Natural soap, unbalanced pH?

Everyone must have heard that a neutral pH on body cleansing products is good for the skin and does not unbalance the body's pH, protecting the outside layers of the cutis. In other words, a neutral pH of 7.0 would be desirable for soaps. This is what we find in industrial soap options and could be an advantage over natural ones, whose usual pH is between 8.0 and 9.5, an alkaline pH as a result of the oils-lye reaction. Would that mean that natural soaps can be harsh on the epidermis?

Before entering the discussion using any form of argument based on other soap properties, such as safety to the environment, time of skin exposition, etc., a question needs an answer: how does a cleansing product change the skin's pH? Most people (including myself until recently) do not know that research shows the temporary characteristic of pH change on the cutis after washing it, which comes quickly again to the natural pH. It happens when using a natural soap bar, as well as washing hands with only tap water. Besides, on the other hand, an alkaline pH has an antimicrobiotic role because most microorganisms need a neutral pH to grow, an adjuvant natural characteristic of natural soaps enhancing its qualities.

And there is more. Another aspect that comes into mind about natural bars is the high proportion of glycerin in their composition compared to general industrial options. In the industrial process, glycerin is removed from the soap due to its high value (to be sold separately), which does not happen in the home saponification processes. Glycerin is very moisturizing, protecting the skin, and its effect is added to the superfat percentage of natural soap bars, a safety margin of oil to avoid lye remaining, resulting in the residual fat benefit as a natural moisturizer on your skin!

Washing hands with natural soap bar