Can These Products Balance Your Skin’s pH-Levels?

Mention ‘pH-balance’ to anyone and images of chemistry lab classes come to mind. But the workings of this chemical property isn’t just limited to the confines of the litmus paper. On your body, pH-balance plays the role of a mini health-alert. A healthy pH-level leans towards a slight acidity, and ranges from 5.5 to 5.7 on the scale. But, it’s possible for things to get too alkaline or acidic at any part of your body. And your pH-balance, when abnormal, sends alerts in the form of various symptoms like nausea, increased sebum production, a fungal infection, dandruff or even acne.

While pH-balancing products have been around for awhile, finding a solution isn’t just about what’s written on the label. Instead, try to narrow down into the problems you’re facing and find out what your hair or skin needs. Our testers, based on the skin and hair problems they faced, put suitable KrisShop products to test to find out how pH-balancing beauty and hair care works. 

Your skin type is determined by various factors. Scientific findings have shown that Asian skin is more prone to acne and sebum-production. In a research published in the National Library of Medicine (National Center for Biotechnology Information) by Professor Chee Leok Goh et.al, Asian skin is recorded to be more reactive to external irritation. In countries with a humid climate (especially in Southeast Asia), combination skin is a common skin type. And it’s exactly what it sounds like - your skin is both oily and dry at the same time. The increased sebum production and dehydrated epidermis becomes the perfect environment for acne-causing bacteria to thrive, making your skin’s pH more acidic than it already is. 

To combat this issue, look for gentle cleansers like this one from DermaRx. Formulated with unique ingredients, the derma-Rx Foaming Cleanser is meant to protect your skin from pollutants and maintain a healthy pH-level. The product consists of Alteromonas ferment extract, which acts as a shield for your skin by keeping sebum-production in check, reducing the chances of bacteria formation. 

Tester’s comments: 

“I use this product about two to three times a week. After two weeks, I felt that my skin was soft, supple and hydrated, which led to less oil being produced. I’m quite inclined to use this as my main go-to cleanser once I’m done with my current product as my skin did not feel stripped or irritated after usage. I’d definitely recommend this to friends with sensitive and acne-prone skin.”

While the effects of balancing pH can be more obviously seen on sensitive or oily skin, normal and dry skin can also benefit from it. Incorporating a neutralising toner into your skincare can strengthen the resilience of your skin. Think of your skin as a world of its own with many microorganisms living on it. Using a balancing toner, like the Aspurely Restorative & pH Balancing Toner, can improve your skin texture over time and retain your healthy glow. Containing several natural essences from fruits and flowers, this product aims to soften and prepare your skin for other nourishing products. Present in this product is a unique ingredient, known as the BalancingBuddleia™, which possesses calming and anti-ageing qualities.

Tester’s comments:

“I have combination skin but I’m not prone to breakouts. The product acted as a hydration booster and my skin was more hydrated after using it. Having this in my routine was nice as the spray application helped with dispersing the product evenly. There is a strong herbal and floral scent due to the ingredients used which may take some getting used to. I’ll definitely recommend this to someone who enjoys soothing products or doesn’t like using cotton pads to apply their toner.”

Your pH-balance can also go off centre when it comes to your scalp. And especially more so if you live in a warm environment with fluctuating weather. Oily scalp can affect hair growth, volume and may even lead to hair loss. Using the wrong shampoo may end up worsening the problem and cause a lot of discomfort to you. Sometimes, all your scalp needs is a refresh. A soothing shampoo with sebum-regulating properties like the Folizin Balancing Cleanser can change the way your hair feels. 

Having sebum on your scalp is normal, but factors like stress or pollution can disrupt the pH-levels and cause your scalp to start over-producing sebum as a defense mechanism. Peppermint oil, present in this shampoo, has anti-microbial properties that help prevent clogged pores and promote healthy hair growth. It’s a simple cause-and-effect: less sebum, more root volume. 

Tester’s comments:

“This is a product that gets the job done if you tend to have some oil buildup in your hair. It has a noticeable minty feel after usage that is unlike any shampoo I’ve used. Personally, I have a habit of washing my hair everyday as I enjoy the feeling of a fresh oil-free scalp. To stress test the shampoo, I decided to try not washing my hair for an additional day. My scalp continued to feel fresh and not oily well into the second day. I also carried on with my usual hair routine of applying conditioner and blow drying. To my surprise, my hair didn’t feel stripped of its natural hydration. I’d recommend this to those who enjoy a minty feeling on their scalp after every hair wash.”

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