Beyond Skincare: The Beauty of Balance Within and Down There
Beyond skincare lies your body’s most complex microbiome. Discover how to care for your vagina—gently, intelligently, and confidently.
by Alex Gentry
Published on Nov 27, 2025
One of my favorite lines, ever, is "We are all in the process of becoming" from Audre Lorde, self-described "Black, lesbian, feminist, mother, warrior, poet" in 1950's New York. I’ve always thought that it exquisitely captures the ever-changing roles and phases of womanhood.
When I was around nine to 13 years old, I remember often thinking, "I wish I were a boy." I spent more time with my brother and male cousins because I thought they did cooler things. They were active and always exploring the neighborhood, with better toys and more exciting adventures.
That changed very quickly during puberty, and I’ve never had that thought again. Looking back now, I think it’s because I’ve come to truly appreciate the many transformations that girls—and later, women—experience throughout life.
Yes, boys change too during puberty, and many of their shifts in growth, voice, and strength tend to stabilize after adolescence.
From the onset of menstruation, we experience monthly hormonal fluctuations that ripple through our mood, energy, and body. Pregnancy and lactation bring even more profound physiological shifts. Then, in our late 30s and 40s, the curve steepens once again with perimenopause and menopause reshaping our hormones, metabolism, and even our skin and microbiome.
As Dr. Stacy Sims, leading advocate for female-specific research in sports and health, puts it, “Women don’t age in a linear fashion like men do—hormonal changes hit much earlier and more dramatically.” In other words, while men’s biological decline follows a slow, steady slope, women’s journey often feels like a sharp, accelerating curve.
Each phase of womanhood asks us to know ourselves anew—to adapt, to listen, and to honor what our bodies are becoming.
We talk a lot about these changes in the context of skincare—the way our skin evolves with hormones, stress, and time. But today, let’s look deeper. Beneath those surface shifts lies one of our most dynamic and misunderstood ecosystems: the vaginal microbiome.
Our Most Misunderstood Body Part
We’ve explored skincare, haircare, even gut health, but rarely do we talk about vaginal health. Yet, it deserves the same attention and respect.
Home to billions of beneficial bacteria—mainly Lactobacilli—your vaginal microbiome maintains a slightly acidic pH that protects you from infection and irritation. When this delicate ecosystem is disrupted by harsh soaps, antibiotics, or hormonal shifts, it can lead to dryness, odor, and discomfort.
Always changing, your vaginal ecosystem evolves with every phase of your life—mirroring the curve of womanhood itself:
Before Puberty: The vaginal environment has a higher pH (around 6.0-7.0) and fewer Lactobacilli. Without the influence of estrogen, there’s less glycogen or natural “food” for good bacteria, so the microbiome remains less active. During this stage, simple water cleansing is usually enough.
Reproductive Years: Estrogen levels rise, encouraging the growth of Lactobacilli and maintaining an acidic pH (around 3.5–4.5). Throughout your menstrual cycle, however, this balance gently fluctuates.
During your period, the presence of menstrual blood temporarily raises pH, reducing Lactobacilli and making you more susceptible to irritation or infection.
After menstruation, as estrogen climbs, Lactobacilli flourish again, restoring balance and natural protection.
Around ovulation, higher estrogen and cervical mucus create an ideal environment for healthy bacteria and natural lubrication.
Toward the end of the cycle, progesterone increases, and some women may notice dryness or mild odor—both normal signs of the body’s cyclical rhythm.
Post-Menopause: With lower estrogen levels, the vaginal pH rises (around 5.5–6.5), reducing the population of Lactobacilli. This often leads to dryness, thinning of the vaginal tissue, and increased sensitivity. During this stage, hydration, barrier support, and gentle, pH-balanced care become essential.
These biological shifts aren’t flaws to “fix”—they’re part of our evolution as women. The key is to flow with them, not fight them; to understand that every stage of our biology has its own rhythm, wisdom, and need for care.
Let’s Get Intimate: The Care Steps No One Teaches Us
We grow up learning how to care for our skin, our hair, even our teeth—but no one really teaches us how to care for down there. Conversations about vaginal health are often done in whisper, yet it’s one of the most essential parts of womanhood to understand.
Dr. Tosca Camille T. Seibert-Guiao, OB-GYN & Aesthetic Gynecologist at S&S Women’s Health and Wellness Center, explains:
“Many women unknowingly use strong or fragranced feminine washes that disrupt the vaginal microbiome—our body’s natural defense system—leading to irritation, dryness, or even infections. I always remind my patients that caring for this delicate area means choosing products wisely and using them in moderation.”
She adds that, especially here in the Philippines, many of us—including our mothers’ generation—grew up believing that floral-scented washes equaled freshness. But the truth is, your vagina already knows how to take care of itself. What it needs is support, not stripping.
So let’s talk about the things we’re not told—the quiet truths that deserve a louder, more compassionate voice.
Discharge Is Normal and Necessary
Vaginal discharge is your body’s way of cleansing and protecting itself. Its color and texture shift throughout your cycle—clear and stretchy near ovulation, creamier before your period. It’s your body communicating balance. Only when discharge has a strong odor, thick texture, or unusual color is it a sign of imbalance.
Your Vagina Isn’t Supposed to Smell Like Flowers
A healthy vagina has a natural, mild scent, and that’s okay. Fragranced products or “odor control” washes only disrupt your microbiome, most of those contain synthetic fragrance or alcohol. True freshness is a sign of balance, not perfume.
Be pH-Smart
You already know that your vagina’s ideal pH is between 3.5 and 4.5—slightly acidic to keep harmful bacteria in check. Many soaps and feminine washes sit at 6.0 to 8.0, far too alkaline, which throws off that natural balance. Choose a pH-balanced, microbiome-safe cleanser that protects your body’s ecosystem instead of sterilizing it.
Sex Changes Things—and That’s Normal, Too
Intercourse, new partners, and even lubricants can temporarily alter your pH and bacteria levels. Choose pH-balanced, microbiome-safe lubricants and avoid using body lotions or flavored oils that can cause irritation. After sex, gentle cleansing with water or a mild intimate wash helps restore comfort—nothing more, nothing fancy.
Sleep and Stress Affect Your Vaginal Health
When you’re exhausted or under constant stress, your immune system weakens, giving harmful bacteria more room to thrive. Rest and stress management aren’t luxuries; they’re part of intimate care.
Your Period Is a Reset, Not a Problem
Menstrual blood is slightly alkaline, so your vaginal pH naturally rises during your period. You might feel a bit “off,” but that doesn’t mean you need to disinfect. Many of us were taught to switch to Betadine or other antiseptic washes, but these contain povidone-iodine, an antiseptic that kills all bacteria—even the good Lactobacilli that protect you.
What You Eat Shows Up Down There
Sugar and processed foods can throw your microbiome off balance, while probiotic-rich and fiber-filled foods nourish it. Your vagina responds to what you feed your body. Think of it as skincare, just internal.
When asked what she recommends to her patients, Dr. Guiao shared “I often recommend using feminine wash only every other day, and only if it’s gentle, pH-balanced, and microbiome-friendly. Biome Balance Intimate Wash from Pure Culture meets those standards, which is why I feel confident recommending it as part of healthy intimate care.”
As women, we are always in the process of becoming. We are always reaching for balance. Isn’t it a wonder that the very thing that makes us woman, biologically, is doing the same?
about the author
Alex Gentry is Co-founder and Chief Innovator at Pure Culture, the Philippines’ first certified toxin-free high-performance skincare line. Learn more here.
