How the Helios 3-Stage Showerhead Filter System Works

Most shower filters use a single cartridge. The Helios Showerhead uses three distinct filtration stages — each targeting a different category of contaminant. Here's how water moves through the system and what each stage does.

The 3 Stages, Explained

Water enters from your shower arm, passes through three filters in sequence, and exits through the showerhead nozzle. Each stage handles a different job:

By the time water reaches your skin, it's passed through all three stages — sediment removed, bacteria suppressed, chlorine neutralized, and skincare ingredients infused. Each stage protects the next: the core filter extends the micro filter's life, and both protect the infused filter so its active ingredients last the full 3 months.

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Stage 1: Core Filter — Purifying

The core filter is built from compressed carbon and polypropylene filtration media. It physically traps particles as water passes through — acting as a sieve at the molecular level. This is mechanical filtration, the same principle used in water treatment plants and under-sink systems.

What it catches

Replacement: Every 4–7 months depending on your water quality. Homes with older pipes or hard water should check at the 4-month mark. Shop Core Filter — $32

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Stage 2: Micro Filter — Antibacterial

The micro filter uses a fine-mesh antibacterial medium that operates at a finer level than the core filter. Where the core catches visible particles, the micro filter targets what you can't see — bacteria, fine rust, and dissolved impurities that slipped through stage 1.

What it catches

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Stage 3: Infused Filter — Skincare

This is what makes the Helios system different from every other shower filter. The infused filter contains a concentrated vitamin C tablet surrounded by skincare-grade active ingredients. As water flows through it, two things happen simultaneously:

Four formulas, one system

The infused filter is the only interchangeable component. All four formulas share the same vitamin C base for chlorine removal, but each adds different active ingredients for different skin concerns:

Swap between formulas any time — they all fit the same showerhead. Many people rotate seasonally based on what their skin needs. Read the full filter comparison guide →

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Why 3 Stages Instead of 1?

Single-cartridge shower filters try to do everything at once — catch sediment, kill bacteria, and remove chlorine with one piece of media. The problem is that each of those jobs requires a different filtration approach:

When a single cartridge tries to do all three, it compromises on each. The Helios system dedicates a purpose-built filter to each job, so nothing is compromised. The core filter handles the heavy physical filtration, the micro filter adds antibacterial protection, and the infused filter focuses entirely on chlorine neutralization and skincare delivery.

The result: each stage lasts longer because it's only doing one job, and each job is done more thoroughly because it's not sharing space with the others.

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What the System Removes

Across all three stages, here's what the complete system filters from your shower water:

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Installation & Maintenance

The showerhead fits any standard shower arm — the same threading your current showerhead uses. Unscrew the old one, screw on the Helios. All three filters come pre-installed in the box. No adapters needed for most setups. If your shower arm uses a non-standard connection, the Mount & Hose Adapter Kit ($29) handles it.

The showerhead itself never needs replacing — it's built from ABS, stainless steel, and PCTG, all rated for operating temperatures up to 70°C (158°F). You only ever replace the filters inside it.