The pH of cleansing product is often discussed in skincare science and product formulation.

You often hear that “weakly acidic pH is best for the skin.”

But does that mean weakly alkaline cleansers should be avoided altogether?

In a previous article, it was explained why the pH of the healthy skin surface (often referred to as “skin pH”) is maintained at a weakly acidic level, and how— from a formulation perspective — many weakly acidic cleansers are designed to minimize changes in skin pH during and after washing.

For clarity, the term “skin pH” in this article refers to the pH of the skin surface.

At the same time, many cleansers — including traditional soaps — are weakly alkaline.

So is being weakly alkaline, in itself, a problem?