Your skin is exposed to sweat, bacteria and dirt every day; using a pH balanced cleanser helps safeguard it by maintaining its natural acidity and barrier function.
Opt for low pH cleansers that do not foam; these could be an indicator of their high pH content. Try Glossier’s Jelly Cleanser as an effective but gentle cleanser that contains cantaloupe extract and glycerin for soothing results.
1. They’re gentle
Cleansers that aren’t pH-balanced often strip skin’s natural oils, disrupting its delicate acid mantle. This can lead to dry, flaky skin and inflammation; while pH-balanced cleansers safely remove dirt, excess oil, and makeup without disrupting this delicate layer.
These non-drying and non-irritating products won’t leave your face feeling tight or itchy, don’t damage corneal cells (which is important since using acidic products can quickly lead to eye infections), and are non-drying and non-irritating; perfect for everyday use on skin!
Frownies pH Balancing Face Wash ($15) is an example of an effective yet gentle cleanser, featuring a unique jelly-to-foam formula designed to restore skin’s ideal pH while simultaneously cleansing excess oil, impurities and makeup from skin cells. It features gentle ingredients such as Decyl Polyglucoside (derived from coconut and corn sugar) and Vegetable Glycerin – natural plant-based humectants which help bind water back onto skin – that work together for maximum effectiveness! It’s truly an effective yet gentle way of taking care when cleaning daily grime away!
2. They don’t irritate your eyes
An optimal pH range does a lot for us: it prevents bacteria from multiplying, protects against moisture loss (TEWL), combating disease and more. When we wash with products with pH levels higher or lower than our skin’s, they raise or lower our natural levels – potentially weakening skin barriers or increasing product absorption respectively.
Low pH cleansers won’t irritate your eyes by not drying out the surface of your skin; high pH cleansers on the other hand can clog pores, cause redness and itching and even burn your face! Most products claiming to be pH balanced actually fall in between 5.5-5.7, closer to our normal skin pH than previous generations were. Some even contain hydrating ingredients like Regelica Water Lily that restore our bodies’ natural acidic environment that’s been lost over time.
3. They’re good for all skin types
The skincare market is packed with products designed to restore and maintain skin’s pH balance, including cleansers, toners, moisturizers and wearable pH sensors – each promising to help achieve your goals for healthy skin.
pH-balanced cleansers help your face maintain a healthy acid mantle that defends against bacteria and environmental stressors while simultaneously keeping skin hydrated and protecting it from environmental stressors such as pollution and sun exposure. This is especially essential for acne-prone skin as excessively acidic or alkaline cleansers may disrupt this protective barrier and cause breakouts.
Maintaining the ideal pH levels on your face also enhances product absorption. This allows the next step in your routine to penetrate deeper into the skin and work more effectively, especially useful for serums, facial oils and targeted treatments.
4. They’re affordable
pH balanced cleansers are among the more affordable cleansers on the market and easy to find at your favorite K-beauty store!
Skin that naturally has an acidic pH level (around 5.5) can actually be very beneficial to its health. A healthy acid mantle and lipid barrier help decrease bacteria growth while simultaneously locking in moisture (that gives us that radiant, dewy glow that no highlighter or illuminator can ever match!).
Use of an alkaline cleanser will raise your skin’s pH level, making it more acidic than it should be and leading to disruption of its lipid barrier, creating an environment in which bacteria can thrive – leading to inflammation, redness, itching and flaking as a result. A color indicator strip can easily test whether your cleanser is acidic or alkaline by staying red if acidic and blue if alkaline.
