Shower Filters 101: Why You Should Be Filtering Your Shower Water
When we think about filtration, most of us focus on what we drink. But what we shower in matters just as much. Our skin is our largest organ, and during a hot shower it becomes more porous, meaning it absorbs more of what’s in the water. For many households, that includes chlorine, chloramine, heavy metals, microplastics, and other contaminants you would never knowingly apply to your body.
Filtering your shower water isn’t just a luxury upgrade, it’s a meaningful wellness habit that supports your skin barrier, hair health, and overall long-term well-being.
What’s Actually In Shower Water
Municipal tap water in the United States consistently contains:
Chlorine and Chloramine
Added to disinfect water, but harsh on the skin, hair, and lungs. Chlorine strips natural oils and disrupts the skin microbiome, contributing to dryness, flaking, and accelerated oxidation of hair color.
Heavy Metals (Lead, Mercury, Cadmium, Arsenic)
These can leach in from aging pipes. Heavy metals are linked to oxidative stress and skin irritation, and cannot be removed by boiling or simple sediment filters.
Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs)
Byproducts of disinfection and industrial runoff that can vaporize in steam and be inhaled.
Microplastics
Increasingly found in both city and well water. These microscopic particles carry surface toxins and are impossible to detect without lab testing.
Hard Water Minerals (Calcium + Magnesium)
Hard water doesn’t pose direct toxicity risk, but binds to soaps and shampoos leaving residue that clogs follicles, increases frizz, worsens dandruff and eczema, and fades hair color faster.
Pesticides + Herbicides
Agricultural runoff can end up in municipal and well systems, especially after heavy rain seasons.
When steam hits these contaminants, you’re not just showering in them, you’re inhaling them. Inhalation exposure to chlorine and VOCs can be more concentrated than drinking unfiltered tap water.
Why Filtering Matters
Shower filtration isn’t about fear-based marketing. It’s about reducing unnecessary exposure and creating a healthier home environment. Research supports that minimizing chlorine, heavy metals, and VOCs can support the health of the skin barrier, scalp microbiome, and respiratory system. Here are the core benefits:
1. Healthier Skin Barrier
- reduced dryness and irritation
- more balanced oil production
- better moisture retention
- improved eczema and dermatitis symptoms
2. Stronger, Shinier Hair
- breakage and frizz
- scalp flaking
- color fading
- buildup on the hair shaft
3. More Youthful-Looking Skin
- Chlorine accelerates oxidative stress in the skin. Removing it supports the collagen matrix and overall skin tone.
4. Better Respiratory Exposure
- chlorine and VOCs vaporize in hot showers and cause respiratory irritation
- coughing or throat sensitivity
- asthma-like reactions in sensitive individuals
5. Improved Skin Microbiome
- Both the skin and scalp rely on diverse beneficial bacteria for immune protection and inflammatory balance. Chlorinated water disrupts this natural community. Removing chlorine and metals helps support a healthier microbial environment on the skin.
My Top Shower Filter Picks
1. Filterbaby
- Good for acne-prone, eczema-prone, and sensitive skin households
- Designed in collaboration with dermatologists to support the skin barrier.
- Can meaningfully reduce dryness and irritation
- Targets chlorine, sediment, and metals
2. AquaTru Shower FilTER
- From a trusted filtration brand known for high-performance drinking water systems.
- Long cartridge lifespan
- Multi-stage filtration for chlorine, chloramine, VOCs, and metals
- Notable improvements for dry scalp and irritated skin
3. Weddell Duo Shower Filter
- Helps reduce buildup on hair
- A dual-media system specifically formulated to reduce both chlorine and heavy metals, including lead.
- A great pick for older buildings and city plumbing
- Dual-stage filtration
4. Hello Klean Shower Filter
- London-based brand focused on removing dulling minerals and buildup.
- Ideal for scalp health and shine
- Targets hard water minerals, chlorine, and surface metals
- Helps extend hair color tone and reduce brassiness
5. AquaBliss Multi-Stage Shower Filter
- Great for renters and first-time users
- The most balanced option for budget, filtration quality, and ease.
- Targets chlorine, VOCs, sediment, and metals
- Universal fit
Don’t Forget Your Bathroom Sink
Your bathroom sink is easy to overlook, but it’s where you wash your face and brush your teeth every single day. If you’re using active skincare or investing in a solid oral care routine, using unfiltered tap water can work against your results. Filtering your sink water with Filterbaby can support:
- less redness and irritation after cleansing
- better moisture retention for the skin barrier
- reduced dryness for sensitive or acne-prone skin
- less interaction between tap water and skincare actives
- improved taste when brushing teeth and rinsing
Tap water contaminants can also affect how products absorb. If you’re already using vitamin C, retinoids, exfoliants, or professional-grade skincare, a filtered faucet is an easy upgrade that helps protect those investments.
Time To Upgrade Your Bathroom
Filtering your shower water is one of the simplest, highest-impact wellness upgrades for your home. It directly supports skin health, hair integrity, and reduces unnecessary chemical exposure. You feel the difference immediately, and the long-term benefits compound.
Check me out on Instagram for more wellness tips plus healthy and craveable recipes!
Gina
