Ion Drop 2 min read

Vitamin C vs PP-Cotton Shower Filters: Which Does What

A Ablu RitualConsidered care · June 2026

Shower filters come in a few styles, and the names can be confusing. Here is a simple guide to the two Ablu uses, PP-cotton and Vitamin C, and how to pick the right one for your shower.

PP-cotton filters

PP-cotton (polypropylene cotton) is a dense, multi-layer cotton-style cartridge that water passes through. It is designed to trap sediment, rust and fine particles, and to help reduce chlorine taste and odour. The cotton changes colour over time as it does its job, which is your cue to swap it. PP-cotton sits inside the Ion Drop Filtered Shower Head, and the replacement cartridges keep it going.

Vitamin C filters

A Vitamin C filter uses vitamin C (ascorbic acid) along with mineral media to reduce chlorine taste and odour as the water flows. Ablu's inline Vitamin C filter screws between your hose and almost any shower head, so it is an easy way to soften the feel of your water without replacing your whole shower head. Many people simply like the fresh, lightly scented feel it gives the water.

Which should you choose?

Want a complete filtered shower head? Start with the Ion Drop and its PP-cotton cartridges.
Happy with your current shower head? Add the inline Vitamin C filter in front of it.
Want both? They work happily together, the inline filter sits before your head, the PP-cotton inside it.

A note on expectations

Both are cosmetic, feel-good upgrades. They reduce chlorine taste and odour and sediment for water that feels softer and leaves skin feeling smoother and hair looking shinier. They are not medical devices and do not treat any condition, the difference you notice is in how your shower feels.