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Importance of p.H.
Happy Sunday Fun Day everyone!
I hope you are all doing so very today.
I understand that having an acidic p.H. of 4-5.5 is important for skin and hair products. But what about the products on the market or sample formulations that have a p.H. above 5.5 (p.H.of 6-7)? Are they still good formulations or should we try to maintain a p.
H. of 4-5.5 at all times?Especially when we formulate with raw materials like niacinamide or polymers that like a p.H. of 6 or higher. Would a p.H. of 6 really be that detrimental?
Regards,
CosChemFan -
3 Replies
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If we aren’t talking about extreme “pH’s”, I doubt it will be a problem.
I’d like to find a study like this: a human test involving the use of a cleanser with pH about 5.5 and another with a pH about 8.5 (both with the same surfactants) for some weeks. -
Well, the optimal pH is between 4.0 and 5.5, but in some cases the stability of a key ingredient may be in the pH range of 6.0 to 7.0. As you mentioned, Niacinamide has optimal stability at pH 6.0, Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate is most stable at pH 7.0. If these are the key functional ingredient in your formulation, then you’ll want to shoot for the best pH range for that key ingredient or come as close to it as possible to keep your formulation in balance.
A product with a pH of 6.0 would not be “detrimental”.As @pma noted, you really have to get to the extremes of pH to be concerned.@pma: I recall seeing a study investigating the use of high pH products and recall that higher pH products have a negative impact on the acid mantle barrier that can take some time for the skin to rebalance. A disrupted acid mantle barrier can result in a host of complications including infections. -
Thank you for responding and correcting @pma.
Thank you for responding @markbroussard.Your answers have been very helpful. I really wanted to be clear on that. I’ve often read and heard that a pH of 6-7 for hair products could result in the fiber feeling dry and straw-like. But I have made styling aides in that range and the hair felt fine. Albeit, a tad dry from the pvp
. Thank you again for you responses.
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