The dreaded s-word…. SOAP! Are you using soap as a facial cleanser? If you ever want to see your skin care therapist cringe, just let them know that you are using body soap as a facial cleanser.
But why is that the case you might ask... If it is good enough for your body it surely is good enough for your face? The cold, harsh answer is no. When looking at the pH of the skin you’ll note that it has a pH of around 4.5 – 5.5 when healthy. Soap and body bars have a pH range of 7-8.
Your skin is slightly acidic and forms a protective layer called the acid mantle. This acid barrier helps protect your skin against pigmentations, ageing, microbes and even dryness. We ideally want to maintain a healthy skin pH at all times. When you are introducing soap to your skin you are changing your skins pH making it more alkaline. Unfortunately, this impairs our acid mantles function creating the ideal breeding ground for bacteria.
Soap contains harsh surfactants which strip natural oils. Contrary to believe, stripping your skin of natural oils is not beneficial. When removing too much oil your sebaceous gland may be come over or under active resulting in server oiliness or severe dehydration, and server dryness can lead to premature ageing. What a vicious cycle?!
Cleansers, and body washes, prescribed by skin experts are pH balance according to the skin. Whatever skin type you may have, we have the correct cleanser which will gently cleanse your skin but also reinforce your acid mantle.
Make an informed and health skin choice, leave soap for washing hands, not your face
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