Absolutely! Witch hazel makes a fantastic toner. In fact, it is one of the best ways to remove dirt, grime, and excess traces of makeup at the end of the day to keep your skin looking clear and beautiful. Plus, it acts as a great base for moisturizers and other serums.
Witch hazel has many benefits for skin, including relieving inflammation, tightening pores, and helping with razor bumps. It may also help reduce acne, since it can cleanse your skin of excess oil. However, witch hazel should not be used by people with dry or extremely sensitive skin since it can cause irritation.
How often should you use witch hazel toner? In general, Dr. Shamban says you can use your witch hazel toner anywhere from twice a week to every day, depending on how your skin responds. But when it comes to an alcohol-based astringent, don't overdo it.
Can I use witch hazel on my face every day? A. Yes, witch hazel can be used as a natural toner, cleanser or moisturiser in your daily skincare routine. It can be used after the cleanser as a toner to target skin problems like acne, enlarged pores, redness, under-eye puffiness and more.
Follow up with moisturizer: It's best to pair witch hazel with a moisturizer to avoid over-drying your skin, says Dr. Schlessinger. Otherwise, you run the risk of triggering more acne. We recommend these dermatologist-approved moisturizers for oily, acne-prone skin.
Yes, research suggests that the anti-inflammatory and astringent properties in witch hazel can minimize acne breakouts. The anti-inflammatory properties calm the skin, while the astringent properties reduce excess oil on the skin that can lead to clogged pores and breakouts.
Many of the commercial witch hazels are blended with ethanol (or a type of alcohol used in skin care and beauty products). Avoid these. "Look for witch hazel in its pure form and not mixed with ethanol, which is overly irritating and drying to the skin," says Rabach.
Because Witch Hazel contains tannins and Gallic acid, which helps with broken skin, it is safe to use on the face. As a matter of fact, according to research, applying Witch Hazel topically to the skin provides relief from skin issues like Erythema. Thus, Witch Hazel on face is safe.
The high concentration of tannins in the product makes it a great natural astringent, removing excess oil and shrinking pores. From bruises to pigmentation to redness, witch hazel works from the inside out to heal underlying damage and broken skin, and fade dark spots.
Some people may have allergic reactions to witch hazel or experience minor side effects, such as redness and itching. Due to its astringent properties, frequent witch hazel use can dry and irritate the skin. People with dry or sensitive skin should use witch hazel sparingly or avoid it entirely.
3) Witch Hazel – This is one of the most proven effective methods in removing dark circles. You can purchase witch hazel at your local pharmacy and in some vitamin stores. Apply Witch Hazel directly onto cotton squares and allow them to sit on your eyelids and upper cheeks for ten to fifteen minutes.
Witch hazel acts as an astringent to help shrink your pores, soothe your skin and reduce inflammation.
Native Americans used the plant to treat the common cold, eye and liver conditions, and other illnesses. Early settlers also used the leaves to make tea for various medicinal purposes. Today, witch hazel is used in a variety of products, including ointments, soaps, and lotions.
The Bottom line: Witch hazel may be a great way to look younger right now, but long term, don't expect it to prevent wrinkles. You should also be wary of a cream that touts it as its miracle ingredient—once the shrinking effect wears off, your wrinkles will be more noticeable.
Stored somewhere cool, dark, and dry, witch hazel distillate should last about three years. I store mine in the fridge. Double check with your supplier as there is likely to be some variation depending on format and/or added alcohol content.
Witch Hazel for Oily Skin
Witch hazel can remove oil from the skin, but that's due to the denatured alcohol (ethanol) it contains. As we mentioned above, most of the witch hazel preparations contain between 14% and 15% alcohol, an amount that can significantly irritate skin.
However, it is safe to say that most dermatologists recommend witch hazel, but there are a few caveats to this answer. Those that understand the beneficial properties of adding this product to your skincare routine insist that the brand you choose must be alcohol-free.
A common witch hazel myth is that it will dry your skin out. However, modern witch hazel products do not have the alcohol content they formerly contained. These days, most products contain highly moisturizing components paired with the witch hazel, such as hyaluronic acid and aloe vera.
Aside from the key substance (tannins), many witch hazel products contain alcohol ingredients (like ethanol) that over-dry the skin and sometimes do more harm than good. Some variations can have up to 15 percent alcohol, which might be irritating to certain skin types like people with dry, acne-prone or sensitive skin.
Witch Hazel: Calming Inflammation
Witch hazel, which naturally soothes blackhead-prone skin with anti-inflammatory properties, appears most commonly in toners. If your regimen begins with toner, pass on the drying alcohol–based formulas and opt for water-based products.
A common misconception is also that the witch hazel plant naturally contains alcohol, and that's simply not the case. Its astringent properties come from tannins.
Many people have reported that witch hazel has helped with their hair loss. That's because it works to increase blood circulation in the scalp, delivering vital nutrients to the hair follicles, which can stimulate healthy growth. It also reduces inflammation (see above), another major cause of hair loss.
Our Trust in Witch Hazel
Both the Clearing Tonic and Body Wash also contain salicylic acid, a mild astringent that has proven especially effective with blackheads and whiteheads.
Since dark circles have a bluish hue, shades of peach and orange will be perfect for canceling them out. Use peach if you have a fair to light skin tone, bisque if you have a light to medium skin tone, or orange if you have a deep medium to dark skin tone.