Jolie and AquaBliss differ most on certification and price: Jolie is a certified filtered showerhead, AquaBliss a low-cost filter behind your own head.
- Jolie ($169) is NSF/ANSI 177 certified for free available chlorine and did not mention chloramine when read on October 20, 2026.
- AquaBliss SF100 ($35.99) layers calcium sulfite, redox media and carbon with a Vitamin C infusion; it says it reduces chloramine but publishes no figure and is not on NSF's listing (read October 20, 2026).
Our pick: If your city uses chloramine and you want a published result, the Second Showerhead: its Vitamin C core reduced free chlorine and chloramine by 99.9% in independent lab testing, held through Day 1-60 in our own testing.
- NSF/ANSI 42* certified component
- Independent lab clinical testing
- Dermatologist-tested, zero adverse reactions
*Micron PP sediment filter certified by NSF/ANSI 42 standards.
What You're Really Buying: Filter Technology
The biggest difference isn't price - it's what's inside the filter and how long it actually works.
The biggest difference isn't price - it's what's inside the filter and how long it actually works.
Jolie: KDF-55 and Calcium Sulfite
Jolie uses KDF-55 and calcium sulfite, media that reduce chlorine through a redox reaction.
Jolie recommends replacing filters about every 90 days ($35 on subscription).
NSF certified for free chlorine. Jolie publishes NSF figures for its showerhead: an 81.8% cumulative average chlorine reduction through 2,400 gallons. It publishes no chloramine result (October 2026).
AquaBliss: KDF + Activated Carbon
AquaBliss combines KDF-55 with activated carbon, which helps with taste and odor.
The advantage? Price. At $35 upfront and ~$15 per replacement filter, it's the cheapest option by far.
The trade-off? Inconsistency. With 10,000+ Amazon reviews, AquaBliss has a 4.3-star average - but common complaints include:
- Filters clogging within 2-4 weeks
- Noticeable pressure drop
- Plastic housing cracking
AquaBliss is not on NSF's listing (checked October 2026).
Second Shower: Vitamin C Gel Matrix
Second Shower uses a proprietary Vitamin C gel matrix - fundamentally different chemistry.
Vitamin C (ascorbic acid) neutralizes chlorine instantly through a chemical reaction that converts HOCl (hypochlorous acid) into harmless hydrochloric acid and dehydroascorbic acid. In independent lab testing it reduced free chlorine and chloramine by 99.9%, and the result held through Day 1-60 in our own testing.
Its micron PP sediment pre-filter is NSF/ANSI 42 certified; the 99.9% result for the full assembly comes from independent lab testing.
Bonus: the cartridge infuses water with 5 skin-barrier vitamins (C, E, B3, B5, B7); Jolie lists no vitamin infusion.
Learn more about the science: How Vitamin C Removes Chlorine (The Chemistry Explained).
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Feature |  Second Shower |
Jolie | AquaBliss |
|---|---|---|---|
| Filter Media | Vitamin C gel matrix | KDF-55 + calcium sulfite | KDF-55 + Activated Carbon |
| Day 1 Chlorine Removal | 99.9% | 98% at first use (NSF data) | ~90% |
| Day 60 Performance | 99.9% | Day 60 not published; 82% at 2,400 gal (NSF data) | <10% (estimated) |
| NSF Certified | Yes (NSF/ANSI 42) | NSF/ANSI 177 (free chlorine) | No |
| Upfront Price | $79 (Head) / $69 (Hand) | $148 | $35 |
| Filter Replacement Cost | $36/2-pack (Head) / $27/3-pack (Hand) | $35 per filter (subscription), $38 one-time | ~$15 every 3 months |
| Year 1 Total Cost | $177-187 (subscription) | $288 (subscription) / $309 (list) | ~$95 |
| Pressure Impact | Zero (128-176 micro-jets) | Not published | 20-40% reduction |
| Vitamin Infusion | 5 vitamins (C, E, B3, B5, B7) | None | None |
| Handheld Option | Yes (Showerhand) | No | No |
Second ShowerOur pick
- Filter Media
- Vitamin C gel matrix
- Day 1 Chlorine Removal
- 99.9%
- Day 60 Performance
- 99.9%
- NSF Certified
- Yes (NSF/ANSI 42)
- Upfront Price
- $79 (Head) / $69 (Hand)
- Filter Replacement Cost
- $36/2-pack (Head) / $27/3-pack (Hand)
- Year 1 Total Cost
- $177-187 (subscription)
- Pressure Impact
- Zero (128-176 micro-jets)
- Vitamin Infusion
- 5 vitamins (C, E, B3, B5, B7)
- Handheld Option
- Yes (Showerhand)
- Filter Media
- KDF-55 + calcium sulfite
- Day 1 Chlorine Removal
- 98% at first use (NSF data)
- Day 60 Performance
- Day 60 not published; 82% at 2,400 gal (NSF data)
- NSF Certified
- NSF/ANSI 177 (free chlorine)
- Upfront Price
- $148
- Filter Replacement Cost
- $35 per filter (subscription), $38 one-time
- Year 1 Total Cost
- $288 (subscription) / $309 (list)
- Pressure Impact
- Not published
- Vitamin Infusion
- None
- Handheld Option
- No
- Filter Media
- KDF-55 + Activated Carbon
- Day 1 Chlorine Removal
- ~90%
- Day 60 Performance
- <10% (estimated)
- NSF Certified
- No
- Upfront Price
- $35
- Filter Replacement Cost
- ~$15 every 3 months
- Year 1 Total Cost
- ~$95
- Pressure Impact
- 20-40% reduction
- Vitamin Infusion
- None
- Handheld Option
- No
What About Hard Water?
If you're shopping for a shower filter because of hard water, here's what you need to know:
No shower filter removes hardness minerals (calcium and magnesium). Not Jolie. Not AquaBliss. Not Second Shower.
Why? Because removing minerals requires ion exchange or reverse osmosis - technologies that don't work at shower flow rates without a whole-home system.
But here's the important part: hard water minerals aren't harmful to your skin or hair.
The SWET trial (Thomas et al. 2011, PLoS Medicine) tested ion-exchange water softeners in 336 children with eczema living in hard-water areas. After 12 weeks, there was no significant improvement in eczema severity compared to usual care.
What does damage skin and hair? Chlorine. Chlorine oxidizes the lipid barrier in skin and disulfide bonds in hair protein - and that's what a good filter removes.
If your water feels "hard," that's usually mineral buildup on fixtures - not a skin issue. A TDS meter (which measures total dissolved solids) won't tell you anything useful about shower water quality. It measures all dissolved content - including harmless minerals like calcium.
For a deeper dive: Best Shower Filters for Hard Water (and What Actually Works).
Cost Breakdown: Year 1, Year 2, Year 5
Jolie is the most expensive option - by a wide margin.
| Year | Second Shower |
Jolie | AquaBliss |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $177-187 (subscription) | $288 (subscription) / $309 (list) | $95 |
| Year 2 | $108 (subscription) | $140 (four $35 filters on subscription) | $60 |
| Year 5 (Total) | $609-619 (subscription) | $848 (subscription) / $869 (list) | $335 |
Second ShowerOur pick
- Year 1
- $177-187 (subscription)
- Year 2
- $108 (subscription)
- Year 5 (Total)
- $609-619 (subscription)
- Year 1
- $288 (subscription) / $309 (list)
- Year 2
- $140 (four $35 filters on subscription)
- Year 5 (Total)
- $848 (subscription) / $869 (list)
- Year 1
- $95
- Year 2
- $60
- Year 5 (Total)
- $335
Jolie is the most expensive option - by a wide margin. Over five years on subscription, Jolie comes to about $848 and the Second Showerhead to about $619, a $229 difference.
AquaBliss is cheapest - but you're paying for inconsistency and rapid degradation.
Water Pressure: Why It Matters
Most shower filters cause a 20-40% pressure drop because water has to pass through dense filter media.
Most shower filters cause a 20-40% pressure drop because water has to pass through dense filter media.
Second Shower solves this with 128-176 micro-jets (depending on model). Water passes around the Vitamin C cartridge and is pressurized through tiny nozzles - so you get no measurable pressure loss at 40-80 PSI and better spray coverage.
Jolie states 1.8 GPM and publishes no pressure-loss figure. If you have low water pressure to begin with, check flow figures before you buy.
Reviews and Real-World Performance
- Second Shower: customer reviews on secondshower.us. Common praise: "no pressure loss," "water feels softer," "skin stopped itching."
- Jolie: 1,500+ reviews @ 4.8 stars. Positive feedback on design and brand experience. Complaints about cost and short filter life.
- AquaBliss: 10,000+ reviews @ 4.3 stars on Amazon. High variance - some users love it, others report filters clogging within weeks.
Installation
All three are tool-free, 60-second installs.
All three are tool-free, 60-second installs. You unscrew your existing showerhead, screw on the filter, done.
Second Shower includes both standard and handheld options (Showerhead and Showerhand). Jolie and AquaBliss are showerhead-only.
Which One Should You Buy?
If you want verified performance: the Second Showerhead, with 99.9% free chlorine and chloramine reduction in independent lab testing, held through Day 1-60 (Showerhead) and Day 1-30 (Showerhand) in our own testing.
If you want verified performance: the Second Showerhead, with 99.9% free chlorine and chloramine reduction in independent lab testing, held through Day 1-60 (Showerhead) and Day 1-30 (Showerhand) in our own testing. You're paying for consistency and third-party proof.
If you want the cheapest upfront cost: AquaBliss wins at $35 - but expect inconsistent performance and possible early replacements.
Jolie: Its NSF/ANSI 177 certification covers free chlorine, and it is a fair pick if you want its finishes. It costs $169 up front and publishes no chloramine result (October 2026), so it is a weaker fit for chloramine water.
Vitamin C wall-mount filter — 99.9% chlorine and chloramine reduction during the cartridge's peak performance window (Day 1–60). $79 on subscription, a new filter every 60 days, NSF/ANSI 42* certified PP sediment pre-filter.
Shop the Second ShowerheadRelated Reading
Frequently Asked Questions
Do any of these filters remove chloramine?
Second Shower removes 99.9% of chloramine (tested independently). Jolie and AquaBliss publish no chloramine figure (October 2026). If your city uses chloramine instead of chlorine (check your water report), Vitamin C neutralizes it.
Can I use these with low water pressure?
Second Shower has no measurable pressure loss at 40-80 PSI, and its micro-jets keep the spray full in low-pressure homes. Jolie publishes no pressure-loss figure (it states 1.8 GPM).
How do I know when to replace the filter?
Second Shower: a new filter every 60 days on the Showerhead and every 30 days on the Showerhand, sooner if the cartridge looks deep brown or black or the pressure drops.
Jolie: about every 90 days, per the brand. AquaBliss gives 3-6 months for its cartridge.
Do these filters remove fluoride?
No. Fluoride removal requires activated alumina or reverse osmosis - not possible in a shower filter at normal flow rates. (And fluoride in shower water isn't a skin/hair concern - it's only relevant for drinking water.)
Is there a shower filter under $50 that actually works?
AquaBliss is the only filter under $50 upfront - but "works" is relative. It will reduce some chlorine on Day 1 (~90%), but performance degrades rapidly and there's no independent certification. If you want verified, consistent filtration, you'll need to spend more. Second Shower ($69 to $79 with a filter subscription) has a published result: 99.9% free chlorine and chloramine reduction in independent lab testing, held through Day 1-60 (Showerhead) and Day 1-30 (Showerhand) in our own testing. Budget filters might save you money upfront, but you'll replace them more often and get inconsistent results.
Which filter is best for eczema or sensitive skin?
Chlorine is a known skin irritant and oxidizer - removing it consistently is what matters. Second Shower's result is 99.9% free chlorine and chloramine reduction in independent lab testing, held through Day 1-60 (Showerhead) and Day 1-30 (Showerhand) in our own testing. Jolie's NSF data for free chlorine runs from 98% at first use to 82% at 2,400 gallons.
Our Pick
Second Shower - Vitamin C Showerhead
99.9% free chlorine and chloramine reduction in independent lab testing, held through Day 1-60 in our own testing. No measurable pressure loss at 40-80 PSI. 176 micro-jets. $79 + filters ($36/2-pack).
Shop Showerhead Or Try Showerhand ($69)
