I’ve talked a lot about our skin’s pH in the past, but today I want to talk about how the pH of your cleanser can affect it. Our skin’s pH can make a huge difference in how it looks and feels. Our skin is slightly acidic at a pH of about 5. It is most functional at its natural pH, which means we want our skincare products to be close to a pH of 5. When you use a cleanser with a high pH you weaken your moisture barrier. This leaves your skin vulnerable to symptoms like dryness, clogged pores, and acne.

Low pH cleansers are typically a gel, milk, or cream texture. Foaming cleansers tend to be a high pH. Any cleanser that leaves your skin feeling tight, dry, or giving you that “squeaky clean” feeling has too high of a pH. Low pH cleansers protect your skin’s acid mantle and improve conditions like acne, eczema, and aging.

Below I’ve linked some of my favorite low pH cleansers. I hope you can find one wherever you like to shop and whatever your budget!