How to Balance Your Skin's pH Level for Healthy Skin

Wondering what's up with all the "pH-balanced" labels you see on skin care products? HINT: It's more important than you think!

Although there are many skin care products in the market that are promoted as “pH-balanced”, not everyone has thoroughly understood its importance. No matter how many products you are using, if your skin care regimen is out of the ideal pH range, your skin condition can even be damaged instead of improved. In this blog post, let’s unfold the mystery and find the answer to the perfect pH-balanced skin care routine!

Related article: 6 Common Mistakes You’re Probably Making With Your K-Beauty Routine

What does pH balance mean for the skin?

Our skin, naturally, has its own mechanism to protect itself called the “skin barrier”, which should be kept at an ideal pH condition in order for it to function optimally. Typically, our skin’s pH is slightly acidic at around 5.5. Maintaining this pH means that you allow your skin barrier to work at its optimum to fight against harmful germs and bacteria that can cause irritation and acne.

How can you create a pH-balanced skin care regimen?

In the optimal environment, our skin barrier works beautifully and effectively. However, when we apply the wrong skin care products, we can alter the skin’s natural pH level and its ability to heal itself. Thus, before jumping into buying just any products to start your Korean skin care routine, you should be aware of some basic rules on balancing your skin's pH:

One of the primary lessons in skin care that everyone should remember is: Never fall for those “squeaky clean” cleansers! While you might feel that your face is thoroughly cleansed, these too-alkaline cleansers are actually disrupting your natural pH level, leaving your skin with dryness and irritation. Therefore, turning to cleansers with a low pH level that is similar to your skin is a must. One of our favourite cleansers is the COSRX Low-pH Good Morning Gel Cleanser, a product formulated with botanical skin-purifying ingredients and mild acids, promising to keep your skin pH at around 5-6 while still being able to effectively remove the dirt and gunk in the pores.

Toner is the product designed to prep your skin and reset it to the normal condition for the next skin care steps. This is why it is a must-use product after cleansing, when your skin becomes more sensitive than usual. Plus, using a toner can help you remove any make-up residue and provide immediate hydration to your face, contributing an overall more balanced and healthier skin. The highly acclaimed Klairs Supple Preparation Facial Toner is our recommendation for its hydrating and skin-loving formula, which is suitable for all skin types!

3. Avoid using acids too frequently

Acid exfoliators are huge in the beauty community in recent years for its gentle yet effective performance on the skin. However, too much of anything can be a bad thing. Applying acidic products too often can disturb your skin's pH level, resulting in your skin’s natural defenses being weakened. Paying attention to how frequently you use these acids is thus recommended no matter how gentle you think your exfoliators are. In fact, you should consider using moisturisers with calming and soothing properties after exfoliating, such as the I’m From Vitamin Tree Water-Gel.

Related article: Over-Exfoliated? Here's How You Should Heal Your Skin