Ready To Restore Your Acid Mantle?

What’s an Acid Mantle?

The acid mantle is a thin, slightly acidic film covering the skin's surface, composed of sweat, sebum, amino acids, and fatty acids. It serves as a protective barrier against pathogens and pollutants, and maintains skin hydration. The normal pH range is 4.5 to 6.5 which is crucial for optimal skin function and defense against harmful microbes.

Signs of a Damaged Acid Mantle:

Need help determining the state of your acid mantle? The signs and symptoms range from dry, flaky skin to acne and breakouts, so let's go over some to be on the lookout for. 

• Dry, rough, or flaky skin patches
• Redness and inflammation
• Increased sensitivity and stinging sensation 
• Dull appearance
• Clogged pores and blackheads
• Acne breakouts

• Premature signs of aging

One classic sign of a disturbed mantle is patches of dry, rough and even flaky skin. Redness and inflammation are introduced when the protective layer is depleted and moisture can easily escape, leaving your skin vulnerable to sensitivity, dullness, and stinging. Of course without the layer of hydration acting as protection from pollutants and pathogens, your skin is more likely to break out in acne, black heads, or clogged pores. The acid mantle acts as a shield for your skin that defends against environmental stressors and pollutants, without it your skin may also become dull and experience early signs of aging like fine lines, wrinkles, hyperpigmentation and dark spots.  

Common Causes of Acid Mantle Disruption

There are steps you can take to keep your skin's mantle intact and healthy. Before you start,  figure out what is triggering your skin. Once you figure out the cause, you can start to resolve the root of the issue. 

Harsh skincare products, especially alkaline soaps and cleansers

Check out your ingredients, especially if you have sensitive skin. Many soaps and cleansers can contain harsh ingredients that don’t get along well with your skin and strip the natural oils, leaving the skin dry and vulnerable. Try cutting out harsh ingredients and look for products with soothing ingredients that heal like plant based oils that nourish and ceramides to strengthen your skin.

Over-exfoliation and excessive cleansing

One factor in maintaining a stable pH level moderation in your skincare routine, because you can in fact over cleanse. Over exfoliation is often abrasive to the skin, and excessive cleansing can strip the skin of its natural oils, leaving it dry and exposed. Less is more, sometimes you just have to put the peel pads down.

Environmental factors like pollution and extreme weather

Extreme weather events like droughts and wildfires leave little to no humidity and pollution lingering in the atmosphere, while wind and rain can take a similar toll on skin health. Winter is known to be especially drying and harsh on the skin so look for a good moisturizer with antioxidants to aid in protection.

Unprotected sun exposure

The sun emits skin searing rays year round, yet sun protection often goes overlooked in the colder winter months. Why is that? Many assume that with the sun hidden behind the clouds and a low UV index means they can ditch the sunscreen, but that could not be further from the truth. Harmful UV, or ultraviolet rays penetrate the skin’s surface leaving it susceptible to cell damage and further skin health complications down the road. UVA/UVB rays can penetrate through the clouds and even windows so making it a part of your everyday skincare routine in the morning can go a long way in preserving the longevity of your skin.

Nourishing Ingredients for Repair

There are steps you can take to prevent and heal a disturbed acid mantle:

Incorporate ceramides into your routine to strengthen your skin barrier with a night cream like Sonage Refixion Sans Retinol Cream. 

Fight dryness and hydrate with our A Plus Longevity Complex  moisturizer with hyaluronic acid.

Nourish your skin with Vitality Nourishing Oil infused with plant oils like argan and marula.

Opt for an antioxidant rich cream to combat environmental damage with our Lumenez Vitamin Rich Cream. 

Focus on letting your skin repair itself by not bombarding it with harsh products or ingredients and keeping your routine minimal and streamline. Be patient, it may take a bit of time but stick with it you should start to notice progress within a few weeks.