Witch Hazel for Your Skin: Uses & Benefits

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Marketed as a transformative ingredient more frequently packaged and sold in the form of facial toners, witch hazel has garnered increasing attention throughout the skincare industry within the last few years. Its meteoric rise in popularity may have something to do with the fact that it more closely resembles a magical elixir than a skincare product, with its ability to address numerous skincare concerns: shrink pores, repair broken skin, and heal burns to name a few – even at one time in history having been used to detect springs of underground water (allegedly).

Despite the current witch hazel craze – one doesn’t have to look much farther than Amazon reviews for the Thayer’s Rose Petal Toner – and the seemingly endless supply of new witch hazel products marketed every month to those seeking clearer skin; witch hazel is no spring chicken to the skincare industry.

It’s also debatable whether witch hazel is as amazing and efficient as it seems, lacking the scientific research that might back up whether it’s more fact than fable. This article provides an in-depth exploration of the supposed miraculous nature of witch hazel – including its common uses, benefits, side effects, and why you may not want to jump on the witch hazel bandwagon just yet.

What Is Witch Hazel?

Identifiable to green thumbs by its Latin name, Hammamelis virginiana, witch hazel is a native plant to North America and Asia. It’s leaves, bark, and twigs are used to produce common commercial witch hazel products found on drugstore shelves across the country. This includes ointments and lotions but more commonly, products in the form of a toner-like liquid.

The beloved facial toners used by many consumers are produced through a process of soaking the leaves, bark, and twigs in warm water, from which the plant’s essence and healing properties are extracted. From there, the concoction is distilled for sanitation purposes, with further distillation taking place through the addition of alcohol.

While the skincare industry has more recently enjoyed basking in the positive effects of witch hazel, this small but mighty plant has been cooked down and utilized as a remedy for various health concerns for more than five hundred years. It was first used to treat ailments such as skin irritation and inflammation by Native Americans, with etymology records dating back to the 1670s also mentioning a North American bush used to produce a soothing lotion.

Common Uses and Benefits of Witch Hazel in Skincare

What Native Americans first discovered through their use of witch hazel is much of what the ingredient is still used for in drugstore products to the present day. Research indicates that witch hazel is made up of active compounds, such as tannins, that are loaded with antioxidants. Witch hazel acts as an astringent to calm the skin, producing the tight, drying effect many users of witch hazel tend to experience.

We often see witch hazel used as a solution to treat common skin conditions and ailments, including bug bites, bruises, and hemorrhoids. Those suffering from sunburns or chemical burns may wish to try witch hazel for treatment, with recent studies identifying witch hazel, along with aloe vera, as ideal for their skin-soothing properties.

Witch hazel as a facial toner is also popular thanks in part to its anti-inflammatory benefits. When adding a witch hazel toner to your skincare routine, it’s important to choose one that is suitable to your skin type. The tannins present in witch hazel may temporarily de-grease the skin and minimize the look of pores – an ideal choice for someone with oily skin. On the other hand, individuals with sensitive skin may wish to consider a witch hazel toner with an alcohol-free formula for less irritation and dryness.

Likewise, witch hazel can be used to treat other bodily concerns, such as soothing skin in the aftermath of popping a pimple, or from annoying razor burns as a result of shaving the bikini line.

Side Effects of Witch Hazel in Skincare

For those with dry or sensitive skin, using a witch hazel toner containing an alcohol additive can irritate the skin. In some instances, excessive use of witch hazel regardless of skin type has been known to strip moisture from the skin.

Due to its drying effects, many people also think witch hazel is great for drying up acne when really, this can cause further breakouts and worsen pre-existing irritation. Tried and true acne treatments such as benzoyl peroxide and salicylic acid are recommended to treat acne over an ingredient such as witch hazel, which may further aggravate the skin. In addition to the side effects, the efficiency of witch hazel continues to be disputed from a scientific point of view, simply because the ingredient lacks the research to back up claims of it being the ‘be all, end-all’ product it appears to be.

Some have disputed the use of witch hazel as a treatment for puffiness under the eye area, the treatment of varicose veins, and for anti-aging purposes, like reducing fine lines and wrinkles. However, there’s simply not enough evidence to support these claims.

While we know the antioxidant properties within witch hazel can assist in soothing and calming irritated skin, there has also been minimal scientific research conducted to test the health effects of witch hazel. There is also the matter of witch hazel containing safrole, a chemical known to cause cancer. However, there are trace amounts of the chemical within the ingredient, so it should not be a cause for concern.

Also, the majority of research conducted has been to do with topical usage of witch hazel – for example, lotions and toners. There’s very little research on if witch hazel can be consumed, although it is generally not recommended.

Adding Witch Hazel to Your Routine

When first introducing witch hazel to your skincare routine, or for the treatment of skin conditions, it’s ideal to do a patch test to see how your skin reacts to the ingredient. Always do a thorough job of researching the ingredients on a product label before applying them to the face or body.

As with any new skincare product, you must listen to your body and pay attention to any further signs of irritation or reaction to a product. While an ingredient may work for one person, it may not work for another. Witch hazel appears to be one of those ingredients that needs to be taken with a grain of salt. A lot of what we believe witch hazel to be an efficient treatment for, actually lacks the evidence needed to back up such claims.

It’s acceptable to use in moderation but ensure you are using products that contain scientifically-backed ingredients known to be beneficial to your skin, in addition to witch hazel.

Want skincare advice from an expert? Find a dermatologist near you.

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Lindsay Stroud is a freelance content writer and ghostwriter from Vancouver, Canada. She has previously been published on The Urban Dater. Lindsay is always open to discussing projects and opportunities with brands and businesses and is currently accepting new clients. Find her online at lindsaystroud.com, or connect with her on LinkedIn.

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