Lotion and conditioner, conditioner and lotion. Why are your skin and hair always tending toward the dry side?
All else equal, there’s a very simple explanation: there’s a strong chemical added to the water you shower in. Chlorine is derived from salt and is put in public water supplies as a disinfectant. You know the smell: it’s eau de swimming pool.
There’s just one problem: it’s bad for you. Chlorine has a drying effect, and as you shower or bathe, you’re soaked in it. Warm water opens up the pores on your skin and the shafts of your hair, which compounds the damage as your hair and skin act like a sponge.
As if this weren’t bad enough, chlorine sometimes reacts with organic compounds found naturally in your water, producing compounds known as disinfection byproducts. What’s the problem with these byproducts? Chronic exposure of high doses causes brain sedation, cancer and heart disease.
Luckily, the market has provided us with easy ways to remove this swimming pool chemical from the water we shower in and drink. Online retailers like Overstock offer chlorine-reducing or eliminating filters for as low as $25.
There are several options to purify your tap water: reverse osmosis, activated alumina and UV filtration are popular options. You can also purchase a chlorine filtration system for your entire house, eliminating the need for faucet mounts.
After years of abuse, your skin and hair will thank you for the much-needed break from chlorine. Take moisture to the next level—and get the relaxation you need and deserve—with one of our must-have facials.
Have some extra stress to wash away, or just want to reward yourself for a job (any job!) well done? Set aside a day for our Day at the Spa packages, which include various combinations of spa baths, massages, facials, body treatments and manicures/pedicures. Don’t get caught underprepared—Valentine’s Day is coming!
