Why is it important to have a balanced pH level for our skin?

You may have come across the term ‘pH levels’ in the science laboratory, but do you know what role it plays on our skin? In today’s blog, let us dive deeper into what pH is and what it does for us. 

What is pH and why does it matter?

pH stands for "potential of hydrogen", and it is used to measure skin acidity on a scale of 0 to 14, with 7 being neutral. It is acidic if the reading is below 7, and alkaline if it's above. Our skin is covered with a protective hydrolipidic layer with the average pH of 4.7 and 5.75, making our skin mildly acidic naturally!

This natural acidity allows good bacteria to thrive, and bad bacteria to be eliminated! If our skin’s pH becomes more alkaline, the natural balance will be disturbed, in turn causing water loss and drying out of the skin. This damages the epidermis and causes it to lose its function as a protective barrier. With a compromised barrier, your skin is less resilient and more sensitive to environmental triggers, pollution and UV rays. It can become dry, sensitive or hypersensitive, and is more susceptible to infections and irritation such as inflammation, rosacea, and eczema. 

What affects pH balance? 

There can be several factors that affect the pH levels of our skin and cause a disruption to our natural balance. 

• Poor diet and sleep 
• Changes in temperature and humidity Exposure to sun 
• Dirt and pollution 
• Acne 
• Detergents 
• Antibacterial products 
• Sweat 
• Washing or cleansing too frequently (maximum number of times: double cleansing once in the morning and once at night!)
• Alkaline cosmetics 
• Chemicals 
• Overindulgence in tobacco and dairy

How to tell if there’s an imbalance? 

If you experience some of the following, perhaps your skin might be undergoing the consequences of an imbalance of pH levels! 

• Acne and breakouts
• Dryness
• Dehydration
• Psoriasis 
• Sudden onset of signs of ageing such as increased of fine lines, wrinkles, and sagging
• Redness and inflammation 
• Flakiness 

How to restore pH levels

Good news is, there are definitely ways to help restore the balance of your skin! 

#1 Use a gentle cleanser 

Our gentle face wash, Kaleanser, is specially formulated to rebalance your skin’s pH level while gently cleansing and removing makeup, dirt and oils, making your face feel soft and healthy! It also does not strip away your natural moisture barrier, making it perfect to maintain a healthy pH level!

#2 Moisturise diligently 

Use a moisturiser to keep hydration levels just right! A pH friendly waterless daytime moisturiser, Idyllic Fields contains 71.9% oats that maintain skin at optimal pH levels, as well as polyglutamic acid that holds up to 10x more water than hyaluronic acid!

#3 Exfoliate regularly 

Avoid using exfoliants that are extremely acidic or alkaline (less than 2.5 or higher than 8)! Bright Skies is a gentle peeling exfoliator that is pH friendly, and effectively unclog pores while not disturbing the skin's acid mantle and damaging skin barrier.