Water filters have gained popularity as awareness of chlorine and impurities found in tap water increases. Over the years we’ve collectively learned that, whether for health or taste, these impurities are something almost everyone would prefer to filter out of their drinking water. Now, the real question is, if we treat our insides like VIPs, shouldn’t our skin get the star treatment too? The answer is yes! Its quality Tap water can definitely affect people’s skin for the worst, so it’s best not to let it linger. However, When it comes to finding a solution, you may be seeing a trend of fancy bathroom sink filters popping up online, but I can tell you that these aren’t the most effective way to keep skin clean of impurities.
An easier, tried and true option is a toner (a alcohol-free toner, to be precise). Here’s why!
How do bathroom sink filters compare to toners?
When using a toner after cleansing, the process of sweeping across the skin, ideally with a toning cloth, helps remove any impurities left in your tap water. Not only are toners great for this, they also provide various other benefits that sink filters cannot. Let’s look at the claimed benefits of bathroom sink filters and how they compare to your favorite toners.
Sink filters CAN remove impurities from tap water
We’ll start with the bathroom sink filter’s main claim: removing all the chlorine, salts and minerals that get into tap water to make it safe for drinking and bathing. The reason we want to remove them is because they can be very harsh on the surface layers of the skin. If you’ve ever had to wipe that cloudy white stuff off your shower doors, then you’ve seen exactly what tap water leaves behind on the skin: minerals, like calcium and magnesium. Now, do bathroom sink filters eliminate these impurities? Sure! But so are toners.
Sink filters CAN Increase hydration
If you struggle with dry skin, then adding a bathroom sink filter could be beneficial. Since unfiltered tap water raises the pH of your skin to an alkaline state, it has an undesirable drying effect on the skin. So using filtered water (or once again, a toner) can keep your pH balanced and your skin hydrated.
Sink filters CAN Smooth texture
When it comes to uneven skin texture caused by eczema, I have a few clients who have switched to filtered water and claim it has helped. This probably goes back to the pH of tap water being higher than the skin’s natural pH (skin is about 5.5 while tap water is 6.5+). For the same reason I recommend everyone to use cleansers that are pH balanced. If you struggle with eczema or reactive or sensitive skin, focusing on balancing your skin’s pH (either through filtered water or toner) can be extremely beneficial.
Sink filters WILL NOT Reduce breakouts
This is where the claims start to get a little shaky. Let me tell you, millions upon millions of dollars have been poured into trying to cure acne and if it was as simple as putting a filter in our bathroom sinks, I can assure you we would have discovered it a long time ago.
When it comes to breakouts, clogged pores come from within. Breakouts occur when the skin produces too much oil that gets trapped and clogged in the pores. Tap water is not going to change the amount of oil your skin produces. Also, acne is due to hormones and splashing water on your face has no direct correlation. Toner like Balancing skin tonic it would be more beneficial for breakout-prone skin as a way to normalize oil production and clear blemishes without drying out the skin.
Make sure you don’t make one of these five acne mistakes!
Sink filters WILL NOT Prevention of premature aging
Causes of premature aging include sun exposure and smoking, but tap water? This does not cause damage to your skin. Attributing premature aging to tap water seems far-fetched, and this fear-mongering claim may have more roots in marketing strategies than scientific evidence. If you’re looking for anti-aging benefits, Soothing Elderberry Toner is great for delivering antioxidants deep into the skin.
Sink filters WILL NOT Minimize damage from microplastics
Some bathroom sink filter brands claim that using a filter prevents micro-abrasion and damage caused by microplastics in the water. They make it sound like pieces of plastic have broken and are causing deep scars on the skin. This is just another marketing tactic to cause panic and get your attention, but ultimately nothing to worry about.
So there you go! Sink filters can offer some benefits to your skincare routine, such as increased hydration and balanced pH, but if you’re already using toner, then these aren’t things to worry about. Plus, The toner offers you much more! Depending on the toner you choose, you can also provide your skin with soothing ingredients, toning ingredients, exfoliating ingredients, etc. There’s no need for a new, fancy gadget when toners are a powerful product just waiting to be used.
Then find out how skin care brands are looking for innovation in an oversaturated market.
Celebrity Esthetician & Skin Care Specialist
As an esthetician trained in cosmetic chemistry, Renée Rouleau has spent 30 years researching skin, educating her audience and building an award-winning line of products. Her hands-on experience as an esthetician and trusted skin care expert has created a real solution — products designed to nine different skin types so your face will have exactly what it needs to look and feel its best. Trusted by celebrities, editors, bloggers, and skincare enthusiasts around the world, her vast real-world knowledge and constant research is why Marie Claire calls her “the most passionate skin professional we know.”
