Hard water: friend or foe for your skin?

Every detail counts in skin care. And it's not just about the composition of cosmetics and the rules for their application. What about the tap water we use every day to wash our face?

If you are reading this, then you are most likely actively taking care of your skin. You wash your face, use tonic, moisturizer and face masks… But sometimes cosmetics do not give the effect that we expected, trusting the promises of the manufacturer on the package. Should you blame the creators of beauty products for this, or are there some other factors due to which your efforts are reduced to zero? The second option is closer to the truth – and hard water is just one of the reasons why care does not bring the expected results.

The secret of French women 

European glossy magazines often write that one of the main secrets of the beautiful skin of French women can be considered their refusal to wash with water that flows from the tap. Instead, they often practice "waterless" washing with micellar and thermal water. Their approach can be called logical: if water interferes with normal skin care, then its use should be minimized.

Hard water: how it causes skin problems 

How is hard water different from soft water? Increased content of minerals – magnesium, calcium and zinc. As part of the water, they appear when it passes through limestone rocks. When it comes to skin health, the pH of water (a measure of its acidity) is of great importance. The epidermis also has its own ph: in different parts of the body it can be equal to 4-6 units. In most countries of the world, the pH of water is 7-8 units, which makes the water alkaline, i.e. more rigid. The ph value can reach up to 14 units – and water with such indicators cannot definitely be harmless to the skin. 

Alkaline water breaks down the natural protective barrier of the skin, which helps to minimize the harmful effects of ultraviolet radiation, temperature changes and other negative environmental factors. In fact, it “exposes" the epidermis, making it defenseless against bacteria and toxins. Moisture evaporates faster from its surface, which means that dryness and peeling appear. 

The increased concentration of minerals in water serves as a catalyst for the formation of free radicals, stimulating the appearance of age-related changes. Scientists have found that hard water exacerbates systemic skin diseases: the same eczema recurs much more often if you wash your face with hard water. By the way, atopic dermatitis too. 

What are the alternatives

At home, you can verify suspicions of increased water hardness with a regular ph test strip. It will not only show the level of alkalinity, but also reveal the excess of which minerals are contained in the liquid.

The easiest way to avoid the harmful effects of hard water on the skin is to use a filter nozzle to soften the water. It passes liquid through a layer of ion-exchange granular load to make it softer and more comfortable to wash. The second one is worth buying for the shower. If you care about the beauty of the skin, then complex!