Skincare conversations often revolve around pH. You may have noticed that cold-process soap has a higher pH than most commercial cleansers. This is true, and it is one of the features that makes real, handcrafted soap unique. To understand why, it helps to think of something familiar: alkaline water.
Understanding pH and Alkalinity
pH is a scale from 0 to 14 that measures how acidic or alkaline a substance is.
- 0–6 is acidic
- 7 is neutral
- 8–14 is alkaline
Your skin naturally sits around 4.7–5.8. Most commercial liquid cleansers fall close to this range, designed for stability, lather, and immediate comfort. Cold-process soap, in contrast, exists in a more alkaline state, around 9–10. Think of this as similar to alkaline water: its higher pH is simply a property of the substance, not a warning sign. In soap, this alkalinity is the natural result of transforming plant oils into cleansing molecules through saponification.
How Alkalinity Supports the Skin
The more alkaline state of cold-process soap has tangible benefits:
- Natural stability: Alkalinity helps the bar remain fresh and stable without added preservatives.
- Glycerin retention: Saponification naturally produces glycerin, which stays in the bar and draws moisture to the skin.
- Balanced cleansing: The oils in the bar convert into soap molecules that remove impurities effectively while also conditioning the skin.
Together, these features allow cold-process soap to cleanse thoroughly while supporting hydration and softness, leaving the skin comfortable and resilient.
A Different Approach to Cleansing
Cold-process soap follows a philosophy rooted in materials, chemistry, and craft. Rather than relying on synthetic stabilizers or engineered surfactants, it uses the natural properties of oils, water, and lye. This creates a bar that is simple, transparent, and functional, harnessing its chemistry to nourish as it cleanses.
Why Ataraxy Spheres Feel Special
Ataraxy spheres are crafted to honor this chemistry. Their more alkaline state is a natural feature that helps the bar remain stable without preservatives, supports the formation of plant-derived glycerin, and allows the oils to leave the skin soft, hydrated, and resilient. Like the smooth balance of alkaline water, the soap’s chemistry is a subtle, natural feature that transforms the cleansing experience into something nourishing and intentional.
The Takeaway
Ataraxy does not need to speak for others. Its strength comes from intention, materials, and the chemistry of real soap. The naturally more alkaline state supports preservation, retains glycerin, and allows the oils to condition the skin, leaving it soft, balanced, and comfortable. By embracing this chemistry, our bars create a cleansing ritual that is effective, comforting, and naturally enriching for the skin.
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