pH is a concept you may (or may not) remember from school that has a fascinating relationship with your skin’s health. To us, natural skincare is an art and a science, and we’re here to give you a crash course.
By understanding the importance of a balanced skin pH—and how to maintain it—you can tailor your skincare routine specifically to your body and needs.
What is Skin pH?
pH stands for “potential of hydrogen”, and is a metric used to measure acidity. The pH scale runs from 0-14, with 0 being the most acidic. Our skin runs on the naturally acidic side, with an ideal pH of around 5.
Are you still with us? We’re going to make it interesting, I promise.
What all of this means is that our skin reacts best with acidic skincare products that are compatible with our own natural pH levels. While the exact skin pH of each person may range, our skin typically loses acidity as we age, which is why we may experience drier, more sensitive skin as we get older.
You don’t need a fancy test to determine your skin’s natural pH level—how your body reacts to skincare should be a good indicator of whether your are in balance or not. We’ll teach you how to look out for signs that products you use are disrupting your skin pH.
How pH Imbalance Affects Skin
Have you ever noticed that tight, squeaky feeling your skin gets after using certain bar or liquid soaps? This happens because many soaps are alkaline (the opposite of acidic).
When we expose our skin to products outside of our natural pH, our body has to work to return things back to normal. Things like sunscreen or leave-on exfoliants don’t fall too far outside of our natural pH, so it takes about an hour for us to regulate (which is totally fine and healthy).
With products that are highly acidic or alkaline, it can take much longer. While our skin is outside of it’s normal pH, we are super vulnerable to environmental irritants that can trigger breakouts, eczema, redness, acne, and sensitivity.
This means that if something in your skincare routine is disrupting your pH on a daily basis, you could be progressively damaging your skin.
Harsh Chemicals to Avoid
If you’ve ever heard the term “moisture barrier” before, you are already familiar with the layer of our skin that protects us from environmental stressors and bacteria. This layer of skin is also called the “acid mantle". As the name suggests, the acidity of certain products has a lot to do with how effective it is at protecting our skin and locking in hydration.
If certain products fall way outside of our skin’s natural pH, our acid mantle can be broken, and will need some time to re-balance. If you experience rosacea or eczema, this may mean that you have an especially sensitive acid mantle, and minding the pH of your products is even more important.
Here are some ingredients to avoid using on a daily basis if you want to protect your skin’s natural pH:
- Harsh alcohols, look out for these in toners (but not ours, it’s alcohol free 😜).
- Foaming agents like sulphates.
- Retinoids, which can trigger eczema flares.
Other factors in our routine can also disrupt the acid mantle:
- Over-cleansing or exfoliating.
- Using too many skincare products.
- Too much sun exposure.
How to Choose pH-Balanced Natural Skincare Products
pH balanced skincare simply refers to products that have around the same pH levels as our skin. Products that fall within this range (pH of about 4.5 to 6) support our skin barrier and help it continue to protect us.
Here are our tips for becoming best friends with your moisture barrier:
- Cleanser is key! Investing in a good cleanser can make all the difference for your skin’s pH. Over-cleansing can rid your face of the natural oils it needs to find balance. We developed our non-foaming, sulphate-free cleanser to support your skin, not strip it down.
- Avoid harsh ingredients. Things like artificial fragrance, alcohol, and chemical peels can be especially harmful to your pH. Typically, natural skincare products or products marketed towards sensitive skin will fall within your skin’s natural pH.
- Look for antioxidants. We could go on about the benefits of antioxidants. They fight off irritants and oxidative stress that can be super damaging to the acid mantle. We pair NOURISH and GLOW for a moisture barrier that can thrive through a Canadian winter.
Keep Your Skin in Balance
Understanding your skin’s pH is key to maintaining a healthy, radiant complexion. By choosing pH-balanced products, you’re supporting your skin’s natural barrier and protecting it from daily irritants.
