Your skin's natural pH

pH is a measure of how acidic or alkaline a substance is, using a scale from 0 to 14. A pH of 7 is neutral, values below 7 are acidic, and values above 7 are alkaline.

pH scale showing the pH from 0 to 14, with the pH 5.5 highlighted for healthy skin vs a higher pH of traditional soap

Your skin's natural pH is slightly acidic, averaging around pH 5.5, which is essential for maintaining a healthy skin barrier and overall skin health. This slightly acidic environment, known as the acid mantle, helps protect the skin from harmful bacteria, pollution, and other environmental aggressors while supporting the growth of beneficial microorganisms in the skin microbiome. A balanced skin pH of 5.5 also helps retain moisture, reduces transepidermal water loss (TEWL), and keeps the skin smooth, hydrated, and resilient. Using pH-balanced skincare products that match the skin's natural acidity can help prevent dryness, irritation, sensitivity, and breakouts, making them ideal for maintaining healthy, glowing skin.

More about the skin's Microboime
A hand with pale pink manicured nails holds a light sage green Sebamed cleanisng bar against a solid sage green background.

Soap-Free Cleansing

Traditional soaps are too alkaline and can be harsh on the skin

During traditional soap making, lye (sodium hydroxide) reacts with fats or oils in a process called saponification, producing soap and glycerin. The soap molecules that are created are naturally alkaline, typically resulting in a finished product with a pH between 9 and 10. This high pH can damage the delicate balance of the skin.

sebamed uses synthetic detergents, or syndets for short, to cleanse the skin. These do not need lye to be produced and instead use surfactant action to lift away dirt, sweat, and oils. The resulting cleansing bars and washes can be perfectly balanced to pH5.5, making them perfect for sensitive skin.

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Our pH5.5 skincare range

The majority of Sebamed products are formulated to a pH of 5.5, which matches the natural pH of healthy skin and helps support its protective barrier.

Some products are intentionally formulated to a different pH, as the natural pH varies across different areas of the body. For example, our Lip Balms are not pH 5.5 because the skin on the lips naturally has a higher pH. This ensures each product is designed to suit the specific needs of the area it is intended for. Below are our range of pH5.5 products:

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