I Put A Filter On My Bathroom Sink & The Photos Should Come With A Trigger Warning

Recent research found that nearly half of US tap water contains potentially toxic PFAs1—but you should be filtering more than just what you drink. Until earlier this year, I barely thought twice about the water in my bathroom. That is, until a lightbulb went off in my head: If the skin is your largest organ, shouldn’t you be protecting it?

Even the best skin care products can’t be effective if you’re washing your face with contaminated water. I saw firsthand the impact a shower filter could have on my skin and hair, yet I was still washing my face in the sink (and I had the redness to prove it). 

The same chemicals and contaminants lurking in your tap water are flowing through your bathroom sink (i.e. nitrates, chlorine, arsenic, lead, mercury, and flouride2)—and they’re not doing your skin any favors. One study showed that participants absorbed more toxins from a 10-minute shower3 than drinking a liter of the same water. 

It’s a pretty safe bet you have hard water, considering approximately 85% of the country does. Unfortunately, the heavy metals found in hard water can disrupt the skin’s natural barrier, leading to redness, irritation, and inflammation4, and even a higher risk of atopic dermatitis5. 

After installing my Jolie shower filter, my once dull and brittle hair was so soft and shiny that friends and family members began asking what I had changed. And my skin saw improvements, too. It no longer felt tight or dry after showers—but that tightness would come creeping back each night when I washed my face in the sink.

First off, the Filterbaby is incredibly simple to install. The kit comes equipped with a slew of attachments, with options for every sink type. Following a quick video on the brand’s website, I was able to quickly hook up my new filter, no tools necessary.

While installing my filter, I nearly threw up when I saw the gunk and particles in my faucet. For reference, I live in a fairly new building in Brooklyn, which was built only three years ago—so I assumed the pipes were pretty clean.

In the four weeks since I installed the Filterbaby, my skin has noticeably improved. I’ve always dealt with a bit of rosacea, but with a filter in my shower and my bathroom sink, redness is now a thing of the past.

The best part? I’ve even stopped buying a few products I used to swear by. Having realized that my water was a huge part of the problem, I’ve been able to cut down my makeup and skin care lineup significantly.