pH, Teenage skin and why balance matters

Let's talk teenage skin and pH. Ever found a face wash that worked wonders at first, but after a while your skin started feeling dry and tight? Or tried out a new mask and ended up breaking out? One hidden culprit could be the pH of your skin. When your skin pH is balanced, your skin stays hydrated and keeps acne-causing bacteria (like Cutibacterium acnes) in check (Ali and Yosipovitch, 2013; Fitz-Gibbon et al., 2013). That is why pH balance is vital for anyone dealing with breakouts.

What's your skin's pH, anyway?

Your skin isn't neutral like pure water (pH 7). It is naturally a little acidic; most people's skin sits around pH 4.5 to 5.0. This acidity forms part of the “acid mantle,” which acts as a shield, locking in moisture and nurturing the friendly bacteria, or microbiome, that help keep skin healthy (Ali and Yosipovitch, 2013; Lambers et al., 2006).

What happens when teenage skin and pH goes rogue?

If your skin's pH creeps above 5.5, that barrier starts to break down. You lose moisture faster, inflammation can occur, and breakouts can happen more frequently (Schmid-Wendtner and Korting, 2006). Your microbiome becomes stressed, and Cutibacterium acnes, the bacteria behind teen acne, thrives at higher pH levels (Fitz-Gibbon et al., 2013).

How Upenya helps teenage skin stay balanced

pH-balanced formulas

Upenya's products are pH balanced to optimise the efficacy of the ingredients, supporting a stronger barrier and a balanced skin microbiome (Surber et al., 2018).

Gentle AHA exfoliation

Upenya's Exfoliating Cleanser uses lactic and malic acids to gently remove dead skin, without stripping away the natural barrier (Brooks et al., 2024).

Botanical boosters

Ingredients like inulin, hydrolysed jojoba esters, aloe ferox, and marula oil hydrate and feed your skin's beneficial bacteria, all at a skin-friendly pH.

Targeted blemish support

Upenya's Blemish Care keeps your skin slightly acidic, supporting your skin's natural defences without disrupting them.

Everyday tips for healthy, balanced skin

• Stick with pH-balanced cleansers. Avoid bar soaps and harsh detergents, which often have a higher pH of 8 or more.

• Do not over-cleanse. Twice a day is enough. Too much cleansing can raise skin pH.

• Layer smart. Apply active ingredients while your skin is still slightly damp, then finish with Upenya Moisturising Gel.

• If you have been in the pool or washed with regular tap water, use Upenya Moisturising Gel or Upenya Hydrating 2-phase toner to hydrate your skin.

Want to go deeper? Our Skin Talk video series breaks down skin science in plain language at https://www.upenya.co.za/videos

References

Ali, S.M. and Yosipovitch, G. (2013) ‘Skin pH: from basic science to basic skin care’, Acta Dermato-Venereologica, 93(3), pp. 261-267. Available at: https://doi.org/10.2340/00015555-1531 (Accessed: 11 June 2026).

Brooks, S.G., Mahmoud, R.H., Lin, R.R., Fluhr, J.W. and Yosipovitch, G. (2024) ‘The skin acid mantle: an update on skin pH’, Journal of Investigative Dermatology, 145(3), pp. 509-521. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jid.2024.07.009 (Accessed: 11 June 2026).

Fitz-Gibbon, S., Tomida, S., Chiu, B.H., Nguyen, L., Du, C., Liu, M., Elashoff, D., Erfe, M.C., Loncaric, A., Kim, J., Modlin, R.L., Miller, J.F., Sodergren, E., Craft, N., Weinstock, G.M. and Li, H. (2013) ‘Propionibacterium acnes strain populations in the human skin microbiome associated with acne’, Journal of Investigative Dermatology, 133(9), pp. 2152-2160. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1038/jid.2013.21 (Accessed: 11 June 2026).

Lambers, H., Piessens, S., Bloem, A., Pronk, H. and Finkel, P. (2006) ‘Natural skin surface pH is on average below 5, which is beneficial for its resident flora’, International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 28(5), pp. 359-370. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1467-2494.2006.00344.x (Accessed: 11 June 2026).

Schmid-Wendtner, M.-H. and Korting, H.C. (2006) ‘The pH of the skin surface and its impact on the barrier function’, Skin Pharmacology and Physiology, 19(6), pp. 296-302. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1159/000094670 (Accessed: 11 June 2026).

Surber, C., Humbert, P., Abels, C. and Maibach, H. (2018) ‘The acid mantle: a myth or an essential part of skin health?’, Current Problems in Dermatology, 54, pp. 1-10. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1159/000489512 (Accessed: 11 June 2026).