What if better skin started with a better rinse?

Just as coffee beans make or break your morning brew, the water you rinse with secretly does the same for your skincare routine…

Yet most people overlook it completely. 

In this quick guide, we’ll break down the best (and worst) types of water for your face. Plus, we’ll reveal how a simple switch at the start can help you get the results you’ve been trying to achieve all along. 

Let’s dive in…

It’s not just water…

According to the Environmental Working Group (EWG), 324 different contaminants have been found in U.S. tap water flowing from showers and sinks from coast to coast. 

While many of these dangers have been linked to serious health concerns like cancer, reproductive issues, and thyroid dysfunction, others quietly contribute to dryness, redness, breakouts, premature aging, and more. 

Here are just a few common contaminants to watch out for: 

1. Chlorine: Just as chlorine breaks down bacteria in water, it can also break down the natural oils your skin makes to stay soft and protected. 

That means it can leave your skin feeling tight, dry, and flaky, as well as more prone to redness and breakouts. 

Think of it like washing your face with pool water every day: it’s clean, but harsh. 

2. Lead: While lead exposure through water is most often associated with ingestion, some research suggests lead may disrupt enzymes and oxidative balance when skin is exposed over time. This is especially true if the skin is already damaged or inflamed.

Over time, this lead exposure could contribute to duller, more uneven-looking skin and slower healing. 

3. Fluoride: Fluoride has long been added to water for dental health despite ongoing debate and studies suggesting possible links to a range of threats from thyroid dysfunction to a lower IQ in children. Even if your teeth can handle fluoride, your skin is not designed to.

When fluoride sits on your face, especially around your mouth or chin, it can cause irritation, red bumps, peeling, or dry patches for some sensitive individuals.

4.  PFAS: These cancer-linked “forever chemicals” found in nonstick pans and waterproof gear don’t break down in your body—or on your skin. Repeated skin exposure to PFAS-contaminated water may allow these chemicals to accumulate and potentially weaken your skin barrier over time, though more research is needed.

This may make skin more prone to dryness, redness, itchiness, and sudden sensitivity to products you’ve used for years, though individual reactions may vary.

Would you leave a wet towel on your skin for days or weeks? 

Of course not. Same thing here: Water contaminated with PFAS might feel fine at first, but irritation eventually sets in.

5. VOCs (Volatile Organic Compounds): VOCs turn into gas when your shower gets hot. You might not smell them, but they can absorb into your skin and may trigger irritation and flare-ups in some people, especially on the neck and cheeks.

6. Arsenic: Arsenic can sneak into your water supply and onto your skin, where it slowly interferes with your skin's normal functions. Over time, this exposure to arsenic can lead to visible changes like dark spots, sore patches, and a higher risk of some skin cancers.

Imagine putting the wrong fuel in your car day after day. At first, it still runs. But eventually, the engine starts to sputter and parts start to break down. Arsenic in your water is similar: your skin's "engine" can only handle so much before it stops working the way it should.

7. Mercury: Mercury is a toxic heavy metal that can build up in your body and wreak havoc on your skin. Some forms of mercury—especially in contaminated water—can contribute to skin inflammation, rashes, or irritation if exposure occurs repeatedly over time.

Contaminants aren’t the only things in your water, either. Let’s talk about minerals as well…

Hard water is simply water with too many naturally occurring minerals (mainly calcium and magnesium). 

If you’ve noticed white, chalky buildup around your faucets or showerhead, that’s those excess minerals clinging to surfaces.

Guess what? 

They can cling to your skin, too. 

But unlike contaminants, minerals in the right amounts aren’t bad. In fact, your skin actually needs them. 

For example, magnesium can help improve your skin's hydration and texture. Plus, minerals can support your skin’s natural barrier and can even help calm inflammation.

But too much of a good thing can cause problems… 

Just as hard water can clog up appliances, it can also overwhelm your skin—leaving behind buildup that clogs pores, disrupts your pH, and interferes with your skin’s ability to absorb the products you put on it. 

That means hard water can lead to:

• Skin that feels tight, dry, or coated after rinsing

• Breakouts or dullness that won’t go away, even with a solid routine

• Skincare products that no longer absorb or seem to work

Think of minerals like seasoning: A little brings balance. None is bland. Too much overpowers the dish and your skin.

Wondering if you have hard water?

Start by checking for that chalky buildup in your shower, tub, or sink. In most cases, it’s hard to miss. If need be, you can then confirm with a hard water test strip or by checking your local water report.

The right water should support your skincare routine, not sabotage it… 

If your water is too harsh, you might notice:

• A tight, dry feeling after rinsing

• Redness or irritation right after washing

• Breakouts that don’t seem to go away

• Skin that feels rough, flaky, or bumpy (even when you’re doing everything “right”)

Think of these as warning signs from your skin. They’re your body’s way of saying: Something in the water isn’t working for me.

Skin-friendly water should never sting, strip or leave a residue. It should rinse products away cleanly, leave your skin feeling calm and balanced, and help your natural barrier stay strong, not stressed.

The problem with tap water isn’t necessarily how it looks or feels. It’s the invisible contaminants lurking inside of it. From chlorine and lead to PFAS and VOCs, many invisible contaminants can throw off your skin. 

That’s why rinsing with filtered water is one of the easiest and most effective ways to enhance your skin benefits. And thankfully, there are several options:

Basic Carbon Filters (e.g., pitchers, fridges, some showerheads):

• Often reduce chlorine, which helps prevent dryness and tightness

• Do not remove deeper skin disruptors like lead, PFAS, or VOCs

• May improve taste, but skin still absorbs what’s left behind

Reverse Osmosis (RO) Filters:

• Remove most contaminants and all minerals

• Good for short-term use on healing or highly sensitive skin 

• Not recommended for everyday use, since it strips away essential minerals your body needs

Clearly Filtered (Powered by Affinity® Filtration Technology):

• Targets up to 365+ known contaminants, including chlorine, lead, fluoride, PFAS, and VOCs 

• Does not target healthy minerals your skin relies on to stay strong, smooth, and hydrated

• Ideal for everyday use, especially when rinsing your face or filling a beauty mister

Note: While Clearly Filtered doesn’t currently offer a showerhead filter, using filtered sink water can still make a noticeable difference for healthy skin—especially when rinsing your face.

Distilled and RO water are both ultra-pure forms of water with virtually zero contaminants—and zero minerals. 

That makes them a helpful short-term option for sensitive skin or post-procedure healing. 

Because they’re so pure, they won’t interact with skincare products, leave behind residue, or surprise your skin with something it can’t handle. For conditions like eczema, rosacea, or raw, inflamed acne, that simplicity can be soothing.

But they also strip out the very minerals your skin needs to stay balanced, hydrated, and resilient.

In fact, a number of public health authorities caution against using demineralized water (like distilled or RO water) for regular consumption, because it can cause electrolyte loss and tissue irritation over time. 

Your skin—like your body—does best with a healthy mineral balance.

So go ahead and use it when your skin is flaring up. But for everyday rinsing, filtered water that retains healthy minerals is the best choice to keep your skin calm, clear, and protected.

What if bottled water is just pricey tap water… or worse? 

According to the New York Rural Water Association, an EWG report found that approximately 64% of bottled water sold in the U.S. is sourced from municipal tap water. 

Even worse: while tap water is regulated by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), bottled water is regulated by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). And FDA standards are significantly less strict across the board. 

• The FDA does not require bottled water companies to use certified labs for water quality testing 

• Nor does it require companies to publicly report test results

• And bottled water plants are inspected less frequently than municipal water systems.

For example, the NRDC reports municipal tap water is typically tested for coliform bacteria 100+ times per month. Meanwhile, bottled water is only required to be tested once per week (an average of just 4 times per month).  

And then there’s the plastic itself.

Chemicals from single-use plastic bottles (like hormone-disrupting BPA, reproductive-toxic phthalates, and dangerous microplastics) regularly leach into the water inside, especially when bottles are exposed to heat. 

So even though it might feel like a safer, cleaner choice, bottled water is often just pricier tap water in plastic that can further harm your health and your skin.

You don’t need to overhaul your bathroom to protect your skin. A few easy upgrades can make a big difference:

• Use a high-quality water filter on your bathroom sink or showerhead

• Rinse your face with filtered water from a pitcher after cleansing (especially if you have hard water)

• Keep a small bottle of filtered or distilled water nearby for post-cleanse rinsing when traveling or dealing with a flare-up

• Avoid hot water when washing your face—it makes everything harsher and dries out your skin faster

In the meantime, the best thing you can do is find out what’s actually in your water with just a few clicks.

Want to know what you’re actually washing your face with? 

Simply enter your zipcode here to get a free report that reveals the specific contaminants in your local tap water supply, risks associated with each, and personalized recommendations for protecting yourself (and your skin) from the dangers flowing from your tap. 

And if you’re ready to upgrade your water, tap here to shop our entire collection of best-selling, advanced filtration systems dedicated to your health and safety.