Shower Power
Water and beautiful skin go hand-in-hand; after all, our bodies are made up of over 60% water. So it should come as no surprise to hear that access to pure water is a key component to maintaining clear, radiant skin and hair. And while access to clean water may be a resource we all take for granted, the truth is, public water contains a host of chemicals and pollutants that are not only bad for your skin and hair, they are bad for your health, as well.
How can you be certain that the water you cook with, drink and bathe in is clean? Simple! Invest in an inexpensive water filtration system and bring health and vitality back to your entire body.
In the US, most major cities and towns have a municipal water supply which provides water to homes, offices and businesses. Before this water enters your home, it is treated to remove impurities but did you know that recent surveys have found not only chemicals, but traces of arsenic, nicotine, antibiotics and prescription drugs in our tap water? Clearly the need for pure water is critical. Treated water is typically passed through a filter to remove sediment, and then chemicals, such as fluoride and chlorine are added to the water to improve taste, kill bacteria and prevent tooth decay. And although these additives do kill bacteria and prevent tooth decay, they also do other things, such as dry out skin and hair, weaken nails and possibly harm the environment. Even in small amounts, chlorine can have negative effects on your skin, hair and overall health.
Chlorine will leach moisture from the skin and cause finger and toe nails to take on a yellowish hue. Remember what it felt like as a kid to spend the entire day in the pool? When you finally got called into dinner or bed, your skin was waxy, dry and more than likely itchy. And since tap water can contain up to the same amount or more chlorine than a swimming pool, prevention is your best bet. Experts estimate that we suffer more chlorine exposure during a 10-minute shower than spending an entire day at the swimming pool. But regardless of how you are exposed, the end result is the same: skin damage. Be sure to slather you skin with a rich moisturizer after every bath or shower, such as MD Skin Care Hydra-Pure Intense Moisture Cream. This remarkable cream is designed to remove heavy metals and chemicals (such as chlorine) from the skin, while protecting with anti-oxidants and herbal extracts.
Filtering the chlorine out of your shower water will not only protect your hair itself, it will protect your investment—your hair color. Colored or chemically treated hair is more fragile than virgin hair, and, more prone to damage from chlorine, such as prematurely faded hair color, brassiness and even a greenish hue in blondes. To combat the effects of chlorine on your hair, invest in a purifying shampoo. These types of cleansers, designed to be used once or twice a week, will lift out and remove impurities such as chlorine, salt, seawater and pollutants. L’Occitane Damaged Hair Shampoo, rich in lavender and angelica extracts, will restore shine and health to even the most chlorine damaged tresses.
Chlorine is harmful to eyes and lungs, and the vapors from chlorine, present in your shower steam, are particularly aggravating to asthma or allergy sufferers. Removing chlorine from the water via a filter will also remove these harmful vapors from the air. And, did you know that chlorine can hide? Next time you reach for a diet soda or fruit juice sweetened with the artificial sweetener Splenda, take heed—your beverage also contains chlorine.
When choosing a filter, you have many choices: refrigerator pitcher-type filters, over the counter or tap filter, shower head filters and whole house filters. A whole house filter is ideal as it will strip all chlorine from water as it enters your home. However, if a whole-house filter is not possible, plan on filtering at least your kitchen and bathroom taps. An activated charcoal filter is both an effective and affordable option, but there are plenty of other options: reverse-osmosis, ceramic, ultraviolet, catalytic and even combination models.
The EPA suggests that contamination from chlorine vapors is much more common in the average household than not, so don’t waste another second of your skin’s life: get hooked up with a quality water filter, pronto, and toast the good life, and clean water