Subscribe to Soap Of The Month Club!

  • US Shipping $8 | Free shipping on orders $75+ | 30-Day Guarantee
  • Log in
  • Cart (0)
  • Soap of The Month
  • Shop All

    FACIAL CARE  

    Facial Sets
    Facial Soap
    Foaming Facial Cleanser
    Toning Facial Mist
    Facial Serum
    Facial Mask
    Lip Balm

    BODY CARE  

    Body Soap
    Body Oil
    Liquid Hand Soap
    Soap of The Month

    FEATURED  

    Gifts
    Accessories
    Merchandise

    DISTILLATES  

    Essential Oils 101
    Essential oils
    Hydrosols
  • Skin Type 
    • Sensitive
    • Dry/Mature
    • Combination
    • Oily
  • Botanicals 
    • Mountain Rose
    • Evening Primrose
    • Lavender Sage
    • Juniper Berry
    • Rosemary
    • Douglas-fir
    • Incense-cedar
    • Redwood
    • Wild Carrot
  • Skin Quiz
  • Vault
  • Rewards
  • About 
    • Meet The Maker
    • Wall of Fame
    • Distillation
    • Ingredients
    • Blog
    • Each Order=1 Tree
  • Soap of The Month
  • Shop All
  • FACIAL CARE  

    Facial Sets
    Facial Soap
    Foaming Facial Cleanser
    Toning Facial Mist
    Facial Serum
    Facial Mask
    Lip Balm

    BODY CARE  

    Body Soap
    Body Oil
    Liquid Hand Soap
    Soap of The Month

    FEATURED  

    Gifts
    Accessories
    Merchandise

    DISTILLATES  

    Essential Oils 101
    Essential oils
    Hydrosols
  • Skin Type 
    • Sensitive
    • Dry/Mature
    • Combination
    • Oily
  • Botanicals 
    • Mountain Rose
    • Evening Primrose
    • Lavender Sage
    • Juniper Berry
    • Rosemary
    • Douglas-fir
    • Incense-cedar
    • Redwood
    • Wild Carrot
  • Skin Quiz
  • Vault
  • Rewards
  • About 
    • Meet The Maker
    • Wall of Fame
    • Distillation
    • Ingredients
    • Blog
    • Each Order=1 Tree
Mountain Girl Blog
Home   Mountain Girl Blog   Cold Process Soap and your skin's pH

Cold Process Soap and your skin's pH

Cold Process Soap and your skin's pH

What is pH and why is it so important? We hear that buzz word all the time. Is it just a marketing ploy to sell more product or is there more to it?

 

pH is the measure of acidity or alkalinity on a scale of 1 to 14, going from acid (1) to alkaline (14). A pH of 7 represents a neutral solution. Pure water has a pH of 7. Tomatoes and lemons are acidic, while baking soda and toothpaste are alkaline. Our skin has a pH, too, which ranges from 4 to 6.5, while the human body has a pH in the range of 7.35-7.45. The secretions covering our skin are called the acid mantle and consists of a natural barrier made up of lipids, sebum and sweat.  This barrier is designed to protect the skin from bacteria and fungus as well as water loss. 

 

Why be concerned about the pH of a skin care product? Because harsh surfactants in cleansers can damage skin and its barrier. You know the feeling - tightness, dryness,  irritation, and itchiness that you get after using commercial detergents. Therefore, the use of "pH balanced" products is thought to be less disturbing to the acid mantle of the skin. 

 

BUT, this is where handmade soap is different. While handcrafted cold process soap is the alkali salt of a fatty acid (and is therefore alkaline in nature) and it typically measures between 8-10 on the pH scale, it is different. The reason it's different is because opposed to harsh detergents, well-formulated cold process soap is very mild. When "super fatted" it contains "free oil/fatty acid" that replaces some of the moisture and lipids/fatty acids lost while washing dirt away. Furthermore, whats amazing is that after bathing the skin begins re-secreting the acid mantle immediately and it returns to it’s normal pH.

 

Not convinced? Check out this article that shows the long-term use of soap does not affect the pH-maintenance mechanism of skin. [See 1]

 

In a nutshell: Well-formulated, super-fatted cold processed soap is the mildest cleanser that you can use on your body. Being alkaline, it will remove some of the skin's dirt bearing oil, but it gently cleanses and doesn't strip the skin but leaves behind moisturizing oils/lipids/fatty acids.

 

Still unsure? The best and most accurate test of a good mild soap is how it feels on your skin. You be the judge. Does your soap leave your skin feeling soft, supple, smooth and moisturized?

 

Read: Handmade Soap Guide - Nearly Everything You Need To Know

 

 

To your happy and healthy skin,

 

1. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25073884/  The long-term use of soap does not affect the pH-maintenance mechanism of human skin



Tweet Share Pin It Email

Leave a comment

Comments will be approved before showing up.


Also in Mountain Girl Blog

February 2023 Soap of The Month
February 2023 Soap of The Month

Watch the video where I reveal February's soap and the inspiration for this fresh, floral and earthy bar.
Regular vs. Colloidal Oatmeal
Regular vs. Colloidal Oatmeal

Got dry skin? Try colloidal oatmeal! Oatmeal is a classic ingredient used to soothe the skin and relieve itchy and dry skin conditions. 
Is It Good To Wash Your Face With Bar Soap?
Is It Good To Wash Your Face With Bar Soap?

Many people swear by facial bar soaps as a face cleanser, others do not. So, is bar soap good for your face? The answer depends on the soap you choose.
CUSTOMER SERVICE
  • Faqs
  • Contact
  • Rewards
  • Store Directory
  • Manage My Subscription
POLICIES
Returns + Refund Policy
Shipping Policy
Payment Policy
Privacy Policy
Terms of Service
CA Prop 65
Disclaimer

© 2023 Mountain Girl Essentials. Powered by Shopify