wise ester group distribution is the same as the alkali consumption of a corresponding pectin having a random ester group distribution however the ph drop of the two pectins is considerably larger for the block wise esterified pectin presumably because such pectin will act as a pectin with a higher average de thus by treating a block wise esterified pectin with a polygalacturarase which splits the pectin at non esterified sites a lower molecular weight pectin may be obtained having an increased de in an alternative embodiment of the composition according to the invention the ester groups of the polysaccharide thereof are thus distributed in a block wise fashion in another embodiment of the composition according to the invention the ester groups of the polysaccharide are distributed in a random fashion in another preferred embodiment according to the invention the skin protecting alkalinity controlling composition comprises a mixture of at least one high de carboxylic acid polysaccharide having a degree of esterification de in the range from about 70 to about 100 more preferably from about 80 to about 100 and at least one low de carboxylic acid polysaccharide having a degree of esterification de in the range from about 5 to about 70 more preferably from about 5 to about 40 most preferably from 10 to about.