What is Your Skin pH?

Like most things in life, your skin needs balance to be happy. And your skin’s pH is a pretty good indication of how happy – or not – it is. The health of your skin – and indeed your body – can be linked to maintaining that healthy balance between acidity and alkalinity.

Power of hydrogen

pH stands for either potential hydrogen or the power of hydrogen (the exact meaning is somewhat disputed) and the pH level of the skin refers to how acidic or alkaline it is. It is measured on a scale of 1 to 14, with 1 being the most acidic and 14 being the most alkaline. The skin has a very fine film on the surface called the acid mantle, secreted by sebaceous glands, which acts as a crucial barrier to bacteria, viruses and other potentially harmful things that exist in the environment around you. Research has shown that the skin functions best when the acid mantle is slightly higher in acidity, at around 5-5.5 on the scale.

Now obviously assessing yourself in the mirror and deciding ‘Ah! My skin is a 6 today’ is not the most accurate way of judging pH, but your skin has ways of telling you when it is not happy. It is much more common for your skin to be too alkaline than it is acidic, and the signs of this include dryness and sensitivity, even eczema and inflammation in more extreme cases. When skin is overly alkaline it has a decreased ability to fight off enzymes that destroy collagen. According to a 2010 study in the British Journal of Dermatology, those with a more alkaline outer skin layer developed more fine lines and were more prone to sun damage than those with acidic skin.

Again, it is rarer for skin to be overly acidic but, if it does happen, you may experience breakouts, redness, inflammation and even pain to the touch. But your skins pH level can be maintained with small adjustments in your diet and your skincare regime.

Restoring your skin’s pH balance with the right products

Restoring your skin’s pH balance is actually quite easy once you know what to do – and who best to advise on pH than pHformula? Whose treatments are based on decades of experience and characterized by products that are simple to use, multifunctional, unique, scientific, safe – and perfectly pH balanced, of course.

pHformula’s H.Y.D.R.A gel mask is a refreshing, moisturizing and calming gel mask which helps to soothe dry and irritated skin. The combination of ingredients work to strengthen the skin’s natural barrier, reducing water loss and increasing moisture reserves to leave your skin supple and smooth. Hyaluronic acid functions as a molecular sponge, ensuring extensive hydration, while chicory root extract lifts the skin and increases the synthesis of collagen. Chicory root extract can also erase the signs of fatigue and dehydration that are seen in winter.

Soothe your skin

And for regular, twice-daily use, the pHformula Foam Cleanse is a soap-free, airy, gentle cleanser made up of a natural blend of aloe vera and lactic acid to effectively cleanse and remove makeup while soothing your skin and leaving it radiant and refreshed. For women, Aloe Vera prevents dryness and for men, it has important healing properties that can soothe the skin after shaving.