Skin Care Basics Made Simple

What is the Acid Mantle and why should I care about the pH of my skin?

There is a thin, protective layer, or barrier, on the surface of our skin, referred to as the acid mantle. The acid mantle is responsible for keeping in lipids, moisture and other desirables while blocking out germs, pollution, toxins and bacteria. As you can imagine, it’s important to keep your acid mantle healthy and intact.

The pH level of the skin refers to how acidic or alkaline it is.

On a scale of 1-14, with 1 being the most acidic to 14 being the most alkaline, 7 would be a neutral reading for your skin’s pH. To work its best and for optimum skin health, the acid mantle should be slightly acidic, at a 4-5.5 pH balance.

Most skin care ingredients are 75% water. Aside from “watering down” all the acclaimed good things that are in your expensive lotions, all that H2O tips the pH scale into alkaline territory. What happens when your skin is too alkaline? You might think all that water is moisturizing your skin, but it’s actually drying you out. Dry, flaky, itchy, fragile skin which is more susceptible to wrinkles is very likely too alkaline. On the other end of the spectrum, if your skin is red, blotchy and prone to breakouts, your acid mantle would be too acidic.

So what is the epidermal Sweet Spot, Goldilocks? Around 5.5 will solicit adjectives like “plump”, “glowing”, “clear”, “hydrated”, “youthful” and “healthy”.

It’s best to see a skin care professional who will look closely at your skin and discuss your concerns. Together, you and your esthetician can figure out what your skin’s needs are and get you on your way to a glowing, radiant, pH balanced complexion. We are always here for a free consultation and to help you reveal your most beautiful you.