The skin on your face is delicate and deserves to be pampered, but what if the products you are using are actually part of the problem? Skin is a living, organic substance that has its own specific care needs. Like any other organic substance, the skin has an ideal pH level that helps keep it healthy.
On a scale of 0 to 14, where 0 is the most acidic, skin tends to be more acidic with a pH of 4.7 to 5.5. This pH gives your skin an acidity that rests somewhere between tomatoes and rainwater. If the pH is too alkaline, it disrupts the acidic mantle, a natural protective layer over your skin, and leads to dry skin, rough patches, and itchiness. Maintaining a healthy pH can help prevent and be an effective treatment for dry skin.
What Is Messing with Your pH?
So what causes a skin’s pH to be unbalanced? Many factors disrupt the acidic mantle’s ability to fight bacteria and dermatitis-related issues. Even tap water can bother already delicate, unbalanced skin. There are some major culprits to look at when determining the problem, including:
Alkaline products
The first thing to consider is that most mainstream products are more alkaline, with a pH of 8 to 10. These products include soaps, cleansers, cosmetics, and anything else you might put on your face. When the skin is supposed to be closer to a five on the pH scale, this can do some serious damage to the acidic mantle.
Detergents and Foaming Agents
Other culprits to look out for are detergents and foaming agents. These chemicals are called surfactants and can disrupt normal hormones or create skin toxicity. Look out for chemical names such as sodium lauryl sulfate in the ingredient list of your products.
Antimicrobial Chemicals
Harsh anti-microbial chemicals such as triclosan and triclocarban destroy all bacteria on the skin. However, not all bacteria are bad. There are good bacteria within the acidic mantle that increase its ability to protect your skin. Killing off the good bacteria unbalances the pH of your skin, leaving it feeling dry and unhealthy.
Skin that loses its acidity is extremely vulnerable to the surrounding environment, bad bacteria, and free radicals, all of which unbalance the pH even more. This can result in dry skin, eczema, and many other skin irritations, as well as premature aging.
What Can Help Fix Your pH?
Fixing your pH balance as a treatment for dry skin isn’t a very complicated process. If you are curious about the acidity of your current products, you can find cheap pH strips in most stores. Another sign is if your skin feels tight and too small for your face after washing. This is a clear indicator the skin has been harshly washed instead of gently cleansed and moisturized by the product. Once you know how your product is treating your skin, here are a few tips for rebalancing the acidic mantle:
Use Clean Skincare
Clean skincare products eliminate all chemicals and toxins that harm your skin and instead are rich in vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants. Using clean care gives you the confidence in knowing that you haven’t accidentally missed any hidden chemicals that are not listed on the ingredients list.
Eliminate Harsh Cleansers
Most cleansers are alkaline, stripping the skin of its first line of defense. Look for soaps that will be a gentle wash and leave the skin moisturized. Remember to use lukewarm water when rinsing your face, since hot water strips the skin. This will help maintain optimal conditions for your acidic mantle.
At Skin Moderne, we recommend using our Cleansing Gel Smoothie —a gentle cleanser that leaves your skin feeling clean and nourished.
Use Properly Balanced Skincare
Products that are balanced specifically for human skin are the most effective dry skin treatments. They are designed to cleanse and moisturize without leaving the mantle stripped of the tools it needs to protect you from the environment.
One of our best balancing skincare products is Bio-Fortify. It may be used as on its own, with any other Skin Moderne product, or as an added boost or treatment with your favorite cleanser, toner, moisturizer, or make-up.
At Skin Moderne, we understand that using clean, plant-based products is the best way to provide your cells the nourishment needed to maintain balance. Our line of clean, balancing skincare products is full of antioxidants and other nutrients needed to prevent and treat dry skin. Visit our website to find out more about our products today.