THE ACID MANTLE

HOW IS THE ACID MANTLE FORMED AND WHAT IS DOES IT DO?

The acid mantle is a very fine, slightly acidic film on the surface of human skin acting as a barrier to bacteria, viruses and other potential contaminants that might penetrate the skin. Sebum is secreted by the sebaceous gland and when mixed with sweat becomes the acid mantle.

Along with the microbiome, it’s part of the delicate matrix that creates a healthy skin barrier. The acid mantle’s main job is to keep the good stuff (like moisture) in, and the bad stuff (like bacteria and pollution) out. Think of it as an essential shield—the invisible face mask you didn’t know you were wearing.

PH level of skin is connected to health of our acid mantle.

The acid mantle derives its name from the fact that the skin’s ideal pH is slightly acidic, about 5.5, and anything that can skew it too alkaline can disrupt its ability to function optimally.

How do you know if your acid mantle is damaged?

If you’re experiencing dry, flaky skin, redness, sensitivity, or seeing signs of premature aging, it may be because your skin’s pH is out of whack, and/or because this crucial lipid barrier has been stripped away by abrasive products.

What destroys the acid mantle?

Soaps and foaming cleansers are the biggest culprits. Switch to gentle ph balanced, cream oil-based cleansers enriched with fatty acids, ceramides and other barrier-repairing ingredients that cleanse skin without destroying the acid mantle. Like our best selling Golden Milk Cleanser this cleanser was created with the balance of the acid mantle as the most important function of the formula design.

What can we do to restore the acid mantle?

The good news is that it restores itself as long as we don’t use harsh cleansers and irritating skincare products. Botanical nature based ingredients are the ideal to keep our skin health in optimal shape and receive the benefits of an intact perfectly balanced acid mantle.