You made it, HIGH FIVES all around!
Today, we shall discuss water - specifically the type of water you use to shower or bathe.
Interestingly, your water type has a notable difference on the way skincare products interact with your skin.
Do you know if your water supply is HARD or SOFT?
If you are unsure, check your municipalities resources and find out.
According to the City of Ottawa our tap water is soft, and naturally so, as the source from the Ottawa River is also soft. The difference between having soft or hard water has to do with the amount of dissolved minerals in your water.
This is why ground water is usually hard water, and if you live on a well - you likely have a water softener installed to control deposits.
Why is this important?
Surfactant based (SLS) containing skincare, such as your commercial body washes interact with the minerals in the hard water and create deposits - or buildup on surfaces and on you! This film can be quite irritating to your skin. Unfortunately, since lather is lower with hard water, the tendency is to use more product which exacerbates this effect.
If this is the case for you, be mindful to control your usage or make the switch to natural cleansers. This SALT Bar lathers equally well in soft and hard water naturally reducing your product consumption!
Soft water users usually experience the opposite effect, where less product is required for the desired effect with less likelihood of skin irritation.
Keep in mind there are spectrums of hard and soft water. So if you move from an area of soft water to soft water but your experience differs - this is likely why.
As skin hydration starts in the shower, ensure that your cleanser is always giving back. Your skin should not feel tight and stripped after bathing! Natural Bar Soap contains free floating butters and oils which deposit on your skin, mitigating "the dry".
Your homework for today:
- Investigate your water source
- Find a cleanser that loves your skin
- Be your authentic self!
