Water that has been intentionally processed for the sake of removing toxic or unsafe components is vital both for our use internally and in products. However, not all types of cleansed water are created equal. Michelle Vidal, founder of mineral-rich skincare brand Alkaglam, helped us break down the how and the why.
Firstly, understanding exactly what each cleansing process entails is important. Water isn’t pure H20 and that’s it: for both drinking and bathing water, we rely on it to replenish minerals and electrolytes, too. That’s what hydration is really all about.
“There are many different types of filtered water. One of the main types that people drink is reverse osmosis water, which is from a water filter underneath your sink with multiple filter stages. It uses a membrane that removes dissolved inorganic solids from the solution, and then water is pushed out through the stages into a holding tank. There, the water comes out clean and ready to drink from your faucet, though it is a little acidic on the pH scale,” Vidal explains.
If you weren’t entirely certain how you get your reverse osmosis water, you are well-versed now. The benefit of reverse osmosis filtration, Vidal tells us, is that it’s great at removing heavy metals and bacteria and can remove up to 98% of total dissolved solids—which are any minerals, salts, metals, and negative or positively charged ions.
Because minerals and salts are removed in reverse osmosis filtration, you would want an inline cartridge to infuse the water with minerals like magnesium, potassium, and calcium, which are alkaline on the pH scale, for healthy drinking.
“Another popular way to filter is using just a granular carbon filter, which is the most popular,” Vidal says. “You see this with drinking pitchers, which are only good for removing chlorine for the most part. The problem is contact time; water needs to go through multiple stages of filtration to effectively remove heavy metals, fluoride, and bacteria. And if people forget to change these filters it can cause bacteria growth, which can be more harmful than drinking tap water.
Distilled water is created when water is boiled, and steam is collected through a process called distillation. This water is most commonly used in labs because it’s the most pure and very acidic. It is void of bacteria and volatile organic chemicals (VOCs), which can be liquid or solid chemicals that easily evaporate into gasses. This water is recommended for appliances, steamers, and what we use for skincare in Alkaglam.”
Distilled water isn’t recommended for drinking because its lack of mineral content will cause it to leach minerals from your body. And it might seem strange that the purest, most acidic, and most void-of-minerals water would be ideal for skincare, but it’s balanced super scientifically in Alkaglam with reverse osmosis filtration water. And that’s when the efficacious alchemy really comes into play.
“The minerals in the bottle naturally raise the pH of the liquid inside. We calibrate the formula to be perfect for the skin, and distilled water and reverse osmosis water work perfectly with the formula. If they were used with tap water and/or anything that does not remove chlorine or heavy metals, the ingredients would be compromised and not effective.”
The content provided in this article is provided for information purposes only and is not a substitute for professional advice and consultation, including professional medical advice and consultation; it is provided with the understanding that Poosh, LLC (“Poosh”) is not engaged in the provision or rendering of medical advice or services. You understand and agree that Poosh shall not be liable for any claim, loss, or damage arising out of the use of, or reliance upon any content or information in the article.
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