Why is pH important in skincare?
Why do some cleansers leave your skin stripped, tight and dry while others leave your skin hydrated and radiant?
Would you believe that it all comes down to the pH level of the cleanser!
But, what is pH?
pH stands for “power of hydrogen”, it is a measure of the acidity and alkalinity of a solution. Its scale goes from 0 to 14, with 0 being the most acidic and 14 being the most alkaline. In the middle is 7, a neutral solution, neither acidic nor alkaline.
Ok, so how does pH relate to skin?
Skin pH ranges from 4.5 to 6.5, it is on the slightly acidic side. On the surface layer of skin is a very thin, natural protective film made up of sebum (oil) and water, from perspiration. This is called the skins “acid mantle”. Maintaining the acid mantle of your skin at the optimal level of pH 5.5 is essential for skin health.
The Skins Acid Mantle:
- Defends skin against bacteria
- Helps skin to stay hydrated
- Protects skin from pollution
How does your Cleanser affect your skins acid mantle?
The chemical composition of soap is alkaline, containing a pH level of 10. Compare this with the skins acid mantle pH level between 4.5 and 6.5 it doesn’t quite add up, does it? That’s the problem with most cleansers. They upset the natural pH balance of the skin.
Signs of a disrupted acid mantle
Common symptoms of a disrupted acid mantle:
- Dry – tight skin
- Redness
- Irritation and itching
- Breakouts
Good cleansing is as important, as using high-quality skincare. At HydroSkin we cannot stress how important it is to cleanse without disrupting the pH balance or acid mantle.
The cleanser contains three natural surfactants: coco betaine made from coconut oil, polygluconase made from sugar starch and olive ester, made from olive oil. And citric acid, which occurs naturally in citrus fruits. The result is a naturally balanced, mild foaming cleanser that will easily remove dirt and makeup without disrupting the acid mantle of the skin.
HydroSkin Results
Recently we approached three of our customers who are long-term users of HydroSkin’s 3 Steps, but did not use HydroSkin’s Cleanser. Each one of those customers loves the 3 Steps and has seen great improvement in their skin. We asked them to substitute their existing cleansing regime with HydroSkin’s cleanser for one month and tell us if they noticed any difference. Each of the three customers reported back to us that using the cleanser has further improved the appearance and feel of their skin!
So, why the difference?
It is because these three people stopped disrupting the natural pH balance of their skin on a twice-daily basis. So the mantra is, don’t hurt your skin use a cleanser with natural plant-based surfactants that are balanced to pH 5.5.
