PH What is ?

Few skincare topics have been as much of confusion and concern as pH. How can two lowercase letters have such an impact on our skin? As you can see, how pH relates to our skin and the products we use. And despite the concern, finding pH-balanced skincare is easier than you think. We will put your mind at ease about using skin care products with different pH levels so you can get through your routine faster.

What is PH?

The term "PH" means "hydrogen potential". It is concerned with the activity of hydrogen ions (ions are molecules that carry a positive or negative charge) in a water-based solution. Hydrogen makes up two-thirds of water; water is H²o, which is two hydrogen molecules plus one oxygen molecule.

The pH of a solution is indicated by a numerical scale ranging from 0-14. Anything below 7 (pH is neutral) is considered acidic, while anything with a pH greater than 7 is considered alkaline. Lemon juice has a pH of 2 - very acidic, while ammonia has a pH of 12, which is quite alkaline, also called a base, as well as acids and bases.

Although the differences between pH numbers may seem small compared to normal mathematics, it is important to know that the pH scale is logarithmic, not linear. This means that a tenfold increment multiplied by 10 separates each pH number. Therefore, pH 3 is 100 times stronger than pH 5.

You can also consider the difference between each pH number, such as the Richter scale used to measure the strength of earthquakes. A magnitude 6 earthquake can cause significantly greater damage than a magnitude 4 or 5 earthquake.

What is the pH of the skin?

You may be surprised to learn that the surface and top layers of the skin are naturally acidic, making it compatible with acidic skin care products. Although research on the pH range of the skin gives various figures, the collected research shows that the average pH of the skin is 4.7.

Men's skin tends to be more acidic than women's skin, and our skin's pH remains acidic even though it increases with age. When we are born, our skin has a neutral pH that becomes acidic within a few weeks of birth.

What is the Skin's Acid Mantle?

There is a protective film on the surface of the skin known as the acid mantle. The acid mantle plays a vital role by working with the skin's natural components such as ceramides, cholesterol, enzymes, sweat and even our skin's own oil to protect the skin's surface and lower layers from external threats.

The acidic pH of the skin also plays a role in keeping its delicate microbiome in balance. An acidic microbiome makes it difficult for harmful pathogens to multiply, but allows good things to thrive.

How Does PH Affect Skin?

Severely disrupting the skin's pH repeatedly can lead to or worsen many problems, including common skin disorders and the dry, tight feeling from washing with bar or liquid soaps (most soaps are alkaline).

To avoid problems, many people look for pH-balanced skincare products, but not all products are labeled with pH levels. What should we do? We have encouraging news: The vast majority of rinse-and-hold skincare products are already pH-balanced. Cosmetic chemists are aware of how the pH of skincare products affects our skin, so they often take formulaic steps to restore balance.

If you're wondering what "PH balanced" means, it refers to products formulated with a pH that falls within the normal, healthy skin range. This range is mostly between pH 4 and pH 7. While it is true that some skincare products have pH numbers outside of this range, in most cases this is not a cause for concern.

Research has shown that slight disruptions to the skin's pH (such as using an AHA or BHA leave-in exfoliant with a pH of 3.6 or a mineral sunscreen with a pH of 7.5) are temporary. The skin naturally equalizes to its normal pH, typically within an hour. And it actually has a benefit: Studies have shown that acidic products stimulate the skin to produce the essential substances it needs to look smooth, supple and hydrated.

On the other hand, using highly acidic (pH 2.5 or lower) or alkaline (pH 8 or higher) products causes a more significant deterioration in the skin's pH, so it takes longer for the skin to return to normal.

During this extra time, the skin is vulnerable to factors that can trigger breakouts, eczema symptoms, redness and sensitivity. Therefore, daily use of products with a pH that is too high or too low will visibly and gradually damage the skin.

pH of Skin Care Products

We mentioned above that most skincare products are pH-balanced, and this applies to Paula's Choice products as well. Common pH ranges for the main categories of our skincare products are:

Cleaners: pH 4.5–7

Toners: pH 5–7

Sunscreens: pH 5–7.5

AHA and BHA Exfoliants: pH 3.2–3.9, 3