The Beauty Shelf with Emily Darlow
I recently spent a month in Japan and noticed a massive difference in my skin and hair while I was there. Granted, I was using a few beautiful Japanese skincare products, but not enough to justify such a noticeable change in such a short space of time. My hair felt softer and less frizzy, my skin looked calmer with less oil, and my complexion seemed brighter overall. I didn’t feel like I needed as many products in my routine, which is ironic considering the Japanese are famous for their multi-step beauty rituals.
When I looked into it, one key difference kept coming up: water quality. Japan is known for having relatively soft water in many regions, and chlorine levels in shower water can be lower than what we are used to in parts of Australia. Hard water and chlorine can strip the skin of its natural oils and leave hair feeling dry, rough and difficult to manage. Suddenly, it made sense. Perhaps it was not just the serums and lotions making the difference, but the water itself.
So when Flowy reached out and offered for me to trial their filtered showerhead, I was genuinely curious. Could changing the water at home recreate even a hint of that Japan glow?
Flowy is Australia’s premium filtered showerhead designed to make your daily shower gentler on your skin and hair by reducing chlorine and common impurities that can be harsh on your body. The showerhead uses an advanced multi-stage filtration system called Flowy Filter Plus™, which combines media such as KDF-55, calcium sulfite and catalytic carbon to help reduce chlorine, heavy metals like copper and lead, sediment and rust from your tap water before it reaches your skin.
What that means in everyday life is water that feels softer, cleaner and kinder without losing strong, spa-like spray pressure. Unlike some simpler add-on filters, Flowy is a fully engineered showerhead with the filter built inside, so you simply screw it onto your shower arm and start enjoying better-feeling water straight away. Most people notice a difference from the very first shower, and visible improvements in hair and skin usually show up within a few weeks, depending on your local water quality.
Installation was straightforward. It took just a couple of minutes to remove my old showerhead and attach Flowy – no tools, no plumber, no fuss. Despite housing a full filtration system, the showerhead delivers a balanced water pressure that still feels luxurious and generous, rather than weak or muted, which is something I really appreciated.
Another practical benefit is the replaceable filter cartridges, which are designed to last a few months before needing replacement. This means the Flowy showerhead isn’t a one-off upgrade – it keeps working with fresh filtration to help maintain cleaner water and a more comfortable shower experience over time.
After a couple of weeks, I started noticing familiar changes. My hair felt smoother and less prone to frizz, particularly at the ends. My skin didn’t feel as tight or dry after showering, and I wasn’t reaching for as many heavy moisturisers to compensate. There was even a subtle difference in how my skincare products sat on my skin, as though they were absorbing more easily rather than fighting against dryness.
It’s easy to focus on expensive creams, serums and treatments when we talk about beauty over 60, but sometimes the foundation matters just as much. If the water you shower in every day is harsh or heavily chlorinated, it could be undermining even the best routine.
Flowy doesn’t replace good skincare, but it is a surprisingly impactful upgrade. For anyone struggling with dry skin, irritation or hair that never quite behaves, looking at what’s coming out of your showerhead might be one of the most rewarding beauty swaps you make. Sometimes the simplest changes make the most noticeable difference.
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