In this exclusive Q&A with Dr. Alicia Zalka, Beauty News NYC speaks with the board-certified dermatologist and founder of Surface Deep about the science behind healthier body care. I was especially interested in Dr. Zalka’s expertise surrounding the skin’s natural pH and how often its importance is overlooked in everyday skincare. From protecting the skin barrier to choosing products that work with our skin instead of against it, Dr. Zalka explains why balance may be one of the most important elements of a healthy routine.
Can you tell our readers a little about yourself and what inspired you to create Surface Deep?
Hello! I am a board-certified dermatologist with more than 25 years of clinical experience. I also teach dermatology residents through an associate clinical professorship at the Yale School of Medicine.
Even though I am the founder of Surface Deep, Surface Deep actually found me. It all started in my bathroom with a personal dissatisfaction with the available deodorant options, as well as a professional observation in my clinic, where patients were complaining about personal-care products causing skin problems instead of making their skin better. It led to my deep dive into skin wellness, where biology meets beauty.
What skin concerns did you see repeatedly in your dermatology practice that led to the development of the brand?
People who were genuinely trying to do the best for their skin were instead experiencing irritation, contact dermatitis—a type of allergic reaction caused by contact between the skin and an offending agent—and frequent signs of skin-barrier deterioration, along with concerns about premature aging.
I noticed that the scenario was often the same and that a simple alteration in someone’s daily routine, combined with a better understanding of what the skin requires to maintain its health and beauty, made a huge difference. It is so much easier than anyone thinks. By honoring the skin’s own built-in defenses, many common concerns can be avoided.
Many people don’t realize that skin has a natural pH. Why is maintaining a healthy skin pH so important?
I love this question. Thank you! The skin’s optimal pH is around 5.5. Its protective acidic surface is known as the acid mantle. When the acid mantle remains at its physiologically optimal level, many skin issues can be quelled. The microbiome stays intact, as does the skin’s most important function of all: acting as a barrier to the outside world.
Simply recognizing that the skin craves pH balance can help curtail body odor, dryness, inflammation, and irritation.
The acid mantle acts like an invisible security system, keeping the good stuff in and the bad stuff out when it comes to your skin and its interaction with the outside world—which can sometimes be a harsh place for your skin.
Many of our daily habits, such as scrubbing with heavily scented, over-stripping soaps or body washes and using typical laundry detergents, can cause this delicate acid mantle to become more alkaline as the skin’s surface pH rises. This spells trouble.
While the skin does a great job of trying to rebalance its pH, it can lose the battle if we continue throwing the wrong ingredients at it. The skin may become depleted of natural ceramides, and its uniquely functional microbiome can be disrupted. This often leads to skin appearing dull or dry or feeling irritated.
It can also affect the natural balance of beneficial bacteria on the skin. When that balance is breached, body odor and even rashes can develop.
What makes the new Surface Deep pH Balancing Body Lotion different from a traditional body lotion?
Our body lotion was designed without perfumes or fragrance of any kind. While most body lotions are marketed for their scent—which may be lovely for a sensorial experience but not so great for the skin itself—dermatologists will universally tell you that fragrance applied to the skin is a common cause of skin allergy. Therefore, we left it out of our pH Balancing Body Lotion.
The lotion’s two main active ingredients, glycolic acid and postbiotic ferments, help the skin’s natural functions remain balanced. The glycolic acid supports the acid mantle by helping maintain the skin’s desired pH, while postbiotics provide soothing elements within the formula.
We also designed the product to function as both a hydrator and a gentle exfoliator. It contains moisturizing ingredients such as glycerin and squalane, helping support daily skin wellness and beauty.
The formula includes glycolic acid. What role does this ingredient play, and who can benefit from using it?
Glycolic acid has several functions:
- Dermatologists value glycolic acid for skin brightening and polishing because of its ability to gently slough away spent surface cells.
- We also love it for its softening and smoothing effects on dry, dull, or bumpy skin.
- It provides an acidic pH at the skin’s surface, helping support the skin barrier by maintaining the acid mantle.
How does the pH Balancing Body Lotion work together with the pH Balancing Skin Wash as part of a daily routine?
By beginning the day with the pH Balancing Skin Wash, rather than harsh soaps or body washes that remove the skin’s natural surface defenses instead of supporting them, you honor the basic principle of maintaining the skin’s pH and allow it to do its job.
Following with the pH Balancing Body Lotion helps put the skin’s protective and hydrating elements in place for the day. You can go about your routine knowing you have given your skin the simple things it needs to remain healthy and beautiful, based on dermatologic principles that are often misunderstood or glossed over by skincare marketing promises.
A little-known fact is that as we age, our acid mantle weakens and the skin’s pH begins to move toward more alkaline levels. This tendency may underlie certain skin changes associated with aging, including dullness, flaking, and loss of elasticity. Being mindful of the skin’s acidic pH and using balancing skincare may help the skin look and feel youthful for longer.
Are there any common skincare mistakes people make that can unintentionally disrupt their skin barrier or pH balance?
YES!
- Taking very hot, scalding, or excessively long showers, which can strip the skin of its natural oils and alter its pH.
- Taking more than one shower per day. Unless you are exposed to chemicals, pollutants, environmental extremes, or heavy grime during your day, one shower should be sufficient.
- Using harsh soaps and body washes containing sulfates and strong surfactants.
- Using a typical roll-on or stick deodorant that leaves a sticky, chalky residue on delicate skin, particularly if it contains fragrance.
- Applying fragranced products to sensitive skin, which may increase the risk of an allergic reaction.
- Applying ingredients such as isopropyl alcohol and sodium lauryl sulfate to the skin daily.
- Rubbing the skin harshly instead of gently patting it dry with a clean, soft towel.
- Trying to feel “squeaky clean” after bathing or showering, which can be a sign that the skin barrier has been disturbed.
- Using a body lotion with the intention of hydrating the skin when the product is essentially perfume in a different form.
What advice would you give someone who struggles with dry, rough, or uneven skin but doesn’t know where to start?
- Examine the products and skincare habits you currently use, and eliminate sulfates, fragrances, and harsh chemicals.
- Take shorter, tepid showers and use laundry detergents and other products designed for sensitive skin.
- Avoid labels that say “soap” and look for balancing cleansers.
- Choose personal-care and skincare products that are dermatologically tested or recommended, or that carry a seal from a trusted organization.
- Speak with your dermatologist—we are the experts.
What has been the most rewarding feedback you’ve received from patients or customers using Surface Deep?
Nothing makes me happier than hearing from our followers and customers that our products have changed their lives or given them more confidence.
We also love and are honored by the many media awards we have received—thank you!
The absolute best thing is when I can be that teacher and provide consumers with science-backed knowledge and physiology-respecting routines for caring for their largest and most forward-facing organ: their skin.
What’s next for Surface Deep, and are there any exciting innovations or products on the horizon that you can share with our readers?
Surface Deep listens to what our customers are asking for. We receive many inquiries about anti-aging face creams. While our team is currently focused on body care, facial products could be something we explore in the future.
We are also excited to soon offer discovery kits so new customers can sample several of our bestsellers with one purchase.
My biggest takeaway from speaking with Dr. Zalka is that our skin is precious, and protecting its natural barrier should be an essential part of how we care for it. I came away impressed by the science behind Surface Deep and excited by the new pH Balancing Body Lotion, which brings hydration, gentle exfoliation, and pH-conscious care together in one formula. It is an important reminder that effective body care does not have to be complicated. It simply needs to respect what our skin naturally requires.
Learn more about Surface Deep and explore more skincare coverage from Beauty News NYC.
