pH in Skincare

pH is a scale from 0 to 14 that measures how acidic or alkaline something is. The skin's natural pH sits between 4.5 and 5.5 — slightly acidic. This is important because many of skincare's most effective actives, including AHAs, BHAs, and Vitamin C, are only effective at a low (acidic) pH. At a higher pH, they become inactive. This is why the pH of a product matters as much as its concentration. A glycolic acid product at 10% but formulated at the wrong pH may be far less effective than a well-formulated version at the same percentage. Meaga Glow's Glycolic Peel Pads are formulated at pH 3.5 — intentionally low to ensure the acid remains active and effective. For layering, pH also matters between products. Applying a high-pH product (like a baking soda wash or alkaline toner) before a low-pH active can temporarily raise the skin's surface pH, which can reduce the effectiveness of your acid serum or Vitamin C. This is one reason the Meaga Glow routine uses pH-balanced toners and essences at the Prep step before actives.