Most of us think about the water we drink, but rarely the water we splash on our skin. A holistic skincare expert reveals why she ditched tap water for her routine and what it’s done for her complexion.

Annelise Gath is an Australian-based skincare and wellness expert and co-founder of Lushi Filter – Australia’s first water filter designed specifically for skincare. After overcoming her own skin struggles, she now helps women protect and enhance their skin health from the very first step: the water they use daily.

I used to think my skin struggles were all about products: the wrong cleanser, a serum that didn’t deliver, moisturisers that felt heavy and masks that had ingredients I was too sensitive to. But after years of battling cystic acne, dryness and sensitivity, I realised there was a missing piece in my routine that no one was talking about: the tap water I washed my face with.

Living in Sydney, Australia, I couldn’t ignore the chlorine smell in the bathroom or the tight feeling after cleansing. Once I learned what was actually in our tap water and what it was doing to my skin, I made a change – and now I’ll never go back. Here’s why.

Tap water strips away your skin’s natural oils

Most tap water in Australia is treated with chlorine to kill bacteria. It’s great for keeping the water supply safe – but it’s harsh on your skin.

Chlorine works like a disinfectant, breaking down oils on contact. Like a swimming pool, it’s also absorbed immediately into the skin. That includes the good oils your skin needs to stay soft and balanced.

That “squeaky clean” feeling after washing isn’t a sign of healthy skin – it’s a sign your barrier has been stripped. And over time, this stripping effect weakens your skin barrier, leaving it more vulnerable to dehydration, sensitivity, and even fine lines. Your skin might feel tight within minutes of cleansing, moisturiser may absorb too quickly without lasting hydration, or you may notice flakiness or rough patches.

Over the years, repeated barrier damage can speed up visible ageing.

Heavy metals trigger redness and breakouts

Aging pipes can leach trace amounts of copper, lead and even mercury into tap water. While safe for drinking in low amounts, these metals aren’t so kind to your skin. They can cause oxidative stress, damaging skin cells and breaking down collagen, and act as irritants, triggering inflammation. For anyone with acne, rosacea, or sensitivity, this can mean more flare-ups and slower healing.

You might see persistent redness that doesn’t fully calm down, even with soothing skincare. Breakouts may appear in areas you don’t normally get them, and pigmentation from old blemishes can linger longer.

Over time, collagen damage can contribute to premature sagging and fine lines.

You filter water for drinking – what about the water for your skin?

Most of us understand the benefits of drinking filtered water: cleaner taste, fewer chemicals and less worry about contaminants. But here’s the catch: your skin is also an organ, and it absorbs what you put on it.

Tap water can carry chlorine, heavy metals and microscopic particles that don’t just rinse away, but rather linger on the skin after cleansing. These impurities mix with the natural oils in your skin and the remnants of your cleanser, leaving behind an invisible residue.

This residue can block pores, trap bacteria and create a barrier that stops your skincare products from absorbing properly. It’s like applying an expensive serum over a layer of clingfilm – it simply can’t do its job. Over time, you might notice more breakouts, uneven texture and the frustrating sense that your routine isn’t delivering results, no matter how good your products are.

Irritants in tap water aggravate skin conditions

If you have eczema, rosacea, dermatitis or simply reactive skin, tap water can be a hidden trigger.

Chlorine, heavy metals, and mineral deposits can all increase transepidermal water loss – meaning your skin loses moisture faster. They can also disrupt the delicate balance of your skin microbiome, making it easier for irritation to take hold.

Over time, you might experience regular flare-ups that seem “out of the blue,” with redness, itching or burning after cleansing. Long-term chronic irritation can make skin more sensitive to products you once tolerated well, shrinking your options for skincare.

Cleaner water means stronger skin and better results

When I began washing with filtered water (the same technology we developed for Lushi Filter), my skin felt softer after the first week. Redness calmed down, moisturisers absorbed better, and my breakouts became less frequent.

Over time, my skin stayed hydrated for longer, my tone evened out, and I could use active ingredients with less risk of irritation.

You can spend hundreds of dollars on high-end skincare, but if your water is working against you, you’ll never see its full potential. For me, filtering my water wasn’t just an upgrade. It was the missing foundation my skin had been craving for years.

Would you consider switching to filtered tap water for your skin health? Leave a comment below.