Best ZIT remedy

[Jodie259]

Liz... what's the pH of your soaps????

I sell completely natural soaps that are designed to be used on the face. They are pH balance - and they are made from all natural Dead Sea ingredients (Dead Sea Mud & Dead Sea Salt).

But it doesn't matter how "natural" they are - if they are not pH balanced - they can throw your skin out of whack.

Some people's skin can handle it (like your' husband Liz)... but I never recommend that people use soap on their skin unless they can guarantee that it is pH balanced so that it doesn't throw the pH of your skin out. You can buy pH tape at chemists to test soaps - to see if they are pH balanced or not. My soaps are made at the Dead Sea Laboratories... and have the pH on the packaging.

Tea tree is completely natural - but it's not pH balanced. If you were to use a Tea Tree soap on your skin - it would dry it out completely. And your skin would then crave moisture, and work 'overtime' trying to create more oil as the soap would have stripped it of it's natural surface oils. This is an example that "natural soaps" are not always good for peoples skin.

[Smoke Jaguar]

I remember using the Body Shop Tea Tree range as a kid and it dried my skin out, so I had baggage about the smell for ages...till I realised that I'm a combination skin type! So, I use it on spots, that's all, though, cos my drier areas can't deal with it.
I LOVE using Dead Sea salts - I used to work for Origins and remember my sea salt range and it was wonderful (great with staff discount!). I recommend it for everything except fresh wounds that haven't healed over yet (had many stories of people who went into the Dead Sea with fresh cuts and what not, only to have the salt kind of 'set' the wound and it scarred). Ahhhh, aromatherapy and Dead Sea Salts...bliss!

[Liz]

I think ours came out at about 9? Not sure - we cure ours for a long time which brings it down too, and not sure at which stage DH tested it, and it was some time ago! He used the litmus paper.

Don't want to argue about it.. but will just post a few things we've come across and kept on file in our research about pH. It's quite interesting.

Soap is naturally an alkaline substance. In other words, it is normal for soap to have pH between 8.5 and 10.5. Industrially made soap has an average pH of 10.5, while the pH or quality natural soap can be as low as 8.5. Any "soap" products with a pH lower than 8 are in fact synthetic detergents, and only soaps with a pH of 10 or higher are alkaline enough to be drying to the skin.

There are many questions, claims, controversies and conflicting information about pH and skin. One company claims their product is "pH balanced for skin". Another company claims their products are made without the questionable chemicals in the "pH balanced" product. Basically each camp has a stake in the answer. What is up with this? Here is the real skinny on pH, soap and skin based on real science. Remember 99.72% of cosmetic claims are complete fabrications.

Your skin makes a lightly acidic secretion to help protect itself. This is called the Acid Mantle. Because it is acidic, the most effective way to clean it off, along with excess oils, dirt and germs, is using an alkaline foaming system (soap!). Your skin begins resecreting the mantle immediately. Within 20 minutes it is about 1/3 strength and with 2-3 hours it is back up at full strength. This varies slightly person to person, and there are rare cases of this mechanism failing in very sick individuals. In other words - this is an absolute non-issue. There is no health reason to choose one product over another based on pH, assuming pH levels are within say 3.30 or so (like an orange) and 10 (such as a bar soap). It is interesting to note that the mildest cleanser you can use - properly made handmade style bar soaps - also have the highest pH at 10.01. We have testimonials of eczema and dermatitis disappearing after just a few days of handmade soap use, so don't let anybody tell that mildness equals low pH - it just ain't so!

Poorly quality and mass market bar soaps usually have Free Alkali in them, this is what makes them harsh and drying. Basically, the manufacturers are allowing there to be some left over alkali in the soap. This is good for shelf life, but bad for dry skin. It will find every last bit of natural oils in your skin and saponify them (turn them into soap), leaving you dry and "squeaky clean". Too high a coconut oil percentage in the formula, along with the usual marketing enhancements also make mass market soaps harsh.

The reason this non issue became a marketing war, is that detergent products (see the sulfate controversy: Sodium Lauryl Sulfate ), have a pH that is more acidic than soap products. Marketers use this to promote their wares over the next guys. Thing is, about 12% of us are sensitive to detergents. Others are sensitive to the preservatives, colors and fragrances used by mass marketers in both soap and detergent systems. How do YOU, the concerned consumer, who cares enough to read this missive, make intelligent buying decisions?

Humans came from the Earth. We are made of the stuff of the Earth; it's chemical groups and materials. Our bodies can handle, or not handle, the natural chemical groups we encounter in plants, animals and minerals found in our environment. Over the past 100 years or so, humans have flooded the land, sea, air, food supply, and personal care products with chemicals never or rarely seen before on this planet. What ARE we thinking? This is clearly a mistake. Cancer and auto-immune disorders are off the charts, and no end in sight. Climate is changing, sea levels rising. HELLO!

It is a tiny, tiny thing to choose to use Organic natural soap as opposed to a "pH balanced" engineered petrochemical foaming agent. The future of Western Civilization will not rise or fall based on this. Or will it? If all of us, now, make tiny decisions, like this one, every day; even monolithic corporatism will be forced to respond.

For those who haven't taken chemistry, acids and bases are chemical opposites--mix them together and you get a substance that's neutral, neither acid nor basic. You need an alkali (a base) to make soap, but the soap doesn't work because it's basic; on the contrary, the finished product is more or less neutral (although see below).

Soap molecules work because they've got a water-loving end and a water-phobic end. The water-phobic end attaches itself to oily dirt, while the water-loving end attaches itself to the water. By and by the soap manages to wedge itself in between the dirt and whatever it is you were trying to clean, whereupon the dirt floats free and you can flush it down the drain.

The Procter & Gamble folks tell me some alkalinity is useful in soap to remove acidic soils, which casts some doubt on whether "balanced pH" is a desirable thing. Some chemists are skeptical of claims that balanced-pH soaps are somehow better. But nobody is saying that balanced (neutral) pH soap wouldn't work at all.

[Smoke Jaguar]

Thanks Liz!! I have to say that last night I noticed DP's skin felt really nice. It never used to. This man used to insist on soap from the supermarket and hates shower gels. Recently I bit the bullet and started buying handmade soaps for us (I've since given up on gels, even though I could now do one up from a base with essential oils, I've gotten used to the bars now!) and low and behold...he's noticed the difference. One day we ran out of handmade soap, he swapped for a commercial one...and complained! So, handmade soap all the way. Sorry, Liz, it's not yours, but it DOES support a local soapmaker up here in the hills I don't use it on my face, though. I made up an essential oil cleanser that we both use now.

[Liz]

LOL - no worries! It's funny, as I was reading your post, I was thinking you'd be one to buy locally I should be good and try to get to local markets and things rather than trying to sell online and increasing our carbon footprint with shipping! (even considering looking up local suppliers for ingredients.. but still tossing this up, coz we were going to start getting in certified organic ingredients.. decisions decisions!)

[Smoke Jaguar]

I'm so predictable

[Jodie259]

I love home-made soaps - and I use them myself... on my body. I'm not bagging homemade soaps at all. But I've owned my salon for 14+ years - and I've got a diploma in Health Science - and I've seen the damage to people's skin that have used inappropriate soap on their face. I'm just trying to offer some professional advice - and if people want to try soap on their face - then it's the risk they take.

Here is some information from eZine articles:
Importance of Your Skin's pH
By Danny Siegenthaler

The role of pH in Acne

As outlined above, the skin’s pH is important and maintaining a slightly acidic pH of around 5.5 is critical.

The skin’s pH value is one of the major contributors to acne and other skin problems. Propionibacterium acnes is a bacteria that normally lives on the skin and is a normal bacteria found in all persons regardless of the presence or absence of acne.

However, in individuals prone to acne, the number of P. acnes is greatly increased. It has been found that the growth of this bacteria is very much dependent on the pH value of the skin and its growth is at its minimum at the normal skin pH of 5.5. A slight shift towards the alkaline pH would provide a better environment in which it can thrive.

Importance of the skin's pH: Do's & Don'ts

One of the major culprits that radically alter the pH of the skin, is soap. Ordinary, commercially available soaps are highly alkaline (pH range 9-11) and raise the skin’s pH to be much more alkaline. This can be adjusted by using products such as Wildcrafted Herbal Products' Wild Herb Toner or Milk of Roses Toner, depending on your skin type. These toners restore normal pH of the skin and thus provide an environment not conducive to the growth of bacteria. In addition, soap dries out the skin, because of its high alkalinity.

Thus if you choose to use a commercially available soap, you must restore the pH of your skin to prevent loss of moisture and the excessive growth of bacteria. It is important to remember that this applies to the entire surface of your skin, not just the face.

Instead of using ordinary soap, you need to use products such as the Skin Renewal Gel from Wildcrafted Herbal Products, which cleanses your skin, removing dead skin cells and leaving your skin’s pH as it is meant to be. Following this with the use of a Toner will close the open pores, preventing blackheads and loss of moisture from the skin.

The skin on the face is more delicate then the skin on your body. And the skin around your eyes is the most delicate of all. And I'm sure most women have been told by doctors not to use soap on their vagina - as this too throws out the pH of the delicate skin down their and becomes a haven for bacteria - ie: thrush.

All I'm going to say is that people should be very careful what they put on their face. The pH of normal, healthy human skin is somewhere between 4.5 and 6 (optimum is 5.5)... and a person should aim to bring their skin as close to that as possible.

AHA's & BHA's are natural - but at the end of the day - they are acid - and they can burn layers off the skin. There are some uses for fruit/lactic acids - but as a skin specialist - I'm not keen on using them unless under strict supervision by a dermatologist.
Tea tree is natural - but this should be used very sparingly - and not on sensitive skin as it too can burn.

I've seen many peoples skin problems (particularly acne/pimples) become worse by using the wrong products. It breaks my heart as I know how bad facial skin can affect a person - and to see it get worse with use of inappropriate products is heartbreaking. Like poor teenagers who have pimples so they think their skin is oily - and use benzol peroxide products (clearasil etc) - only to dry their skin more - and make the congestion/pimples worse. When in fact, their skin is dying for some moisture to allow the natural sebum to escape.

[Liz]

It usually depends on the oils used in the soap. There are some very gentle oils that would be far better than using chemicals.. anywhere on the body.

I think the frightening thing with most skin products is that going by the labelling laws required for skin products.. (ingredients must be listed in order of the quantity that they are present in the product).. that the good, natural ingredients are listed right at the end! So the majority of the product is made up of synthetic ingredients such as sodium laureth sulphate, and all sorts of sulphates and mineral oils! blerk!


Give me natural stuff any day. I also find it interesting that the pH can't be brought down without using synthetic ingredients... are your natural soaps all natural? (can't find ingredients on your site).

"become worse by using the wrong products" - yep - we've seen and experienced it. Those wrong products are usually off supermarket shelves from mass produced chemical laden cleansers. hehe. We've had people with scarring acne tell us how quickly a natural product has cleared their skin (DH being only one of them ) We've had no complaints so far when people have used 'real' soap.

At the end of the day people use what works. People can be put off truly natural products coz they do cost more. Big commercial companies keep their costs down by not using majority good ingredients. It's a shame that commercial "soaps" have given real soap a bad name.

My rule of thumb these days is don't use anything with ingredients you can't pronounce LOL, and we're all the better for it. DH found a toothpaste without SLS in it.. and now he doesn't get mouth ulcers! We're in a very chemical laden "scientific" world these days. It's a shame.

[Jodie259]

I just did a google "Ahava ingredient list" (as we can't post links on BB)... and this is some info for you Liz...

AHAVA Cosmetics
The AHAVA cosmetics are made out of minerals that are extracted from the Dead Sea and its surroundings.

Natural AHAVA cosmetics:

• No animal ingredients. Not tested on animals
• Adheres to strict commitment to the ecology
• Active cosmetics
• Protects skin from harmful environmental effects
• Produced in the healthiest production environment on earth

Why AHAVA cosmetics?
The main ingredients of AHAVA cosmetics are harvested as pure crystallized minerals and as Dead Sea mineral mud. These ingredients are joined by plant extracts, a variety of which grow in the desert. This combination of natural, safe ingredients has gained the AHAVA cosmetic line approval as hypo-allergenic, suitable for all skin types, including sensitive skin.

AHAVA cosmetics are produced in what is probably one of the healthiest environments on earth-the Judean Desert, which has the richest oxygen concentration on earth. All AHAVA cosmetic manufacturing processes are non-polluting, meeting the strictest standards of environmental health. The entire AHAVA cosmetic line is packaged in recyclable tubes, jars and bottles.

The entire ingredient list is on every Ahava product - but I admit that there are some words I can't pronounce on there!

All Ahava products have a pH of 5.5 (except the eye cream which is more delicate). All products have been dermatologically tested and proven as Hypoallergenic. Most products have been approved for sensitive skin. Many products have been approved by the Diabetes Association. Any scent/frangrance is natural plant extracts (not synthetic perfumes). No product contains alcohol. Ahava is awarded with the ISO 9002 accreditation.

This is from the site for the soap ingredients:

Ingredients:
Corn (Zea Mays) Starch, Potassium Lauryl Sulfate, Sodium Lauryl Sulfate, Cetearyl Alc. Water (Aqua), Stearic Acid, Disodium Lauryl Sulfosuccinate, Dead Sea Mud (Silt), Dead Sea Salt (Maris Sal), Fragrance (Parfum), Titanium Dioxide, Phosphoric Acid.

I went to an Ahava seminar last week - and they mentioned that they are going to be removing the SLS from their products... but then need to ensure that the products remain stable, and produce the cleansing effects. As well as keeping the pH at 5.5 to ensure that the product does not throw out the natural skin balance. But SLS is the ingredient that creates the 'lather/foam' and some people feel the need for lathering cleansers/soaps.

Obviously I don't make the soaps... They are made in Israel, by the shores of the Dead Sea.

I'm all for people who make products in their kitchen. But regardless of whether it's made in a persons home, or a laboratory... everyone should be careful about what they put on their skin. People will react to natural products as much as synthetic products. The most common allergies are natural products: pollen, tomatoes, milk, eggs etc. So everyone should just take care.

[Smoke Jaguar]

I know that there are natural products, including particular essential oils, that people are allergic to. And I know that there are people who are indoctrinated into the idea that to be clean, one must lather...DP is one of those people, but he's getting over it slowly (our cleanser is a cleansing milk...took him a while, but the essential oils I add DO clean his skin and he is now converted!).
Anyway, back to the OP - I use tea tree oil and sudocrem after having a good pick...because they are antiseptic and can sort of counter the damage I've done!

[Liz]

Wowee - yeah - a lot of unpronouncables! LOL.

But I personally would still choose natural over synthetic any day No matter the awards or proven claims. It's a bit like Nestle trying to convince me that their concoctions are as good as nature's real foods. Aint gonna happen. hehe.

Sadly our cottage industries will never have the money to have the marketing advantage of being clinically proven or dermatologically tested as I know this costs a lot All we can do is rely on customer testomonials. Fortunately there's plenty out there

But a lot of care and research goes into the properties of plant oils and their appropriate uses, hence why there are so many different recipes and combinations of oils for different purposes. And as for essential oils... gosh that's a whole other ball park. There is lots and lots to learn. It's not just people slapping a few oils together in their kitchen hehe.

As for the OP - I'm a picker But mine disappear quite quickly after a pick - perhaps I'm not prone to infection or anything?? Love a good squeeze tho. I've had a few preggo pimples lately, but I don't usually get many at all.

[Smoke Jaguar]

I made some soap yesterday! I've had my bag of pure ground soap for a while and decided to have a play I don't know what other methods there are, but I'm sure mine is the easy way out

[homberger]

Hi there,
I have just found a solution to those awful pimples. I am a nurse by trade and discovered whilst in America the most amazing skin care. It has no mineral oil in it, so it penetrates deep into the skin and draws all of the impurities to the surface. I have had no horrible sore pimples around my chin and jaw area since I started using it. I loved it so much that I am now introducing it to all my friends and they are really excited. If you use toothpaste you are merely drying out what has already errupted. You need to prevent them at the source.
Jane xx