Dove's New Body Care Line Was Inspired by Your Favorite Facial Serum

While it often takes a skilled scientist to develop a great beauty product, it takes a real person to put it to the test. No one knows this better than Dove; though they didn't invent real beauty (it's always been around, baby!), they have given it great PR.

This week, Dove is launching a new line of body care products. The five new cream serums and singular targeted serum were crafted to target specific body skin concerns, including uneven tone, dark spots, elasticity, and stretch marks—and yes, real, beautiful people are already loving them.

"Often, concerns like this can contribute to a lack of confidence and a desire to hide skin, rather than care for it," shared the brand in a press release. "But now, with effective face-grade ingredients including niacinamide and pro-ceramides, Dove Cream Serums and Targeted Serum Concentrate bring the potency and efficacy of face serums into body care to elevate tailored body care routines."

Ahead, everything to know about the new launch(es).

The Inspiration

 As the scientific method promises, development of the line began with a question. Because serums are often tasked with the heavy-lifting in a skincare routine (they're usually the products with the potent ingredients and specific skin issue targets) and 94.5% of your skin is on the body, shouldn't the serum approach apply to body care, too?

Thus, the idea of the line—which Dove researchers co-created alongside board-certified dermatologist Dr. Elyse Love—was born. The Cream Serum array includes Niacinamide + Even Tone, Hyaluronic + Hydration, Pro-Ceramide + Repair, Pro-Retinol + Firming, and Prebiotic + Protection, all of which work alongside the Targeted Serum Concentrate, which can be used for more specific problem areas.

"It’s a common progression that once my patients—and beauty lovers in general—feel confident in their facial care routine, they crave the same level of science and premium ingredients found in face care in their body care too. Our skin is our largest organ and healthy skin protects us from the outside world and should be cared for as such," Dr. Love tells Byrdie. "Active ingredients, like those found in the Dove Cream Serum collection, help us achieve healthy, hydrated skin while caring for underlying skin concerns. That’s why developing this line with Dove was such a special project, knowing many of my patients and colleagues are looking to elevate their full body skincare experience."

Another important factor to consider? Making sure an array of consumers would be able to find the right serum for their specific issues.

"My hope is that people with a variety of skin types and needs can find that this line truly helps them with maintaining healthy, glowing skin so they can feel their best," she adds.

The Formulas

Let's start with the Cream Serums, shall we? Crafted so you can use them without needing a separate lotion (they deliver between 48 and 72 hours of moisture, depending on your selection), the formula is non-greasy, fast-absorbing, and lightweight.

"In developing the Dove Cream Serum line, I participated in a series of calls with the Dove team to discuss the concept before formulation even began. We reviewed the unmet needs of my diverse patient population, discussed active ingredients, and tested the formulation," Dr. Love explains. "Applying effective face-grade ingredients like niacinamide and pro-ceramides, found in these cream serums, bring more potency and efficacy into body care. This not only elevates body care routines and the look of skin but also helps with overall skin health."

As is Dove's standard, each and every product boasts some impressive clinical results. For example, 98% of testers agreed their tone felt even after using Niacinamide + Even Tone for two weeks. The Retinol + Firming testers showed a 95% agreement that their skin felt firmer after just two days and 95% agreement that it looked more radiant.

Then, there's the Targeted Serum Concentrate, which was clinically proven to visibly even tone; instead of slathering, you'd put it exactly where you want to see improvement on your body. Its formula features niacinamide, natural moisturizing factors, and Dove's proprietary Tone Balance Complex.

"The Tone Balance Complex found in the Targeted Serum Concentrate is unique and relies on a proprietary blend of amino acids that support the skin’s natural production of super antioxidant glutathione," explains Dr. Love. "Glutathione, a powerful, natural antioxidant, helps skin defend itself from environmental stressors and oxidative damage. In testing, we found that Tone Balance Complex has been shown to have 10x the antioxidant power of vitamin C for a healthy glow. The formula also includes stearic and palmitic acids that strengthen the skin barrier for visible elasticity and firmness.

In clinical testing, 96% agreed that their dark spots were reduced after just two weeks of using the Targeted Serum Concentrate. It was also shown to improve the appearance of stretch marks (while also aiding in resilience against their future formation), restore the skin's natural tone and luminosity, visibly firm, smooth, and strengthen. All that, and it has a super comfy milky gel-cream texture.

"The Targeted Serum Concentrate supports the skin’s natural regenerative process (a proprietary Dove technology) by flooding its surface with moisture. This helps to plump up the skin’s outermost layers and strengthen its natural barrier, and also supports skin’s ability to retain its natural moisture levels," adds the derm. "This benefit can be found across the range but is most potent in the Targeted Serum Concentrate."

How to Use the Serums

If you have multiple skin issues you want to tackle, don't fret: you probably won't have to double up on Cream Serum application.

"As far as using multiple serums from the line at once, one of the benefits of the line is that many of these serums contain similar premium ingredients and all boast luxurious hydration, so you may not need to double up on application," Dr. Love says. "Additionally, all serums in the Dove Cream Serum range are formulated with Dove’s proprietary regenerative moisture technology, so that benefit can be felt throughout."

Instead, consider transitioning your body serums through the seasons based on what benefits you want to focus on, the same way you'd go from a lighter to a heavier facial moisturizer in the winter.

"With the winter months upon us your skin may need more hydration than usual for which the Prebiotic + Protection Cream Serum and Hyaluronic + Hydration Cream Serum are perfect for," she adds. "In the summer season, you may want to switch over to the Niacinamide + Even Tone Cream Serum with the likelihood of more sun exposure."

And yes, you can absolutely layer your Cream of choice with the Targeted Serum, which the dermatologist recommends using twice daily for at least two weeks. Apply it where you specifically want to see improvement, and watch the real results roll in.

The Dove Cream Serums are available now for $14 on amazon.com, target.com, and more.