About Your Skin

The pH of your skin falls between 4.0 and 6.0 with normal skin pH at around 5.5, which is acidic. This thin acidic barrier is known as the acid mantle and it works to preserve the skin's natural oils for moisture maintenance and prevent harmful pathogens and adverse environmental agents from entering the body. However, most soaps have a pH between 9.0 and 11.0, which is higher (more alkaline) than your skins' natural acidity. Research has indicated that after cleansing, the skin begins to replace this important acid barrier immediately with 1/3rd being replaced after 15 minutes and full restoration achieved between 1-2 hours after washing. Several manufacturers of cleansing bars purporting to "mimic" the skin's pH claim that soap's higher pH is harsher on your skin because it removes your natural oil and disrupts your skin's pH balance.

Many of these companies add synthetic surfactants to their cleansers to actually lower the pH balance of a regular bar of soap. The makers of commercial soaps use synthetic surfactants and allow excess alkali material to remain in their bars to harden them faster, extend their shelf life and increase lather. It has been proven that the mix of excess alkali material and detergents will dry, damage and irritate sensitive skin. They can damage the “stratum corneum,” the functioning barrier of protection in the skin's epidermis. When this layer dries out, Natural Acne Treatment & Natural Treatment for Eczema, Psoriasis.

A product’s pH is not the real danger to your skin; the synthetic detergents and other chemicals used in soaps to make them” pH balanced” and extend their shelf life can be quite damaging. Commercial soaps on mainstream supermarket shelves use harsh chemical aides to break down skin cells to remove dirt and impurities from the skin. When we consider research that demonstrates the rapid restoration of the skin's acid barrier we can quickly see the benefit of a light alkaline cleanser made with natural moisturizing ingredients to periodically cleanse the skin's Acid Mantle of oils, dirt, and germs. Properly made soaps, without synthetic surfactants, infused with natural oils and soothing ingredients can actually be ideal for healthy skin.

Fortunately for you, Neolaía^_®  is committed to using natural and beneficial ingredients to help you improve the condition of the skin and maintain healthy and beautiful skin over time. Neolaía^_®'s soaps are comprised of botanicals, vitamins, antioxidants, essential and moisturizing oils, and nutrients to nourish your skin and help you in your quest to achieve "Healthy & Beautiful Skin." For us, the quest for healthy and beautiful skin is a very personal endeavor that emerged from Neolaía^_®'s founder and her family's struggle to combat various skin ailments. Click here to learn more about Neolaía^_®'s genesis...