The Balancing Act of Skincare

Balancing skincare with your skins pH level is a hot topic, with alkaline water taking center stage. Supermodel Miranda Kerr swears by it. NBA star LeBron James is a self-proclaimed aficionado about it. But what does it all mean for your skin?

Skin is naturally designed to fight off infections and stressors from the environment. Its ability to perform these functions is affected by its pH level. The pH level of the skin refers to how acidic or alkaline it is. If your skin is too alkaline, it can be more susceptible to acne, dryness, and sensitivity. If your skin is too acidic, it decreases the amount of oil your skin produces and decreases your skin’s ability to protect itself.

Our skin's protective acid mantle is a thin surface layer composed of oil from glands and lactic/amino acids from sweat, determining our skin's pH level. This mantle's delicate balance can easily be disrupted by various internal and external factors. For instance, throughout our life experiences, our skin becomes more acidic in response to lifestyle changes and our environment. Just think of all the things that come into contact with our skin on almost a daily occurrence (products, smoke, air, water, sun, pollution). All of these factors contribute and interfere with the acid mantle, breaking it down and disrupting the skin’s ability to protect itself.

Alkaline water is capable of rejuvenating and rehydrating your skin. It contains antioxidants that help you fight against the free radicals that cause many of these problems mentioned above. It is known for having a slightly higher pH level (8 or 9) than regular drinking water (7) to help neutralize the acid in your body to ensure your skin’s pH level has a neutral reading.

Drinking Alkaline Water

The benefits of alkaline water are amazing, but consuming enough is a daunting task. Most people find the age-old advice of drinking 8-12 glasses of water per day a difficult goal if they’re not used to it. Start by drinking 3-4 glasses of alkaline water per day (approx. 1 liter). Gradually increase your water intake over a few weeks until you reach 8-12 glasses daily (2-3 liters).

Topical Antioxidants

Ingesting antioxidants in the form of Alkaline water is important, but so is topical application. Topical antioxidants such as Vitamins A, C, E and green tea are crucial for helping to maintain the delicate acid mantle.

They help to fortify the cells so they’re able to function optimally and protect the cells from environmental stresses and oxidation.

Good-for-you Ingredients

As we go through life, the amount of oil naturally produced by our skin decreases. In addition, this decrease disrupts the balance of the acid mantle and its ability to protect your skin. It’s vital through every stage of life to always select good-for-your-skin products (oils, moisturizers, primers) to add to your balancing skincare routine that continuously helps to rebuild your acid mantle and strengthen this vital barrier. Also, look for ingredients like jojoba, coconut, argan oil and olive oil in your balancing skincare and cosmetic products that work effortlessly with the skin to produce natural oil.

And remember…

Skin cleansers can be those sneaky skincare products that you have on your counter that are not pH balance. They tend to be overly acidic and do more harm than good to your poor skin. Choose a mildly acidic face cleanser (pH 5) for all skin types to maintain the acid mantle.

Balancing skincare is like a rollercoaster. You will find that, as life goes on, your pH level may fluctuate. As such, you will have to modify your skincare routine as you adjust. Be kind to your skin by opting for gentle, natural, hydrating ingredients in your skincare routine. Combat environmental stressors for a balanced complexion.