Is Your Facial Cleanser's pH Level Too High And Slowly Wreaking Havoc On Your Skin?

[Corysilk]

The correct pH for a cleanser is around 4.2-7.0 with 4.2-5.5 being the ideal.  Most cleansers are in the higher range which not only dries out your skin but  can also make it easier for bacteria to form and cause skin issues like acne, eczema, etc.

 

Some popular cleanser pH levels

 

AHAVA Soaps 5.5

Alpha Hydrox Foaming Face Wash 6.1-6.5

Alpha Hydrox Optimum Series Moisturizing Cleanser 6.3-6.5

Beauty Without Cruelty Vitamin C Cleanser 6.0-6.5

Burt’s Bees Tomato, Carrot, and Lettuce soaps 10

Camay Soap 9.5

Camocare Gold Light Foaming Cleanser 6.5-7.0

Cellex-C Betaplex Cleanser 5.0-5.5

Cetaphil cleanser 6.7

Dermalogica Exfoliants: 3.4-3.9

Dermalogica The Bar 5.5

Dermalogica Dermal Clay Cleanser 6.2

Dial Soap (liquid and bar) 9.5

Dove Bar, Baby Dove Bar 7

Dr. Bonner Liquid Soaps 8

Earth Science Clarifying Facial Wash 5.0-5.5

Earth Science ADE Creamy Cleanser 5

Earth Science Apricot Facial Scrub Cream 5

Earth Science Aloe-Gel Cleanser Liquid 5

Ecco Bella Normal/Oily Cleanser 6.5-7.0

GlyTone Mild Cream Wash 3.4%GA, 3.5

GlyTone Mild Gel Wash 4.7% GA, 3.8

GlyTone Wipe Away Cleanser 7.8% GA, 3.8

Irish Spring Soap 9.5

Ivory Soap 9.5

Jevelle Magick Clear Gentle Apricot Scrub 5

Johnson & Johnson Head to Toe Baby Wash 6.5-7.0

Johnson & Johnson 5.5 5.5

Lever 2000 9

MD Forte Cleansers pH 3.8

MD Forte Facial Cleanser II 15%GA 3.8

MD Formulations Sensitive Skin Cleanser 4.4

MD Formulations Basic Facial Cleanser 5.5

MD Formulations Oily/Problem Cleanser 3.8

Neutrogena Deep Clean Facial Cleanser 3.8-4.6

Neutrogena Deep Clean Cream Cleanser 2.8-3.8

Neutrogena Deep Clean Cleansing Cloths N/A

Neutrogena Extra Gentle Cleanser 5.6-6.2

Neutrogena Extra Gentle Cleansing Bar 6.0-7.5

Neutrogena Facial Cleansing Bar Original Formula 8.7-9.2

Neutrogena Fresh Foaming Cleanser 6.2-6.9

Liquid Neutrogena 8.7-9.1

Neutrogena Pore Refining Cleanser 3.7-4.2

Neutrogena Cleansing Bar for Acne-Prone Skin 8.7-9.2

Neutrogena Oil-Free Acne Wash 3.6-4.4

Neutrogena Oil-Free Acne Wash Cream Cleanser 3.6-4.4

Neutrogena Oil-Free Acne Wash Foam Cleanser 3.5-4.2

Nutribiotic Non-soap skin cleansers 5.3-5.7

Olay Foaming Face Wash - 6.85-7.36

Olay Foaming Face Wash - Sensitive Skin 6.6 - 7.35

Olay Emollient Cleansing Lotion 6.0 - 7.2

Olay ADS Daily Renewal Cleanser 2.9 - 3.25

Olay ProVital Revitalizing Cleanser 2.9 - 3.25

Olay Daily Facials Normal/Dry 6.9 (when wet)

Olay Daily Facials Normal/Oily 7.6 (when wet)

Palmolive soap 10

Paula’s Choice (all formulations) 5.5

Physician's Choice pHaze1: Facial Wash 5%AHA 6

Physician's Choice pHaze1: Facial Wash oily/problem 7%AHA 5

Purpose Facial Cleanser 6.5-7.0

 

Video proofs

 

 

[SJJD]

nope i use cosrx low ph cleanser

[Chu chu~]

Mine is higher than the ideal, but the water here is hard water so the pH level is too high with that as well.

[Corysilk]

nope i use cosrx low ph cleanser

lucky bish, i just discovered this mess and now i have to toss out all my yummy scented cleansers 

[GRISHA - A Yoonbin Stan]

nope, mine is at a good 5.5. high pH cleansers will turn your skin into rough paper

nope i use cosrx low ph cleanser

 

oh that's what I use too! or the Su:m37 rose cleanser stick 

[cantnobody-]

i used both low and high ph cleansers and honestly it made no difference for my skin.

 

on the other hand switching to milk/gel cleansers helped a lot. i  just can't use foam cleansers, they dry me out terribly and make my skin feel tight. 

[TaeGiElitist]

My cleanser is black soap lol i dont know the ph but my toner is glycolic acid its about 3.8 so i guess thats ok.

[felidae]

I use apple cider as toner so I guess I'm good.

[blossoms]

I use cosrx low ph cleanser and clinique oil cleanser which (i think lmao) is low ph

Since I've started checking ph levels I think my skin has improved so much. The water here is some of the softest in the world which probably helps too.

[pinkpanda_spirit]

I use avène's cleanser

[GRISHA - A Yoonbin Stan]

I use cosrx low ph cleanser and clinique oil cleanser which (i think lmao) is low ph

 

Since I've started checking ph levels I think my skin has improved so much. The water here is some of the softest in the world which probably helps too.

 

oil cleansers can't be measured through pH since that's a measure of acidity of water based products. 

[Iceprince]

I guess my cleamser ph is 5 or 6 but it's okay, i use millions of products after that and my toner has lower ph

[Fantaji Land]

is aveeno daily cleanser ok? 

[Corysilk]

is aveeno daily cleanser ok? 

The  positevely radiant one? 

 

2. Aveeno Positively Radiant Cleanser with Moisture Soy Extracts (had a metallic sheen to it created by mica, I’d skip it) – 5.8-6.0

 

https://popthepimple.com/why-you-need-to-throw-out-your-cetaphil-cleanser/

[Fantaji Land]

The  positevely radiant one? 

 

 

https://popthepimple.com/why-you-need-to-throw-out-your-cetaphil-cleanser/

hm, i really like what its doing for my skin so i'll probably stick with it. i'll have to do more research on that mica stuff tho

[Cinnabear]

This is interesting. I'll keep this in mind when I look for a new cleanser. 

[Buttered Sone]

After I switched to the Cetaphil cleanser I realized the burning I always felt before wasn't normal

[Corysilk]

hm, i really like what its doing for my skin so i'll probably stick with it. i'll have to do more research on that mica stuff tho

Yeah that blogger is a bit anal. She canceled cleansers that were in the 6.2 range when the acceptable range is under 7.  the 4.2-5.5 is just the ideal range.  

[Ruth Lehus]

I use Cetaphil and it's under 7.0 

#Helio

[Caridee]

I use innisfree green tea face cleanser. Idk the ph level of it tho

[Hormones]

Damn no wonder I suffer from acne my family uses Irish spring...

[CandyCane23049]

I don't know but I use Fresh Soy Cleanser, and it cleared my face and is really gentle.

[Corysilk]

I don't but I use Fresh Soy Cleanser, and it cleared my face and is really gentle.

Fresh Soy Cleanser has a pH of ~5.5

 

[Corysilk]

Damn no wonder I suffer from acne my family uses Irish spring...

Irish Spring Soap 9.5

 

[Hormones]

Irish Spring Soap 9.5

 

 

I know....I told my dad we're not using it anymore...but to be fair I usually switch between Dove(I use it 30% of the time) now I'm going to have to use it 100% of the time...damn....all these breakouts