Bar soap - friend or foe? It seems like a pretty basic part of any cleansing regime, but bar soap really isn`t the best way to keep your skin clean. Ideally, you`ll want to avoid using bar soap at all, but especially for the areas around your face and neck. Your skin is most sensitive from the neck up and the ingredients typical bar soaps contain are far too harsh to maintain healthy skin.

The main problem with bar soap is its high alkaline content (i.e. high pH). While the skin`s normal pH is somewhere around 5.5, most bar soaps have a pH of about 9 which throws your skin`s balance all out of whack. You may hear how particular soaps claim to neutralize your skin`s pH, but if the soap`s high alkaline content didn`t mess with the pH in the first place, there would be no need to restore it. All they do is basically fix what they screwed up to begin with. So, what does your skin actually experience when using bar soap? Those high pH levels will translate to increased bacteria, possible breakouts and general irritation.

There are some specialty soaps that are available in bar cleansers that contain a much lower pH level, making them far less irritating to the skin. Still, these are really just the lesser of two evils. The ingredients that make it possible for bar cleansers to exist in a bar form can clog pores and cause problems for you skin. So, even though a bar soap may claim to be extremely gentle, the mere fact that it is in bar form means it contains the ingredients that will no doubt clog your pores.

As an alternative to the bar soap, it is suggested by experts that you use liquid soaps that are specifically formulated for your skin type. If you don`t know what type of skin your have, speak with sales person at a cosmetics counter and they can help you determine this. When you are looking for face cleansers, also make sure they are free of fragrances - fragrances are also notorious for causing irritation of the skin. And as always, make sure you are ending your skin care regime with a moisturizer to keep skin healthy and hydrated.  

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