Why It Matters More Than You Think

When you think about skincare, you might picture ingredients—things like hyaluronic acid, vitamin C, or soothing chamomile. But there’s something even more foundational that often gets overlooked: pH. It’s a tiny detail with a massive impact. Understanding how pH works can actually help you protect your skin’s health, improve product performance, and avoid irritation altogether. Let’s break it all down.

First, a Quick Science Refresher: What Is pH?

pH stands for “potential of hydrogen,” and it’s a way of measuring how acidic or alkaline (basic) a substance is. The scale runs from 0 to 14:

• 0–6.9 = Acidic

• 7 = Neutral

• 7.1–14 = Alkaline

Each step on the scale is logarithmic—meaning pH 5 is 10 times more acidic than pH 6. That’s a huge difference! So when we talk about something being “pH-balanced” for the skin, we’re talking about matching the skin’s natural level of acidity.

The Skin’s Natural pH

Healthy human skin sits at a slightly acidic pH, typically around 4.7 to 5.5, depending on the area of the body, age, and other factors (Lambers et al., 2006). This acidity is vital. It’s what helps maintain the acid mantle—a thin, protective film made up of sebum, sweat, and natural moisturizing factors (NMFs).

Why the Acid Mantle Matters

Your acid mantle has a big job. It:

• Fights off harmful bacteria and fungi

• Keeps moisture in and irritants out

• Supports your microbiome, the community of beneficial bacteria on your skin

When that pH balance is thrown off—either too acidic or too alkaline—it can lead to dryness, breakouts, sensitivity, and even flare-ups of conditions like eczema and rosacea.

Let’s Talk Layers: How pH Affects Different Parts of the Skin

Your skin is made up of three main layers:

1. Epidermis (outermost layer)

2. Dermis (middle layer with collagen, elastin, blood vessels)

3. Hypodermis (fatty layer beneath the dermis)

The epidermis, particularly the stratum corneum (the very top layer), is where pH really comes into play. This is where the acid mantle lives. It’s also where many products do their work—cleansing, hydrating, exfoliating, and so on.

If your products are too alkaline, they can disrupt the lipid matrix and increase transepidermal water loss (TEWL), making the skin more vulnerable to irritation and infection.
📚 Source: Schmid-Wendtner, M.H., & Korting, H.C. (2006). The pH of the Skin Surface and Its Impact on the Barrier Function. Skin Pharmacology and Physiology.

pH in Skincare Products: What You Need to Know

So how does this translate to skincare? Let’s look at a few categories of products and why their pH matters:

1. Cleansers

Many soaps and foaming cleansers (especially bar soaps) are alkaline, with a pH of 8–10. These can strip the skin’s natural oils and disrupt the acid mantle.

A gentle cleanser should have a pH around 4.5–5.5—close to the skin’s natural pH—to cleanse without damage.
🧼 Good to know: All Simple Body Foaming Face Washes are pH-balanced to around 5.3, making them safe for daily use.

2. Exfoliants

Acid exfoliants like AHAs (glycolic acid, lactic acid) or BHAs (salicylic acid) require a lower pH—typically 3.0–4.0—to be effective.

However, low pH formulas should be used carefully and sparingly, as they can temporarily disrupt the skin barrier. This is why we always recommend applying a barrier-supporting serum or moisturizer afterward.
📚 Source: Kligman, A.M., & Mills, O.H. (1975). Acne Cosmetica. Archives of Dermatology.

3. Moisturizers & Serums

The best moisturizers are pH-adjusted to match the skin—again, around 5.0–5.5. If they’re too alkaline, they won’t properly support barrier repair.

Our Barrier Defense Serum, for example, is formulated to a pH of 5.3  and our Face Cream is formulated to 5.0 so they work synergistically with your skin’s own healing process.

What Happens When Products Are Too Alkaline?

Here’s what the research tells us:

• Alkaline products can increase TEWL (transepidermal water loss), drying the skin out

• They reduce enzyme activity that’s needed for skin renewal

• They can disrupt the skin microbiome, which leads to overgrowth of harmful bacteria

• Long-term use can contribute to chronic inflammation and accelerated aging
  📚 Reference: Ali, S.M., Yosipovitch, G. (2013). Skin pH: From Basic Science to Basic Skin Care.

What About pH “Myths”?

There’s a lot of noise out there about pH—some of it helpful, some not so much. Let’s clear a few things up:

❌ Myth: “If a product tingles, it’s working.”
Not necessarily. That could be a sign the pH is too low (acidic) and irritating your skin.

❌ Myth: “Natural products don’t need to worry about pH.”
Wrong again. Even natural ingredients can be irritating if they aren’t properly formulated to match the skin’s pH.

✅ Truth: The skin can recover its pH after disruption—but not instantly.
It can take hours or even days to fully rebalance. Repeated exposure to high-pH products can slow that healing process significantly.

How to Choose pH-Smart Skincare

Here’s what to look for when choosing pH-friendly products:

• The brand discloses pH levels (or at least mentions pH-balanced)

• You don’t experience tightness, stinging, or redness during or after use

• Your skin feels hydrated, calm, and resilient

• Over time, you see improved texture and reduced sensitivity

You don’t always need to know the exact pH of every product—but understanding how pH affects skin health will help you tune into what your skin really needs.

The Simple Body Philosophy: Keep It Balanced

We formulate every product at Simple Body with pH in mind. From our cleansers to our serums to our toners and tonics, we ensure each product supports your skin’s acid mantle—not disrupts it.

Because here’s the thing: when your skin is in balance, it does what it’s designed to do. It protects you, it heals itself, and yes—it looks its best.

Want to Go Deeper?

Here are some great scientific sources if you’re the kind of person who loves research as much as I do!!!:

• Lambers, H., Piessens, S., Bloem, A., Pronk, H., & Finkel, P. (2006). Natural skin surface pH is on average below 5, which is beneficial for its resident flora. Int J Cosmet Sci.

• Schmid-Wendtner, M.H., & Korting, H.C. (2006). The pH of the Skin Surface and Its Impact on the Barrier Function. Skin Pharmacology and Physiology.

• Ali, S.M., Yosipovitch, G. (2013). Skin pH: From Basic Science to Basic Skin Care.

Final Thoughts

Skincare isn’t just about what you put on your skin—it’s about how those products interact with the biology of your skin. And pH is a quiet, powerful force that helps determine whether your skincare is helping or harming.

So next time you reach for a face wash or serum, remember: it’s not just about what’s in it—it’s also about how it’s made. Because balanced pH = balanced skin.

xoxo
Jewels