Many people don't realize that the pH scale and science is a big deal when dealing with your skin. Your skin is actually acidic! And while many people don't cleanse properly (post coming soon about this), many don't cleanse at all. I will explain the importance of cleansing, but I feel I need to explain the importance of NOT using soap! I always hear this: "I use Ivory soap, its the most gentle product!", and I'm here to explain that no, it is not, and soap is much worse to cleanse with when taking care of your skin. Here's an exmplanation of the pH scale, and this is important because our skin is acidic and Ivory soap is alkaline:
Imagine a scale of 0-14. From 0-6 is acidic (so 0 would be battery acid) and 7 is neutral (water) and 8-14 is alkaline(also called base, 14 would be sodium hydroxide or Drano, which you wouldn't put directly on your skin!). Keep in mind that because it is alkaline does not mean that it is safer. In fact, the farther down the pH scale on the alkaline side is just as harmful as the acidic side. Ivory soap doesn't burn your skin but it is far up the alkaline side, and each step is 10x stronger. So if you start at 7, and you jump to a 6, that is 10x more acidic than 7. If you jump to a 4, thats three jumps so its 10x10x10 times more acidic than 7! Same goes for the alkaline side. Ivory soap is 10x10x10x10x more alkaline than 7 (10 000x) and 10x10x10x10x10x10x (1 000 000x) more alkaline than our skin. That's quite a difference!
So to repeat myself, our skin is acidic (4.5-5.5) as long as our Natural Moisture Factor (NMF) has not been stripped using soaps that are too alkaline. The NMF is made from our skins oils and sweat mixing together, so yes, a small amount of oil is supposed to be present on the skin to protect it from bacteria (when that's scrubbed away then bacteria can come in and create breakouts or allergic reactions)
So if you are using Ivory soap, as an example, which is at a pH of 11, then you're stripping the skin too much with what you were always told was the most gentle product, am I right? In actuality, Dove is the most gentle, as it has a pH of 7 (neutral).
But I'm not saying you should still wash your face with Dove soap, because we still need it to be a bit more acidic but gentle. Face creams also have to be the same pH level as our skin if using to maintain balance and continue to protect the skin. If you're looking for a product with AHA to exfoliate, keep in mind that the "peels" for at home are different from that in a dermatologist office because of the pH levels. In the store, if the pH level is a 3.5-4.5, then that's a really good mini peel. The creams with AHA will have to be the slightest bit more acidic than your skin to correctly function, but one thing is for sure, if its more neutral or alkaline than your skin, it won't work.
Most pharmacies will have litmus papers and tests that you can use to test the pH levels of a product. If it turns blue than it is alkaline (there will be different shades for different levels) and if it turns red it is acidic. Neutral won't change the paper any color.
Thanks for reading, sorry for all the science!
Keep and eye out for my post of the importance of a good skin care routine!!
Presley Charlotte
PS: If a skin care product says pH balanced, it usually means its balanced at 7. Some will be acid balanced, meaning at the pH of the skin. Keep that in mind, and if you have to, contact the company. Most don't mind that you're interested in knowing if its harmful or not, and most are proud to say that they've got it right! Don't hesitate to ask questions ;)
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