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Stocksy
Where once there was only a bar of soap to treat a variety of concerns, now there are dozens (nay, hundreds!) of cleansers formulated to treat even the most specific of skincare types and needs. While most of us may not have a degree in cosmetic chemistry, we consider ourselves skincare literate enough to know our way around the basics of an active ingredient list. But while we can navigate our way around acne-fighting benzoyl peroxide or hydrating hyaluronic acid, most of us stop there when it comes to finding the right skincare products. However, there's another notable detail that we ought to consider when shopping for a cleanser: pH.
"The pH is a scientific indication of how acidic or basic something is,” says Dr. Sapna Palep, adding, “The skin's pH runs from four to six." This means that the skin is slightly acidic and naturally aims to stay that way in order to function at its best. To learn more about how our skin’s pH (and the pH of the products we put on that skin) can make a huge difference in the way it looks, feels, and functions, we turned to Palep and dermatologist Dr. Rita Linkner.
Meet the Expert
- Sapna Palep, MD, is a board-certified dermatologist and the founder of Spring Street Dermatology in New York City.
- Rita Linkner, MD, is a board-certified dermatologist based in New York City. She is also the clinical instructor for the department of dermatology at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai.
Check out the best derm-approved cleansers with low pH, ahead.
Cetaphil Gentle Skin Cleanser
Linkner lists Cetaphil Gentle Cleanser among her favorite low-pH cleansers. Non-irritating and soap-free, this cleanser won’t strip your skin of the oil it needs to function healthily. Bonus: It’s available at most drug stores.
Alastin Gentle Cleanser
Another favorite of Linkner’s is the Alastin Gentle Cleanser. This cleanser is free of sulfates so it won’t irritate the skin, and is designed to not disrupt the moisture levels all skin needs to stay looking, feeling, and working great.
Neutrogena Ultra Gentle Hydrating Cleanser
Simple yet effective, Neutrogena's Ultra Gentle Hydrating Cleanser is a crowd-pleaser. Its creamy polyglycerin formula is super hydrating, making it ideal for dry and sensitive skin types. Although it doesn't come with any buzzy skincare ingredients, it gets our vote for leaving skin soft and refreshed—and at an affordable price, no less.
Drunk Elephant Beste No.9 Jelly Cleanser
We think you're ready for this jelly: Drunk Elephant Beste No.9 Jelly Cleanser, that is. It's a lightweight gel that counts soothing and hydrating cantaloupe extract and glycerin among its ingredients and has a pH of 5.5. “At the lower pH, the lipids within the skin are preserved, which is better for those who are prone to eczema or dryness,” explains Palep.
Farmacy Clean Bee Ultra-Gentle Facial Cleanser
Our obsession with Farmacy's nature-loving skincare products is real. For instance, take its Clean Bee Ultra-Gentle Facial Cleanser. It washes and nourishes skin using ingredients like hyaluronic acid and honey. FYI: If you like this product, we encourage you to check out the brand's Sweet Apple Clean Makeup Meltaway Cleansing Balm—you won't be disappointed.
E.l.f. Bounce Back Jelly Cleanser
Looking for a super low-cost and low-pH option? The E.l.f. Bounce Back Jelly Cleanser uses a no-foam formula, a tell-tale sign of a low-pH product. Low-pH cleansers may positively affect skin conditions and improve concerns like acne, eczema, and aging. At less than $9, this product is good to keep on hand when your skin needs a gentle touch.
The Inkey List Oat Cleansing Balm
One of our editors, who is prone to breakouts (not to be confused with skin purging), tried out this cleansing balm and praised it for its gentle, yet powerful, makeup-removing abilities. Boasting anti-inflammatory properties thanks to star ingredient colloidal oatmeal, the lightweight cleanser can also help to reduce redness. We'll go so far as to say that this balm is the bomb.
Kate Somerville Delikate™ Soothing Cleanser
Although it's a bit pricey, this cream cleanser is enticing. It's packed with skincare superhero ingredients—amino acids, ceramides, ginger root extract, and cucumber seed oil, to name a few—that support a healthy skin barrier. Your dry, sensitive and/or irritated skin will be relieved.
La Roche-Posay Toleriane Hydrating Gentle Cleanser
Derms love La Roche-Posay—and so do we. This daily face wash cleanses skin while keeping its moisture and pH level in check. Formulated with niacinamide, glycerin—and let's not forget the brand's "magical" prebiotic thermal spring water—it can help to hydrate skin and combat discoloration. Consider it the "Fountain of Youth" for your body's largest organ.
Atopalm Moisturizing Facial Cleansing Foam
Although foaming cleansers tend to carry a high pH, that's not the case with Atopalm's Moisturizing Facial Cleansing Foam. With a pH of 5.5, it cleanses skin without stripping it of moisture. Meanwhile, good-for-your-skin ingredients—bisabolol, lactic acid, hyaluronic acid, and bitter orange extract—soothe, gently exfoliate, hydrate, and brighten skin, respectively.
Glossier Milky Jelly Cleanser
Glossier Milky Jelly Cleanser is pH balanced and safe for use every day thanks to its gentle formula (extra points for being cruelty-free and vegan). This one is also safe on the eyes and won’t irritate as it’s made with the same cleansing agents that are found in contact solution.
JLo Beauty That Hit Single Gel-Cream Cleanser
Are you after the JLo glow? Us too. Hailing from her eponymous skincare line, this luxurious gel-cream is a face wash that promises a radiant complexion. And in case you were wondering: "Non-foaming creamy washes leave the skin at its natural pH," claims Palep. That Hit Single also unclogs pores (that would be the glycolipids at work) and nourishes and protects skin given the squalene and host of antioxidants in its formula. Needless to say, it hits all the right notes.
COSRX Low pH Good Morning Gel Cleanse
You may recognize this Korean skincare brand for its viral snail mucin products or cult-favorite pimple patches, but the COSRX gentle cleanser deserves a spot amongst their ranks. The silky gel-like formula boasts a pH balance of 5.31 and leans on a combination of tea tree oil and BHA to brighten dull, dry skin and buff away texture while strengthening the skin barrier. If that's not enough to sway you, the brand sells two of the award-winning product every 60 seconds.
Honest Beauty Gentle Gel Cleanser
Honest Beauty's Gentle Gel Cleanser is a major hit here, topping the list of our favorite natural cleansers on the market. With a skin-loving pH of 5.5, the formula removes dirt and impurities while offering a soothing combination of chamomille and calendula extracts to leave skin calm and refreshed. As with all Honest Beauty products, this cleanser is free of parabens, phthalates, SLS, dyes, SLES, PEGs, synthetic fragrances and made from 100% post-consumer recycled plastic.
