To function at top condition, the skin on our face must have an optimal pH between 4 to 6. This is important as our skin environment should be slightly acidic, with even the slightest deviations resulting in problems such as dryness, redness, sensitivity, or breakouts.
Various factors can affect the pH level of your skin, such as age, environmental stressors, or even over-cleansing. Luckily, your skin's pH can be properly maintained by using the right products. To help keep your skin happy, healthy and clear, we've ranked the 10 best pH-balancing cleansers in the UK. With tips and expert advice, keep reading to find out more!
Quick List - Top pH Balancing Cleansers
CervaVe
Skin-Nurturing Formula Without Harsh Soaps or Sulphates
CeraVe
A Unique Cream-To-Foam Formula Enriched With Hyaluronic Acid and Ceramides
La Roche-Posay
La Roche Posay Thermal Spring Water to Treat Dryness and Skin Sensitivity
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The pH scale ranges from 0 to 14, with 7 being neutral. to give an example, water has a pH of 7. Anything below this is considered acidic, and anything above is alkaline. Our skin is slightly acidic, fluctuating between 4 and 6, with the ideal pH being 5.5.
It's vital that the skin stays within this range as the skin microbiome and acid mantle (protective acid film) prefers a more acidic environment. Maintaining optimal pH levels keeps your protective moisture barrier functioning at peak condition, helping to encourage healing, block out harmful UV rays and free radicals, and limit moisture loss.
Certain skin care products, harsh soaps, sulphates, and even water can alter the pH of the skin causing in imbalances. This weakens the skin's barrier, resulting in dryness, irritation and breakouts.
Age can also affect the skin's pH levels, as it becomes more alkaline as we mature. Luckily, you can help negate these effects simply by using the right pH balancing products.
Looking for more gentle ways to cleanse your skin? Check out our article on milk cleansers!
Cleansing often strips the skin of too much moisture, resulting in an alkaline pH. Thankfully, your skin is able to bounce back to healthy levels pretty quickly, by using the right pH balancing products. In fact, it's entirely possible to restore the skin's ideal acidic environment by switching to a cleanser developed for this purpose.
Look for cleansers that are within a pH range of 4 - 6 to help regulate and rebalance your complexion. Some cleansers simply state that they are pH balanced, which means that the formulation has a pH of 5.5.
Sulphates, such as Sodium Lauryl Sulphate (SLS) and Sodium Laureth Sulphate (SLeS), and soaps are commonly found in cleansers to help the product lather and clean better. These typically have a high alkaline pH, which may be one of the most common reasons for the skin's microbiome and pH to become disturbed. However, it is important to note that SLeS has been known to be milder and less harsh on the skin.
Using a strong soap or cleanser with sulphates every once in a while won't send your skin's pH into a spiral, but with consistent use, and frequent pH fluctuations, it can affect the skin's barrier and function. To prevent damage and preserve your skin's barrier, opt for sulphate-free or soap-free pH balancing cleansers.
If you have sensitive skin, using products with sulphates and harsh soaps could also be the reason why you may be experiencing irritation. By switching to a pH balancing cleanser that's sulphate or soap-free, you'll be able to give your skin's barrier a chance to heal.
Common cleansers without any skin emollients or moisturisers often have a high pH, leaving the skin stripped of it's essential natural oils. Barrier supporting ingredients such as glycerin, ceramides, hyaluronic acid, can help to strengthen the skin barrier by delivering and locking in moisture within the epidermal layer.
Other ingredients to look for are botanical oils or extracts, such as avocado oil, centella asiatica, and aloe vera. These help to condition the skin whilst cleansing, so that it isn't left feeling too dry or tight.
Here are our favourite hyaluronic acid serums for skin that's in need of intense moisture.
A reliable cleanser should refine the pores instead of blocking them, as this is ultimately what leads to breakouts. Certain ingredients such as heavy oils can be comedogenic, which means that they have a high chance of clogging the pores. On the other hand, non-comedogenic cleansers are formulated and tested to ensure that they contain no comedogenic ingredients.
Opting for non-comedogenic cleanser can provide peace of mind, especially if you have oily or acne-prone skin. If you are currently in the process of treating blackheads and cysts, these formulas can also help prevent further worsening of the skin's condition, giving you a chance to heal.
Cleansers are a skincare staple that can be used to rid the skin of impurities, sunscreen and makeup. If you often wear cosmetics, you'll need a pH balancing cleanser that's capable of effectively removing every trace at the end of the day.
You'll want to seek out formulas that are designed to melt away make-up, without too much rubbing or tugging. This is because being too rough on the skin while cleansing can result in problems further down the line, such as encouraging fine lines and wrinkles. Some cleansers can even be used to remove waterproof makeup!
Avoid panda eyes and irritation by choosing one of our go-to eye makeup removers!
Products | Image | Click to purchase | Key features | |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | CervaVe Foaming Cleanser for Normal to Oily Skin|236 ml | ![]() | Skin-Nurturing Formula Without Harsh Soaps or Sulphates | |
2 | Cetaphil Oily Skin Face Cleanser|236 ml | ![]() | Perfectly pH Balanced Cleanser for Oily and Sensitive Skin | |
3 | CeraVe Hydrating Cream-to-Foam Cleanser |236 ml | ![]() | A Unique Cream-To-Foam Formula Enriched With Hyaluronic Acid and Ceramides | |
4 | La Roche-Posay Toleriane Hydrating Gentle Cleanser|400 ml | ![]() | La Roche Posay Thermal Spring Water to Treat Dryness and Skin Sensitivity | |
5 | Tree To Tub Ultra Hydrating Gentle Face Wash for Dry Skin|120 ml | ![]() | Natural Soapberry Cleanser Packed With Skin-Loving Botanical Extracts | |
6 | Skin Doctors pH Balancing Cleanser|100 ml | ![]() | Mildly Exfoliating Cleanser With AHA to Refine, Prep and Prime | |
7 | ACWELL Bubble Free pH Balancing Cleanser|150 ml | ![]() | Daily Acne-Beating Cleanser With Salicylic Acid and Witch Hazel | |
8 | COSRX Low-pH Good Morning Gel Cleanser|150 ml | ![]() | pH Balanced Toning Cleanser From a Leading K-Beauty Brand | |
9 | Glossier Milk Jelly Cleanser|177 ml | ![]() | Popular Jelly Cleanser for Removing Impurities and Makeup | |
10 | Purito Defence Barrier pH Cleanser|150 ml | ![]() | pH Balanced Cleanser With Tea Tree Oil and Centella |
CeraVe is an affordable skincare brand that's recommended and developed with the expertise of dermatologists. Their foaming cleanser is non-comedogenic, allergy-tested and pH-balanced, making it less likely to cause irritation.
The formulation is jam-packed with skin-loving, barrier-supporting ingredients, such as niacinamide, hyaluronic acid, and essential ceramides. Wirh lasting hydration guaranteed for up to 24 hours - it's no surprise why it's our no. 1!
This cleanser has a pH of 5.5, using gentle surfactants instead of harsh soaps. This makes it an excellent choice for those with oily or sensitive skin. Gently massage the cleanser in, and watch the dirt and oil roll right off. It can even be used to remove light makeup.
If you have acne-prone skin, you can rest assure that it won't cause any flare-ups since it has a non-comedogenic formula. In fact, it's so perfectly-balanced, that you can use it daily, morning and night - a great skincare staple, even if you're on a budget!
We've already discussed one product from Cerave's dermatologist developed range of non-comedogenic pH balanced cleansers, but here is another one of our favourites! This cream cleanser lathers into a luxurious foam, using an amino acid-based surfactant to gently yet thoroughly purify skin without disturbing the protective barrier.
We especially recommend it for those with dry skin, as it includes hyaluronic acid and ceramides to restore lost hydration. Despite lathering into a foam, it does not contain any sulphates or soaps, which makes it suitable for those seeking an ultra-gentle formula.
Dryness and sensitivity are telltale signs that your skin's pH levels are imbalanced. To nurture it back to healthy levels, this cleanser from La Roche-Posay contains glyerin to hydrate, nourish and repair the skin barrier.
It has a skin-friendly pH of 5.5 and, despite being soap-free, the refreshing gel formula is very effective at cleansing away all traces of makeup. This helps rid the skin of impurities, without sacrificing any essential oils or exasperating dry skin conditions.
For dry, sensitive complexions, this cleanser's pure and delicate formulation will adequately clean and quench your skin. Using only botanical extracts, such as naturally pH balanced soapberry, it cleanses and moisturises at the same time.
We love that this cleanser is made 100% from plant-based ingredients. It's also free from soaps, sulphates, silicones and artificial additives, which is why we highly recommend this facial wash for sensitive skin.
This pH balancing cleanser from Skin Doctors can do it all! It contains a blend of Alpha-Hydroxy Acids (AHAs) to gently exfoliate, clearing the pores while maintaining optimal pH levels. The unique formula primes and preps the skin for maximum cosmeceutical absorption, and is capable of removing makeup!
After cleansing, you won't be left with tight or uncomfortably dry skin, thanks to the addition of avocado oil which has nourishing and calming effects. However, it does contain Sodium Laureth Sulphate (SLeS) so if this is a known irritant for you, we advise giving this one a miss!
We like that it's suitable for all skin types, with additional benefits for acne-prone skin. The main reason why it isn't higher up on our list, however, is that this cleanser isn't as easily accessible as the others on our list.
With a pH range between 5 and 6, this low-pH cleanser from COSRX is a great everyday choice. It gradually rehabilitates the skin's barrier by rebalancing your pH to the optimum levels.
If you have oily skin or are prone to breakouts, this is a cleanser you'll want to be reaching for. It contains tea tree oil, which is a natural antiseptic, to keep pores clean and bacteria-free, all while controlling sebum production. The only downside is that it can't be used to remove makeup.
If you're looking for a cleanser that leaves skin feeling fresh and hydrated, this unique milk jelly formula from Glossier is your answer! It contains a blend of five skin conditioners, so you won't feel like you immediately need to follow up with a moisturiser (although you totally should).
The formulation uses Poloxamer instead of harsh soaps, which is a mild cleansing agent found in contact lens solutions. This gently cleans without triggering skin reactions, such as stinging when removing eye makeup. Although, it struggles to remove waterproof cosmetics.
Mildly acidic with a pH of 5.5, this cleanser is great for rehabilitating the skin's barrier. With a focus on hydration, it washes away dirt and impurities, leaving the skin feeling soft and moisturised.
Crafted using the finest natural ingredients, such as tea tree oil, centella asiatica, and royal jelly extract, use regularly to promote a supple, radiant complexion. The formula also works to soothe irritation, making it ideal for those with sensitive skin.
Written and Researched by Audrey Tan
No. 1: CervaVe|Foaming Cleanser for Normal to Oily Skin|236 ml
No. 2: Cetaphil|Oily Skin Face Cleanser|236 ml
No. 3: CeraVe|Hydrating Cream-to-Foam Cleanser |236 ml
No. 4: La Roche-Posay|Toleriane Hydrating Gentle Cleanser|400 ml
No. 5: Tree To Tub|Ultra Hydrating Gentle Face Wash for Dry Skin|120 ml
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