate, and alcohol to prevent dryness and irritation.
And when it comes to cleaning or washing your eyelash extensions with these soaps or gels, their chemical component should be less potent than lash adhesive or least likely to react with it.
Dove soap contains isethionate instead of sulfates as a cleaning agent, which is very gentle and less strong than the bonding agent in the eyelash extension glue, cyanoacrylate. So this characteristic makes Dove soap an ideal option to wash your lashes with.
2. It is Fragrance-Free
For a soap to smell amazing, the manufacturers must add some chemicals. As the world, especially the younger generation is moving away from chemicals and adopting greener options, using a soap bar with less harsh chemicals can be a perfect choice to wash your face with eyelash extensions.
Dove soap is free from fragrance, in other words, fragrant chemicals. Therefore, you can use it to clean your eyelash extensions while causing nearly no damage to the adhesive, bonding them to your natural lashes.
The shampoos or gels formulated to wash eyelash extensions are always free from fragrance and preservatives. They contain one to two cleansing agents, which makes them milder.
3. Has a Moisturizing Effect
There is a common notion among people that they should keep the lash extension away from water and moisturizing ingredients to make them last longer. The reality is the contrary. You need to wash and moisturize them regularly.
Dove soap contains stearic acid that moisturizes your eyelash extensions and natural lashes. Do you know why dry extensions may fall early?
When your skin is dry, it produces oil to compensate for the dryness. Further, you might experience a lot of buildup from flakes. And it is not a hidden fact how oil can be bad for your eyelash extensions. It loosens the adhesive and breaks it away!
How do you clean your volume lashes with dove soap safely?
The only risk products like Dove soap or baby shampoo have for eyelash extensions is they might contain oil or its derivatives. So, to nullify the impact of oil on lash glue, you can use micellar water after Dove soap.
What will micellar water do? (I use Bioderma Micellar Water)
As you might know, micellar water is a safe and excellent cleanser for lash extensions. This liquid contains tiny micelles that dissolve away makeup, buildup, and dirt from your lashes.
So, it will remove any remnants of Dove soap from your lashes.
How would you use Dove soap and micellar water together?
You can create the foam of Dove soap and apply it to your volume lashes. Subsequently, you will use micellar water to wash away the foam containing dirt and buildup.
Micellar water will rinse the Dove soap ingredients (palm oil derivates) away from your lashes. So you won’t have to worry about loosening lash glue.
Why May You Not Wash Eyelash Extensions With Dove Soap Only?
Typically all the soaps are made from palm oil or other fatty acid sources. If a cleanser mentions sodium palmitate in the ingredients list, it is sourced from palm oil. So, what is not good about the soaps containing oil?
While it is not like you directly apply the oil to your eyelash extensions, sodium palmitate soap can weaken the lash glue. Therefore, you may consider it before using Dove soap to clean your lashes because it is made from palm oil.
However, you would be less likely to damage your eyelash extensions while employing Dove soap to clean them occasionally. So, you may don’t want to use it every day, but sometimes it will be okay.
Secondly, while the Dove brand claims to be working with different firms to ensure the long-term sustainability of palm trees and the environment, they still have a little share in cutting these trees.
Finally, while Dove soap is ideal for sensitive skin, it is not specifically developed to clean eyelash extensions. Thus, you must opt for safer options, like Stacy Lash Shampoo, formulated solely for eyelashes and extensions.
Is Cetaphil Better Than Dove Soap For Eyelash Extensions?
Cetaphil gentle skin cleanser is the holy grail for many because of its gentle formula. It specializes in cleansing sensitive skin and has all the properties you can expect a good face wash to bring in.
Typically, Cetaphil is a commodity for many of us and can be found in every other house. Therefore, when you run out of your regular lash shampoo, you can use it to clean your eyelash extensions.
Cetaphil is free from sulfates and oil and has a gentle moisturizing formula, making it perfect for cleaning your volume lashes. The brand itself claims that Cetaphil is safe for eyelash extensions.
However, you must be careful not to rub the cleansing gel into your eyelashes. Otherwise, you may damage or weaken the bonds, adhering the extensions to your natural lashes.
Wrapping Up
While you can use Dove soap on your eyelash extensions to clean them occasionally, you should not employ it too often. The soap has a gentle formula but contains sodium palmitate, basically palm oil, which can weaken lash glue over time. Instead, clean your volume lashes using Cetaphil gentle cleanser. Or, the safest option will be to buy a lash shampoo specifically formulated for eyelash extensions.
