The one SKIN condition to blame for everything from wrinkles to breakouts

by mary orlando

There’s one skin condition to blame for everything from fine lines and wrinkles to breakouts, but most of us don’t even know we are suffering from it: an out-of-balance pH level.

Why does pH matter for our skin? The health of our skin is directly linked to maintaining the right balance between acidity and alkalinity. Healthy, balanced skin maintains an ideal pH of 5.5. At a slightly acidic pH, our skin is optimized to seal in moisture while protecting it from toxins, bacteria, pollution and environmental irritants.

When skin is too alkaline, it feels dry and sensitive, may age faster, have more fine lines/crows feet and be more prone to sun damage. Overly acidic skin will appear red, irritated and be more prone to breakouts. Skin with a balanced pH looks hydrated and healthy. 

Everything that comes in contact with our skin (products, smoking, air, water, sun, pollution) can contribute to the breaking down of the acid mantle, disrupting our skin's ability to protect itself. There’s a quick fix but, before we learn how to get it back on track we must determine our pH level.

********************************************************************************************* 

Take the pH level quiz  

  1. Does your skin look plump, moist, and dewy?
    a)Almost always
    b) Rarely
    c) It's plump, but more oily than dewy.
  1. After cleansing does your skin feel
    a)Normal, soft and smooth
    b) Dry and tight
    c) Like it’s not thoroughly clean, a little oily
  1. How often do you moisturize your face?
    a) twice,in the am and pm
    b) once a day
    c)  never
  1. How often do you exfoliate?

       a) 2-3 times/week

       b) I don’t exfoliate

       c) every day

  1. Has your skin become sensitive to products you regularly use?
    a) No
    b) Occasionally
    c) Yes
  1. How often does your skin have dry, flaky, rough patches?
    a) Never
    b) Sometimes
    c) Usually
  1. Is your skin extremely oily and prone to breakouts lately?
    a)No
    b) Occasionally
    c) Yes
  1. Does your skin often look red and feel irritated?
    a)No
    b) It stings after applying skincare.
    c) Yes

 

If you answered mostly a's, your skin's pH is. . .
Just right. You must be glowing. You’re moisturizing, exfoliating and using the right products

If you answered mostly b's, your skin's pH is. . .
Too high. Your skin is likely too alkaline.  Your skin’s dryness and wrinkling means your acid mantle is disturbed. Take a close look at how, and how often you're cleansing, exfoliating, and hydrating. Be sure to use gentle cleansing and exfoliating products, moisturize in the am and pm, + consider adding a serum and a hydrating mist to your routine.

If you answered mostly c's, your skin's pH is. . .
Too low. Your skin is acidic. Regular oiliness, breakouts, and sensitivity point to acid overload. You're probably overdoing it with cleansers and exfoliating products in an effort to dry up excess sebum but that does the opposite. You may feel squeaky clean but to compensate, oil glands produce more oil. Use products in moderation instead of abusing them and don’t skip moisturizer.

Thankfully balancing your SKIN’s pH just takes a few simple tweaks to your skincare and we're happy to help. For more info visit our BLOG or, click to shop

featuring. . . you, it's not just our name, it's our philosophy

Back to Blog