Beauty products not working? Hard water could be the culprit
If you have hard water in your area, you probably already know about it. From limescale-filled kettles to dried-out skin, brittle hair, and soap that just won’t lather, hard water has a host of undesirable side-effects. But is there anything you can do about it?
First, an explainer. Hard water is water that contains high levels of minerals – particularly calcium and magnesium – which are picked up as it flows through porous rocks such as limestone or chalk. This is why the southeast of England is significantly worse-affected than the north, since the latter benefits from more non-porous materials in the ground. Unfortunately, for those in the hard-water zones, achieving baby-soft skin and smooth, shiny hair is, quite literally, a lot harder.
How does hard water impact your skin and hair?
“The minerals in hard water can leave residue on the skin, disrupting its natural pH balance and weakening the skin barrier. This can lead to dryness and irritation, and in some cases, exacerbate conditions like eczema or acne,” says Dr Anjali Mahto, a consultant dermatologist and the founder of Self London. “In contrast, soft water has fewer minerals and allows soaps and cleansers to lather more effectively, reducing residue and leaving the skin feeling cleaner and more hydrated.”
The same goes for hair, which can feel drier, coarser and duller due to mineral build-up, while your scalp might be itchy and flaky. Not to mention the fact you’ll get through a lot more shampoo due to its inability to lather properly in harder water.
It was moving between cities with different water qualities that caused Karlee Ozener to have the ‘aha moment’ that led to her co-founding the brand Hello Klean, which is based on combatting the effects of hard water on hair and skin through both topical products and shower filter systems.
“After moving, I noticed dramatic changes in my hair and skin,” she says “The same products would work perfectly in one place but fail me in another. It became clear that water quality was the hidden variable. We're spending so much on products while overlooking what those products are being mixed with: our water.”
The benefits of a shower filter
Ozener went straight to the source to address the issue in the first instance, creating Hello Klean’s Purifying Shower Head, which has a sleek, minimalist design and attaches easily to most shower hoses, filtering water of chlorine, heavy metals and rust before it reaches skin and hair.
Hello Klean Filter Shower Head 2.0
The brand’s soothing body washes and clarifying shampoos came later – we especially love the Full Length Anti-Breakage Hard Water Shampoo – and use mineral-neutralising ingredients such as lactic and citric acid to mitigate hard water’s ill effects, either alone or in combination with the filter. “By combining our shower filtration with targeted treatments, your existing products can work as intended,” Ozener adds.
Full Length Anti-Breakage Hard Water Shampoo
The best beauty products to combat the effects of hard water
Other brands have identified a need for products that combat the lacklustre byproducts of hard water too, in particular for hair. Kérastase's Prèmiere Decalcifying Repairing Shampoo and Conditioner have been created precisely for this purpose, while L’Oréal Professionnel’s Metal Detox range is designed to reduce the breakage and colour fade caused by hard water. The hairstylist and salon founder Edward James swears by the latter line for its softening and brightening effects when masterminding colour transformations at his London locations. “Dealing with very hard water can be challenging but this helps to prevent minerals adhering to hair during the washing process in the first place, plus the oil enhances shine and manageability,” he says.
Metal Detox Professsional Concentrated Oil
Meanwhile, if your skin is showing signs of hard-water damage such as dryness, tightness, redness and breakouts, Dr. Mahto suggests sticking to gentle and hydrating products.
“Avoid cleansers with strong exfoliating agents or high alcohol content, as these can exacerbate dryness and irritation. Also, steer clear of harsh soaps, as they can leave behind residue that clogs pores and irritates sensitive skin,” she recommends. “Instead, start by using a gentle, pH-balanced cleanser to avoid stripping your skin’s natural oils. Follow with a moisturiser rich in ceramides, glycerin or hyaluronic acid to help restore hydration and strengthen your skin barrier.”
Allies of Skin’s Molecular Silk Amino Hydrating Cleanser swerves soap in favour of gentler modern surfactants, as well as silk amino acids to replenish and protect sensitised skin. Follow up with Ilia Beauty’s Barrier Build Skin Protectant Cream, which is packed with ceramides and colloidal oatmeal to nourish and fortify.
And if you live in a soft water area? Lie back and enjoy the lather.
Detox Shampoo
A lightweight shampoo that’s gentle enough to replace your usual wash, this cult hair cleanser contains apple cider vinegar and a chelating (deposit-removing) complex to whisk away mineral build-up. The cedarwood, rose and bergamot scent makes hair smell luxe with every swish, too.
Clarifying Detox Shampoo
Like a weekly deep clean for scalp and lengths, this intensive shampoo uses naturally derived chelators to remove up to 65 per cent of copper particles in a single wash, keeping brassiness to a minimum. A clever magnetic polymer also attracts product build-up to leave roots lighter and bouncier.
Peptide Prep Detox Shampoo
This pH-balanced formula is especially kind to delicate coloured hair while still removing hard-water metal deposits. Salicylic acid helps to balance sebum on the scalp too, so this is the ideal occasional wash if you find that your roots get oily in-between shampoos but your ends are on the dry side.
Heartleaf Soothing Cleanser
A non-foaming, fragrance-free gel cleanser loaded with soothing, hydrating ceramides, this makes every skin type feel supple and refreshed in the face of a sink of hard water. The comforting-sounding heartleaf extract at the core of the formula is an anti-inflammatory botanical making waves in the Korean skincare industry for its calming effects.
Ectoin Hydro-Barrier Serum
Amino acid ectoin was a breakout star of the skincare space in 2024, with more and more brands realising its potential for repairing even the most ravaged skin barriers. This suits-all serum combines the hero molecule with multi-weight hyaluronic acid to attract moisture into the skin straight after cleansing (and keep it there all day).
Anti-Dryness Body Wash
Mineral deposits from hard water can strip the natural oils on your limbs too; this bi-phase body wash uses the same chelating technology used in the brand’s haircare, combined with calming centella asiatica and gentle PHAs to polish away dead skin cells. Leave it on while your conditioner gets to work for optimum post-shower softness.
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