Witch hazel contains several antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, including gallic acid and tannins. When applied topically to the skin, witch hazel can reduce redness, soothe the skin, and treat sunburns.
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.
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.
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.
What it does: Just like a wine, witch hazel is rich in tannins. These chemicals help with skin firming by shrinking and constricting skin tissue, which gives it a smooth look. When the alcohol preparation goes on, it instantly feels cool, and in response, tissues temporarily contract and look tighter.
Witch hazel contains polyphenol, which acts as a protector from UV damage. It also helps retain the skin's natural collagen, making it great for elasticity and anti-aging. When paired with a moisturizing ingredient like aloe, witch hazel creates a well-balanced toner that will give your skin a healthy, natural glow.
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.
Witch hazel acts as an astringent to help shrink your pores, soothe your skin and reduce inflammation.
Witch hazel contains chemicals called tannins. When applied directly to the skin, witch hazel might help reduce swelling, help repair broken skin, and fight bacteria.
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.
Witch hazel is best for people with oily, acne-prone skin. Its astringent and pore-tightening properties help fight the inflammation and overproduction of oil associated with acne. It can also help clear clogged pores – a primary cause of acne breakouts.
Use Witch Hazel to Reduce Scars and Stretch Marks
Applying witch hazel directly to stretch marks and scars may help them shrink by tightening the pores around the scars and stretch marks. Some people recommend applying a small amount of the liquid directly to the skin.
“Witch Hazel is best used 2-3 times a week, after cleansing, because it removes traces of cleanser, makeup, dirt, or oil.
The natural tannins that witch hazel contains may temporarily calm the appearance of red, irritated, or blotchy skin, says Dr. Shainhouse, making it a handy product to have around when breakouts, insect bites, or a pesky sunburn are cramping your style.
Hartman warns that, “though witch hazel may initially improve oily skin, when used for long periods of time it can damage the barrier of the skin. Also, one of the antioxidant components of witch hazel, tannins, can be overly drying when used in excess. The tannins are sensitizing as well.
Consider lasers to shrink pores. Dermatologists can administer laser therapy treatments to resurface your skin. This in-office procedure can help with a variety of skin woes, including reducing the appearance of large pores. The laser exfoliates the top layer of skin and encourages collagen to form below.
There isn't anything out there that's going to shrink pores instantly, but you can cleanse your pores to remove any dirt that can be making them more noticeable. You can cover your face with makeup to get a temporary impact, but oftentimes this will only clog your pores even 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.
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.
While certain types of acne (such as cysts and pustules) are inflammatory, witch hazel may possible benefit noninflammatory acne (blackheads and whiteheads) too. The idea behind witch hazel for acne treatment is that it can act as an astringent by drying out your acne blemishes, much like other OTC treatments.
Ultraviolet rays, aka sunlight, cause collagen to break down faster. With sun exposure, those UV rays damage the skin by entering the dermis (the second and thickest layer of our skin) which causes collagen to break down faster.
Slather on a vitamin C serum in the morning. The vitamin is an antioxidant that protects the collagen in your skin against UV damage, says Chwalek. More than that, she says, it triggers collagen formation and stabilizes the collagen proteins in skin.
Collagen levels decrease with age and, unfortunately, there's no way to prevent this. The good news is that there are several cosmetic treatments that can rebuild or restore collagen.
Retinol (vitamin A) is the most frequently used ingredient in anti-aging creams. But tretinoin, another form of vitamin A, may be the most effective ingredient to firm the skin on your neck and face.