Witch Hazel for Cleansing: Anti-Inflammatory plus Benefits

Literally

So, witch hazel is not made from witches.  It’s made from a plant.  The plant is technically a shrub.  The shrub’s actual name is Hamamelis virginiana and grows mostly in the US and Canada.  The liquid from its leaves, bark and twigs has been used for centuries as medicine to treat a variety of issues.  Its popularity as a toner has grown in recent years, as people started realizing using alcohol-based toners was a very bad idea.  

Alcohol Dryness

Alcohol based toners were once very popular, offering a refreshing, cooling effect that made people “feel” cleaner.  Unfortunately, that same alcohol strips the skin of healthy oils (along with the unhealthy oil) while drying and tightening the skin.  That effect may feel good temporarily, but can contribute to long term skin damage.  Yet, of course people used it (especially for acne), because it works.  However, these short-term effects come with long term consequences.

Over time, the drying and tightening effects of alcohol rob your skin of the moisture your body needs to keep the skin healthy and looking young.  It can contribute to signs of pre-mature aging as well as dry skin in general.  People figured this out sometime in the 1990’s and suddenly… witch hazel became a thing.  

Hazel Returns

First, witch hazel is a natural astringent.  An astringent is a liquid used to cleanse skin and tighten pores.  This step (astringent/toner) is especially important for those with acne or oily skin.  It may not be necessary for everyone and those who don’t need it (not prone to acne or oil) may choose to skip it.  However, for those with oily skin, acne-prone or those who wish to even their skin tone and tighten their pores an astringent can help.  By removing the bad oils from the face and keeping the good oils, witch hazel can help provide the best of both worlds. 

Second, witch hazel is a natural cleanser.  As mentioned, it is especially good at cleaning up excess oil.   It can reduce the production of sebum and therefore help reduce visible acne.

Third, it can reduce skin irritation and help protect your skin from damage.  The anti-oxidant rich tannins in witch hazel reduce free radicals that can cause signs of aging.  Regular use of witch hazel can help soothe minor skin irritations while helping to protect the skin from signs of premature aging.  Anti-acne plus anti-aging all found in a shrub here in the good ole USA…not bad witch hazel….not bad.

 blissani Naturals Clear Line Toner with Witch Hazel:

For More on Anti-Aging Ingredients:

References:

National Library of Medicine: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3214789/

Webmd: https://www.webmd.com/vitamins/ai/ingredientmono-227/witch-hazel