Why ph Balance is so important to skin! A great read....

I wanted to share this information with you from a blog I recently read:

"The pH scale measures how acidic or alkaline a product is, compared to pure distilled water (which is pH 7.0). Only wet substances have a measurable pH. The skin's pH is actually the pH on the skins surface from the moisture within the skin, and the "acid mantle" which is part of the protective "barrier" on its surface. Hair for example has no pH.

The acid mantle is a fine film layer, slightly acidic, made up from skin oils, sweat, and dead cells. It is one means the skin uses to protect itself from bacteria, moisture loss, and environmental damage. Pollutants, harmful bacterium, contaminants are normally alkaline in nature, so a slightly acid skin surface helps fight off these harmful elements and prevent them from entering into, and damaging the skin. Maintaining the acid mantle is recommended for good skin health. When the acid mantle is damaged it takes approximately 14-17 hours to repair itself (assuming no other damaging products are applied to it).

A damaged acid mantle leads to a number of skin issues, such as over dry skin, dehydration, over oily skin, flaky skin, acne, sensitivity, etc. It would require another long post to detail all this. But incorrect pH products can contribute to acid mantle degradation, and increases in acne-causing bacteria on the skin. (More on this below)

The pH Scale

The pH scale goes from 0-14. This covers most wet substances, and certainly all skincare products.

-Acids have pH values under 7 - they are more acidic then water (acid)
-Alkalis have pH values over 7 - they are more alkaline then water (base)
-If a substance has a pH value of 7 - it is neutral, like water (neither acid nor base)

The difference between each whole-value pH level represents a tenfold change. (For example, a cleanser with a pH of 6 is ten times more alkaline than a cleanser with a pH of 5, and a cleanser with a pH of 7 is 100 times more alkaline then one of 5.) Because of this, only a few units of pH can make a big difference in how your skin reacts to a product.

Some pH examples:

pH 1 = Battery acid
pH 1.5 -2 = gastric (stomach) acid
pH 2 = lemon juice
pH 2.5 = cola soft drinks
pH 3 = vinegar
ph 3.5 = orange juice
pH 4.6-5.5 = healthy skin (and recommended pH range for your cleanser, for best skin health)
pH 5.5 = rainwater (pure water, when exposed to the atmosphere, will take in carbon dioxide, changing its pH)
pH 6.5 = milk
pH 6.5 - 7.4 = healthy saliva
pH 7 = pure distilled water - (This is neutral pH, neither acid nor base)
pH 8.5 = baking soda (damaging to skin's acid mantle)
pH 9 = seawater
pH 9.0-10.0 = hand soap, detergents (very damaging to acid mantle)
pH 10.5 = Milk of Magnesia
pH 11.5 = household ammonia
pH 12.5 = household bleach
pH 13 = lye (sodium hydroxide, or Draino)(Alkaline or Base extreme)

Skin and the Acid Mantle

Newborn baby skin has a neutral pH of 7. Within a few months it adjusts to a more "normal" pH of 4.5 to 5.5, enabling it to be more resistant to bacteria.

Adult skin is normally slightly acidic, a range of 4.5 to 5.5. Different body areas can differ in pH, and disease and acid mantle damage can alter pH. But the preferred range for facial skin pH is 4.5 to 5.5.

Those with skin disease, skin problems, and stressed skin usually have a skin pH over 6.0. Aged, stressed and damaged skin have more difficulty maintaining a correct pH.

As skin pH is elevated closer to pH 7.0, it becomes less and less able to function optimally and to kill bacteria. This allows acne-causing bacteria to multiply rapidly on the skin's surface. (Acne bacteria are found on everyone's skin, even if you never have a pimple in your life.) The damaged skin is unable to fend off the excess bacteria, and they multiply rapidly. Bacteria growth is very slow at pH of 5.5 or less, but a slight shift upward, toward the alkaline levels, causes a marked increase in the reproduction and lifespan of acne-causing bacteria.

So if your skin is at a higher pH (anything over 6, as damaged skin often is) the acne-causing bacteria can multiply much easier and faster -- often faster then your skin can handle. Skin pH is one main contributor to acne.

Skin pH also has an effect on how easily irritated your skin is, how well it ages, and how it deals with product and environmental stress. This is why it is recommended that you cleanse skin with mild, non-irritating products, as close to the skin's natural pH as possible.

Many commercial cleansers are highly alkaline, which also changes the skin's pH to alkaline levels on the skin surface, for a short time. Many alkaline cleansers are in the same pH range as baking soda, and some are nearly as high as ammonia. This is very harsh on the skin, and can lead to increased irritation, acne, moisture loss, skin aging etc. As pimples erupt, the skin is less able to heal itself, or the damage that pimples leave behind.

If a product has a high pH and a considerable percentage of a strong detergent such as sodium lauryl sulfate, or irritant like peppermint oil or menthol, because of the pH destructive activity on the acid mantle, the detergent can contribute to even more damage then it would if the product pH was closer to 5.5. It literally takes a split second for an alkaline product to degrade the skin barrier enough for an irritant or damaging detergent to penetrate. Some people can handle this better then others, but long term daily use on the skin can contribute to long term issues on all skin types. As skin ages, or the barrier function degrades, it has more difficultly dealing with this type of stress.

Even when the skin re-adjusts to its more normal pH (4.5 to 5.5) - it is already damaged, irritated and stressed. The damage recovery involves longer term healing; 14 to 17 days for acid mantle repair. Continued long-term damage, stress, and mild irritation can prevent the skin from maintaining its best pH level of 4.5 to 5.5. With time, and increased damage, it may tend to stay at the 6 range or higher.

As skin become healthier, its pH values lower, and acne growth also lowers. The skin becomes more "normal" and regulated.

A good cleanser cleans the skin without breaking down the acid mantle, or adding irritants to the skin. It is mild with a 5.5 or lower pH."

Enjoy reading from Pish Posh Styling about OhSudz. We got a fun award for our products, service and overall joy of making people happy! Thanks again...


Back then I was able to try different products and scents on a whim. I didn't have a married-two-kids budget. If I bought something and didn't like it, I threw it away or swapped with someone else. When Amalia came a long, times changed. She was allergic to the laundry soap we used and developed HORRIBLE eczema at 1 year old. She still has scarring on the tops of her hands. We've gotten it under control now but it changed the way I looked at our skin. I wonder if my acne flare ups could be due to me actually having sensitive skin as well. I decided to shop Etsy for skin treatments one day and found this shop. I don't bother to buy anything else. Sure, some of the items are more expensive than I have paid for other products in the big box stores. BUT! These products have no extra junk so you don't need to heap a huge amount in your hand to do the job!! Keep that in mind. Do not "glub glub" product onto your body. If you need to do that to get your body feeling clean (or your laundry-same thing!), the product isn't right for you. 

My Day 4 award for Etsy Excellence goes to a shop with soaps, lotions and other body yummies far more natural and FAR more handmade than Bath & Body!!

Recently featured on Channel 2 News in St Louis (whoop whoop!), Oh Sudz features Artisan Handcrafted Face, Body and Home Care. 

 

something for everyone on your list!

I swear by their acne system- it is the only thing that keeps my skin clear AND DOES NOT over dry my face. (Found Here)  I also use and adore this lotion for it's light scent and intense moisture:

Monoi oil Shea butter lotion

Other OhSudz goodness: (I can attest to it's wonderfulness)

I use this on Athan's dry lips and impetigo under
 nose- works better than his antibiotic topical

Gail's soaps are fabulous. I recommend the Goat's Milk as
 I received it as a sample and it was a fantastic exfoliant bar!


Goodbye my old Clean & Clear favorite lotion of the past 10 years...
 HELLO! Natural, plant based Aloe Vera Gel with nothing extra to re-clog the pores.
Before using this product, I would have a never-ending cycle of dry skin needing moisture-->breakout needing to be dried ---> dry skin, repeat. Not with this little bottle. My skin is totally balanced and happy now :)

 Gail, finding your shop was an amazing discovery for me! I no longer have to dread washing my make up off to see what cropped up while I was wearing it, THANKS TO YOUR STORE!

The confidence I have putting these products on my family is not something I was used to enjoying in the past.  I know exactly what is in these bottles and it's working!! I really love you for that!

Here is your award  ;)

Channel 2 News and OhSudz

First time on TV for OhSudz. We were lucky enough to be asked to come and talk about our product line for the upcoming St. Louis Unique Boutique and Craft Show. I'm attaching the podcast so you can learn a little bit about my other passion, designing soaps and towels with a retro, vintage look from the 1950's.

Willow Tree Bark Extract, Natural Salicylic Acid

This is the original, natural form of nature's Salycilic Acid.  As stated by Wikipedia, "Salicylic acid (from Latin salix, willow tree, from the bark of which the substance used to be obtained) is a monohydroxybenzoic acid, a type of phenolic acid and a beta hydroxy acid. In addition to being a compound that is chemically similar to but not identical to the active component of aspirin (acetylsalicylic acid), it is probably best known for its use in anti-acne treatments."

OhSudz now uses therapuetic grade Willow Tree Bark Extract in their Acne Zapper formula. This is one of the best formulas you can use to zap and rid acne, overnight. Made in a base of pure grain alcohol, organic camphor, Tea Tree and Lavender Essential Oils, and now Willow Tree Extract. This is an all natural, hard working formula. Take a look at our products at our etsy store, and see customer reviews.

This works!

Unique Boutique

We all had such a great time at the John Burroughs Unique Boutique. The OhSudz booth was
extremely busy, discussing aromatherapy, soap, bath and body care items. For those of you who do craft fairs, this one was a beauty. Loads of people, in a great atmosphere and lots of food. What could be better.  We're done with craft fairs for the season, regrouping and getting ready for the New Year!