The Importance of pH in Body Care Products
You may not have thought much about pH since your high school science classes, but it turns out pH is pivotal in maintaining optimal skin health. If you’ve noticed that your skin has felt dry, sensitive or inflamed, your pH might be too alkaline. Reversely, if your skin has been red, irritated or congested, you pH might be too acidic. Read on below to find out how to choose body care products that balance your pH levels.
WHAT IS PH?
The pH is a numeric scale that stands for ‘potential of hydrogen’ and indicates how acidic or alkaline something is. The level of pH is measured on a numeric scale running from 0-14; 7 is neutral, below 7 is acidic, and above 7 is alkaline.
WHY DOES PH MATTER WHEN IT COMES TO THE SKIN?
The pH of the skin generally sits at 4.7. It’s crucial to maintain a balanced pH level to support your skin’s barrier (also known as the acid mantle). Made up of sebum (oil), and amino and lactic acids, your skin’s barrier keeps the ‘good stuff’ in and the ‘bad stuff’ out. It traps moisture into the skin, resulting in a hydrated and glowing complexion while acting as a shield against environmental aggressors, such as UV exposure and pollutants, that contribute to cellular damage and ageing.
WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOUR SKIN’S PH BALANCE IS OFF?
If your skin’s pH balance is off and too alkaline, the skin might become dry, flaky and red. On the other hand, if your skin’s pH balance is leaning towards being too acidic, the chances of experiencing skin inflammation and infection, acne, eczema and rosacea increase. If the skin is dehydrated, wrinkles and fine lines may look more pronounced.
HOW DO I MAINTAIN MY SKIN’S PH BALANCE?
Avoid using body care products formulated with known skin irritants such as harsh drying alcohols and foaming agents like sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS). These can strip the skin of its natural oils and disrupt the skin barrier. Using pH-balanced body care products can help to maintain your skin’s ideal pH level as these products have been specifically formulated to mimic the skin’s optimal pH level. All of LUI BODY CARE PRODUCTS have been formulated by female chemists and made locally in Australia using naturally active ingredients and safe synthetics. They are pH balanced to support optimal skin health and designed to be gentle and nourishing for all skin types.