How To Find Your Skin Type’s pH Level?

pH is an abbreviation for 'potential of hydrogen'. It's a way of measuring acidity levels in any given environment, product or our skin. Our skin types all have different acidity levels and, therefore, a different pH value. pH values are measured on a scale of 0 (most acidic) to 14 (most alkaline). When we talk about pH neutral, it means a value of 7. However, when it comes to skin, the pH balance of our skin varies between 5.2 and 7. In other words, our skin's pH level determines whether we have dry, normal, oily, or combination skin. It's important that we try to maintain the skin pH, which is why we need to carefully choose products according to our skin type.

How to find out our skin’s pH level?

Healthy skin will have a pH level of between 4 and 6, meaning it's slightly acidic. Using skincare products made for your specific skin type will help to maintain the pH balance of your skin. Skin needs to be slightly acidic so as to protect it from bacteria and keep its natural, protective barrier intact.

Your skin type can help you determine the pH levels of your skin. If you have normal skin, beauty products for normal skin pH cater for skin that falls within the pH level of 4 to 6. However, damaging external factors can harm the hydrolipidic film (AKA acid mantle), throwing its pH level out of sync, with direct consequences for our skin. So, if your skin's dry it means it has a dry skin pH level that is lower than 6.5, probably nearer to 4. It's therefore extremely acidic and needs extra nourishing care. To balance out the pH of your skin it is imperative to learn how to do a proper skin care routine.

The pH of oily skin exceeds 6.5 - an alkaline skin that needs more acid. This is why using active ingredients in skincare products will help you balance the alkaline nature of your skin. You can start using the L'Oréal Paris Revitalift Crystal Micro Essence which is an essence with salicylic acid, that penetrates 10 layers deep into the skin* that exfoliates skin gentle, refines texture, cleans pores, removes excess oil & soothes inflammation and the Centella Asiatica in it hydrates the skin.

What does salicylic acid do to the skin?

Benefits of Salicylic acid are that it is a gentle exfoliator that brightens your skin and gives it an instant boost. If you are wondering, “Can salicylic acid be used daily?”, the answer is yes! The gentle nature of salicylic acid and the formulation of the essence enables us to use it twice a day. You can take a few drops of the salicylic acid product in your palms and gently pat into your skin. In just a few days of regular usage, your skin will witness the benefits of salicylic acid and, it will begin to appear visibly brighter, glowing and youthful.

Certain external factors like alkaline products, tobacco, stress, alcohol - damage skin's hydrolipidic film, leaving our skin dry, sensitive and prone to spots or irritation. In order to keep our skin barrier intact and maintain the skin pH balance, we should use products that have a pH value lower than 7. These not only match healthy skin's level but will neutralize bacteria that may cause our skin's immune response to go into overdrive and produce lots of sebum. To control this, you can use the L'Oréal Paris Revitalift Crystal Micro Essence Sheet Mask. This sheet mask is powered by an advanced patent cushion tissue mask technology. It is a BHA product that helps the sheet mask act as a sponge for higher essence carrying capacity. It has up to 30x more absorption power** than the normal face mask, which helps deliver more essence onto the skin for quick results. This mask brightens your skin in just 15 minutes. Keeping in mind when to use salicylic acid for face, helps you reap maximum benefits. You can use this mask thrice a week after cleansing your face. After you take off the mask, you can massage the excess serum left on your skin. The face mask has brightening actives that help accelerate skin renewal, refines texture and minimizes pores. This helps reveal brighter, smoother and clearer skin. It is ideal to use salicylic acid for oily and dry skin, as it is suitable for all skin types.

If you want to measure a product's pH levels, chemists now sell colour-coded pH testing strips. If the colour highlighted veers towards the red zone, it means your product is acidic rather than alkaline.

To avoid harm, we need to respect its skin’s pH value and adopt a suitable beauty routine. That said, whatever the pH level, it's still wise to avoid all harsh products that have an alkaline pH value and opt for pH neutral treatments. So, steer clear of any alkaline soaps, shower gels or facial gels, as they'll throw your skin's natural pH value off kilter. Opt instead for oil-based formulae, as they're gentle and have a skin-friendly pH level.

*Within epidermis in the stratum corneum layer
**30X more absorbing capacity as compared to dry tissue weight