Have you ever wondered why so many people, (women especially) take great pains to care for their facial skin only to neglect the rest of their skin, especially the hands? Usually, if you have any type of contact in the business world, it is true that your face is noticed first. But then you shake hands, right? Naturally-skincare would be the way to give lasting first time impressions.

Your skin, if healthy, has a natural pH level around 6.5 and has what is called a natural acid mantle which is a barrier and protector to your skin. This natural acid mantle helps you maintain a youthful skin appearance. When this barrier, or natural acid mantle is stripped, your skin ages dramatically.

So, while we are “on our soap box," let’s take notice of a few facts. Many of the brand name soaps are some of the greatest contributors to your aging skin! Dial, Irish Spring, Ivory, Zest and even Palmolive which advertises that it is gentle enough to soak your fingernails during a manicure, are very high in their alkaline pH level and range around 9 or 10. These brands are marketed for use on the skin! They are supposed to be so conditioning.

If we were to look at the dishsoaps, cleaners and laundry soap, we could talk about reeking havoc to your youthful skin! These companies even separate the natural glycerin that happens during the soap making process because they can sell it separately as an additive commodity!

The idea is not to go without washing, but instead, to take considerations and do the necessary care for your skin.

Unpolluted water is generally known as having a pH of 7. But, combine it with a harsh detergent, and you’ve just lathered up a nice alkaline base that will strip the natural acid mantle of your skin. Have you ever gone into a public restroom and used the soap? How do your hands feel? I know, you quickly put on some lotion. GOOD!

When looking at the pH scale, it is measured much like the Richter scale, to the “tenth degree." This means, when you use soap with a pH of 8, that soap is ten times more alkaline than soap with the pH of 7. So, a soap that has the pH of 10 is a thousand times harsher on your skin than the soap with the pH of 7.

Yes, you only have a few dishes to wash. Not very many and it seems such a bother to pull out the latex gloves. It doesn’t take much to strip the natural acid mantle off your skin. Go ahead, use the gloves. You will be glad you did in the long run. ?

The job that dishsoap is meant to do is to dissolve grease and dirt off of dishes. It is highly alkaline, usually ranging around the pH of 9 or 10, with Dove being the mildest with the pH of 7.

With all the washing these soap commercials have brought about to sell their alkaline soaps, you are aging your skin which nature has around the pH of 6.5, slightly acid. This also contributes to wrinkles, dry skin and other skin conditions that have become so prevalent in our modern day society. Naturally-Skincare would be to use products that are trusted.

What can you do to stay healthy, without ruining your skin? There will always be some wear and tear to your hands, but here are a few hints that may help.

When using soap to wash your hands, use a mild soap like Dove. Better yet, use a handmade soap that has not had the glycerin removed.

Wear gloves every time you wash dishes, do household cleaning or handwash clothing.

Use lotion with the healthy skin vitamins added every time you wash your hands. I repeat, every time you wash your hands.

When gardening or doing housework that requires your hands to come into contact with harsh detergents, remember the gloves.

Keep a high SPF sunscreen on the backs of your hands every day…yes, even on cloudy days to protect your skin from the UV rays.

Wear gloves during cold weather to protect them from the harsh elements.

Practice good sanitation measures and always KNOW THE INGREDIENTS OF ANYTHING YOU MAY GET ON YOUR SKIN AND HOW IT WILL REACT TO THE HEALTH OF YOUR SKIN!

And, as always, http://www.naturally-skincare.com from the inside out!