What does pH mean, and why is it important to the skin?

pH stands for potential of Hydrogen.  It is a measure of the acidity or alkalinity of a substance. The pH scale ranges from 0 on the acidic end to 14 on the alkaline end.  A pH of 7 is considered neutral.  Our bodies have a natural covering called the acid mantle. It's composed of fatty acids from our perspiration and amino acids from our skin tissue. This acid mantle fights infection from bacteria that gather on the skin. The pH factor is a measurement of the percentage of hydrogen ions in the acid. Normal facial skin is a pH of 4.5 to 5.5, meaning it is slightly acid.  If something comes into contact with the skin that is either too acidic or too alkaline, the skin's natural protective barrier (the acid mantle) is affected. Barrier recovery is slowed, damage is prolonged, and skin problems will arise, such as skin peeling, rashes, irritation, etc.  We recommend using a cleanser with a pH of around 3.0-3.5.  When you drop the pH in the skin during the cleansing process, the subsequent products used penetrate the epidermis more readily.  Your skin will usually normalize itself within a couple of minutes to a couple of hours after using such products.  When you use a product which is alkaline (above a pH of 7) like soap, it interferes with the protective acid mantel.  Toners were originally created to bring the pH back to normal after using soap.  Once the skin is at it’s normal pH, additional products will not easily penetrate the skin.  The cleansers we carry are all pH balanced for maximum effectiveness.