What pH Level is Your Sunscreen, and Why Should You Care?

Knowledge is power, which is why educating people about sun protection is a big part of the KINeSYS mission. We often hear about product pH levels in the beauty and skincare realm, but it’s often overlooked when it comes to sunscreens. 

What is pH?

For those who paid attention in chemistry class, pH is the symbol for ‘Potential hydrogen’ and it refers to the acid-alkaline ratio of a substance. Anything from the soil in the ground to the food we eat and the water we drink, has a pH level. The pH scale, from 0 to 14 refers to how acidic or alkaline a substance is, where 0 is the most acidic, 14 is the most alkaline with 7 being neutral.

KINeSYS SPF50 named Top Allergy-Friendly Sunscreen by Allergic-Living Magazine.

What pH levels are safe for your skin?

When it comes to the pH level of our skin, this generally sits anywhere between 4.5 and 5.5. If you want to avoid irritation or long-term damage to your skin, you will want to use skin care and sunscreen products which sit within this range.

The skin’s natural protective membrane is acidic, as this is better for fighting off infections, pollutants, and other damaging factors. When skin is exposed to alkaline products, or its pH is affected by environmental factors such as the sun, water, or pollution, it tends to become dry, irritated or flaky.

A beauty product – whether it’s makeup, skincare, or sunscreen – with an alkaline pH level will not only be uncomfortable to wear, it will potentially cause irritation or long-term damage to your skin.

Using products which are too alkaline can also affect the enzymes in your skin. The enzymes responsible for breaking down collagen, for example, are activated by alkaline products. This breakdown of collagen can cause premature ageing, wrinkles, loss of plumpness, and can even go on to cause eczema.

Using products with suitable pH levels is therefore a powerful tool in preventing premature ageing, and in taking care of your skin’s health and natural defences.

What are the pH levels of your sunscreen?

pH levels are not often discussed when it comes to sunscreens, so knowing their levels can be challenging. Many brands aren’t transparent about their products’ pH levels, so be sure to choose a brand whose pH information is available.

KINeSYS PRODUCTS AND THEIR PH LEVELS

SPF 30 Fragrance Free     pH 4.96

SPF 50 Fragrance Free       pH 5.02

SPF 30 Clear Zinc              pH 4.96

We’ve dedicated years to developing sunscreens that offer the best protection, because the people in our community are at the heart of what we do.

All KINeSYS sunscreens have pH levels of between 4.9 and 5.10, meaning they won’t affect the natural pH levels of your skin. 

Our Spray Sunscreen range is enriched with vitamin E, to nourish and help maintain your skin’s hydration, while protecting you against the elements. Our Natural Clear Zinc contains coconut oil to nourish and protect.

As a small, family-owned brand we are proud to provide our community with sun protection they love, that’s good for their skin, and empowers them to live an active outdoor lifestyle.