Hard or Soft Water? How to Tell What’s in Your Home & Impacts to Facial Skin

Approximately 85% of US homes have hard water, according to the U.S Geological Survey. Hard water is water that contains high levels of dissolved minerals, such as calcium and magnesium. Soft water is water that has been treated to remove these minerals.

Soft water is ideal, but there are things you can do to mitigate the effects of hard water. But the first step is identifying what you have.

How to Identify Which Type of Water Your Home Has

If you’re not sure which type of water your house or apartment has, you can purchase a DIY water test kit at your local home improvement store or online. There are also a few signs that you have hard water at home:

Soap Scum: Whether it’s on the walls in your shower or there’s soapy residue left on your hands after washing, this is a sign that the soap is reacting with the calcium and other minerals in your water. If you see lots of bubbles when you scrub instead, that’s a sign of soft water.

Skin Irritation: Hard water can cause skin dryness and itchiness, acne flare-ups and even eczema and psoriasis.

Hair Issues: Just like the soap it leaves behind on your hands, your shampoo might not be rinsing out of your hair so well, either. If you’ve got limp or damaged hair, hard water might be to blame.

Spots from Appliances: If you find spots on your dishes after a dishwasher cycle or clothes with quickly fading color, it could be hard water.

Impacts of Hard Water of Facial Skin

If you apply hard water to your face on a regular basis, you might notice these issues with your facial skin:

Dryness and irritation: Hard water can strip the skin of its natural oils, leading to dryness and irritation. This is especially a problem for people with sensitive skin.

Clogged pores and breakouts: Hard water can form soap scum on the skin, which can clog pores and lead to breakouts.

Exacerbation of skin conditions: Hard water can make skin conditions such as eczema and psoriasis worse.

Impacts of Soft Water of Facial Skin

If you have soft water in your dwelling, consider yourself lucky! Soft water is much better for your skin in these ways:

Gentler on the skin: Soft water is gentler on the skin and less likely to cause dryness and irritation.

Effective cleansing: Soft water is more effective at cleansing the skin, as it does not leave behind soap scum.

Improved skin appearance: Soft water can help to improve the appearance of the skin by making it look brighter and more hydrated.

How to Protect Your Facial Skin If You Have Hard Water

If you have hard water at home, the good news is that there are a few things you can do to protect your facial skin:

Use a water filter: Although we commonly think of water filters for drinking water, the great news is that there are plenty of water filters for other areas of the house, too! You can get filters for shower heads and bathroom faucets, for example. A search on Amazon or your favorite home improvement store should do the trick.

Use a gentle cleanser: Choose a cleanser that is professional-grade and thus less harsh and higher quality than over-the-counter brands. Our professional-grade cleansers are the absolute best for all skin types.

Moisturize regularly: Use a professional-grade moisturizer day and night to help keep your skin hydrated.

Avoid super-hot showers and baths: Hot water can strip the skin of its natural oils, leading to dryness and irritation. Instead, take lukewarm showers and baths.