pH is one useful way to describe a formula. The comparison below explains what those descriptions mean and why the full ingredient blend still matters when choosing a wash or moisturizer.
The three formulas compared
| Happy Cappy formula | pH |
|---|---|
| Medicated Shampoo & Body Wash | Neutral |
| Daily Shampoo & Body Wash | Acidic |
| Moisturizing Cream | Acidic |
The Moisturizing Cream tube and jar contain the same formula. These descriptions are not exact batch measurements.
Skin acidity and natural defenses
pH describes how acidic or alkaline a water-based material is. Under standard conditions, neutral is around pH 7; an acidic material has a lower pH. An acidic skin-care formula is not automatically an exfoliating peel.
The skin’s surface is naturally acidic. This environment supports the processes that maintain its outer barrier and innate antimicrobial defenses. Research on skin cleansing explains why this acidity matters, while also showing that the interaction between pH and cleansing ingredients affects the mildness of a finished formula.1
Skin pH and product pH are different measurements. Describing Daily Wash as acidic identifies a formulation characteristic; it does not establish how much the product changes skin pH or antimicrobial activity after use.
Choosing by the complete formula
A lower pH does not automatically mean a gentler cleanser. Cleansing ingredients, their concentrations, the rest of the formula, and how it is used all matter.1 Eichenfield and colleagues’ atopic dermatitis guideline recommends limited use of non-soap, fragrance-free, hypoallergenic cleansers with a neutral to low pH.2
Choose the Medicated Wash for its labeled dandruff and seborrheic dermatitis uses. Its neutral pH is separate from its active ingredient, pyrithione zinc 0.95%. Choose the Daily Wash for everyday cleansing, daily or as often as needed. The cream provides a separate leave-on moisturizing step.
Ingredient names can also be misleading when read in isolation. For example, hyaluronic acid has a hydration role in Daily Wash; its name does not make the product an acid peel.
References and formula details
- Hawkins S, et al. Role of pH in skin cleansing. International Journal of Cosmetic Science. 2021.
- Eichenfield LF, et al. Guidelines of care for the management of atopic dermatitis: section 2. Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology. 2014;71(1):116–132.
For the current finished-formula ingredient lists, visit Happy Cappy Ingredients.