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Why your skin pH is important to your skin health
Monday 26th September 2016
If talking about pH levels brings back vague memories of science lessons, you are not alone, but your skin pH level is actually paramount to your skins overall health.
pH is a measure of how acid or alkaline a water based solution is on a scale of 1 to 14.
Water is considered neutral so sits at a pH of 7, whilst lemon juice is an acid sitting at pH2 and baking soda sitting at around pH9- you get the picture,
Your skins outer layer is actually acidic, sitting from between 4.2 to 5.5 on the pH scale, and is known as the acid mantle.This acid mantle is made up of sebum (free fatty acids) excreted from the skin's sebaceous glands, which mixes with lactic and amino acids from sweat to create the skin's pH.
Keeping your skin pH within the healthy range can help with some of the most common problems.
Skin Hydration
When your skin is in the ideal pH range it keeps pores closed, which in turn allows It to hold onto precious moisture within the skin. Using an alkaline based cleanser like soap can cause these pores to open up making your skin susceptible to water loss.
Fine lines and Wrinkles
A dry skin doesn't age well as the oils secreated help keep skin supple and soft. When skin is alkaline we have already found out it feels dry and tight, so keeping your skin hydrated is your first line of defence against aging.
Spots and breakout
It is normal to have a certain level of bacteria on the skin to keep it healthy. When the acid mantle is in tact, it helps keeps levels of bad bacteria down. When this protective barrier gets broken it allows the level of harmful bacteria to rise and as the skins pores are more open it allows this bacteria to settle causing breakouts.
An alkaline skin can also make you more susceptible to picking up skin infections as your skins immunity is impeared. This can lead to inflammation, redness and that typical lack lustre look.
Skin Sensitivity
Once again with this protective barrier down, your skin is open to irritants and is likely to react much more frequently.
How to Re-Balance skin pH
Stop using alkaline based cleasners
Foamy, soapy frothy cleansers make your skin feel tight, itchy and neautrlise your acid levels. We advise using a gentle cleanser that works in synergy with your skins pH to reduce breakout, cleanse make up and hydrate whilst ridding your skin of dirt and debris. Our salon favourite is C- Quence Cleasner which contains pepties, a super hydrating and anti aging protein which repairs skin.
Use a Toner
Toners are often overlooked in a skincare routine, with people feeling they don't get a benefit from them. I actually think they are one of the most vital parts of any regime and should be thought of more as Treatment lotions. A good toner should re balance the skin pH level after cleansing, remove any excess cleanser and remove decrease the levels of bacteria on the skin. AVST Toner is the perfect blend of lactic acid and anti oxidants which protect and hydrate the skin after cleansing and even out skin tone and texture.
Use products containing Hyaluronic Acid
This wonder substance can hold 1000 times its own weight in water making it a fabulous addition to any dry skin. Environ's Focus Hydrating Serum is our favourite.
Use mineral make up prodcuts
Talcs, paraffins and petroleum's are all fillers which are commonly used in cosmetic make up brands and you have guessed it....are not very good for skin pH. The gorgoues Jane Iredale mineral make up only uses natural minerals in all their products allowing your skin to breathe and doesn't change the natural pH level.
Come along for your FREE skin consultation and start your good skincare journey today
