The optimal pH barrier of your skin is between 4.7 and 5.75. A pH of 7 (distilled water) is considered neutral. Anything below that is acidic and above is alkaline, thus your skin’s natural pH is mildly acidic. 

The skin’s barrier (also known as ‘Acid Mantle’) naturally has a low pH for a reason. This protective ‘acidic’ configuration safeguards the skin from internal and external stressors, dermal water loss, and bombardment of  infectious microbes. If your skin’s pH becomes too alkaline, it may look dry, flaky or red. If it is too acidic,  your skin may become oily and increase the chances of inflammatory  conditions like acne, eczema, and rosacea. 

In fact, “pH-balanced skincare products” should be one of the top priorities in your checklist while choosing a clean skincare brand. So are you skincare products delivering you the optimum skin pH? Here’s what you should know: 

The Normal Skin pH and Why Does it Change

A healthy pH for human skin is considered to be between 4.7 to 5.75, compared to pure water which has a neutral pH of 7. 

However, this delicate balance can change due to multiple reasons such as:

1. Use of highly acidic/ alkaline products. 
2. Use of hard water for cleansing skin. 
3. Change in skin microbiome. 
4. Sweat, moisture, and overproduction of sebum. 
5. Use of detergents, sulfates, alcohol, or other toxic chemicals on skin.
6. Genetics, stress, and age. 
7. Smoking, excess scrubbing, air pollution, and other lifestyle factors. 
8. Certain skin conditions such as rosacea (read how pH affects rosacea) . 

Do you have Healthy Skin pH? 

While skin pH is usually generalized as acidic, it is important to understand that the former may have slight variations according to your skin type or dosha. 

For instance, oily skin can sometimes have a pH nearer to 4 due to excess sebum production. If you have extremely dry skin, it may be possible that your skin pH is probably above 6, meaning it is extremely acidic and therefore, needs extreme care and hydration to balance out the pH to its optimum levels. 

Problems with Extremely High Acidic pH (4 to 5.2) – Oily (Kapha) Skin/ Combination/ Sensitive (Pitta) Skin

• Excess oil (or sebum production)
• Shiny T-zones
• Acne/ Blemishes
• Redness and inflammation
• Blocked Pores
• Poor Complexion

Problems with Alkaline pH (Above 6) – Dry (Vata) or Sensitive (Pitta) Skin

• Dry skin
• Flakiness
• Rosacea, Psoriasis and Eczema
• Redness and inflammation
• Free radical accumulation

Test for Determining your Skin pH

For determining your skin pH, you can answer these simple questions: 

1. How does your skin feel after cleansing?

2. How often do you need to moisturize your skin?

A. 2-3 times a day

B. Minimally (skin already feels greasy)

C. When required

D. 1-2X times a day

3. Is your skin sensitive to certain skincare products or ingredients?

A. Not usually

B. Sometimes

C. Almost everything causes inflammation/sensitivity!

D. Never

4. Does your skin look moist and dewy?

A. No

B. More than dewy, it looks oily.

C. Rarely

D. Almost always!

5. Is your skin excessively oily and prone to breakouts/ acne/ blemishes?

A. No, rather it’s very dry.

B. Yes, almost always.

C. Occasionally, and prone to breakouts.

D. Never

Balancing Skin pH with Puraveda Organics

For healthy, nourished skin your goal is to reset your skin’s pH between the optimum value of 4.7 to 5.75. This can be done with our pH balancing, natural, and clean beauty regimens: 

1. If you answered mostly A’s or D’s

Your skin is Dry or constituted of Vata Dosha and you have an Alkaline (or basic) skin pH. Your skin needs more moisturization and nourishment with the use of balancing skin acids, humectants, cold-pressed oils, and anti-aging natural ingredients. 

Recommended pH balancing products for you: Daily Foaming Cleanser, Daily Hydrator/Toner, BioScience Peptide Complex, Rejuv Serum (for under 35 Skin), Collagen Boost Serum (for skin over 35), SunProtect SPF 30+, Aloe Eye Serum, Overnight Eyeline Prevention Oil, and Papaya & Honey Facial Mask & Scrub. 

The Vata Regimen is also suitable for retaining the pH balance for Normal Skin. 

2. If you answered mostly B’s

Your skin is Oily with/without enlarged pores or Kapha Dosha and you have an Acidic pH. Your skin needs lightweight humectants, astringent, exfoliants, and alkaline natural ingredients to reduce sebum and balance complexion. 

Recommended pH balancing products for you: Pore Perfect Cleanser, Pore Perfect Hydrator/Toner, BioScience Peptide Complex, Rejuv Serum, SunProtect SPF 30+, Aloe Eye Serum, On the Spot Blemish Treatment, and Papaya & Honey Exfoliating Mask & Scrub. 

3. If you answered mostly C’s

Your skin is Sensitive (or conditions like Rosacea/Eczema/Psoriasis) or constituted of Pitta Dosha and you may have either too acidic or basic pH. Your skin needs natural anti-inflammatory ingredients to heal and balance the skin. Use of skin healing actives like Neem, Salicylic Acid from White Willow Bark, Hawthorn Berry, and Bilberry for barrier reconstruction and reducing instances of flares. 

Recommended pH balancing products for you: SBR Cleanser, SBR Hydrator/Toner, BioScience Peptide Complex, SBR Serum, SunProtect SPF 30+, and SBR Papaya & Honey Facial Mask. 

Here’s more on How to Balance your skin pH by Personalizing your Skincare regimen.