5 Amazing Skin Benefits of Witch Hazel

Reduces Skin Irritation and Relieves Inflammation

Witch hazel extract is rich in tannins that are natural anti-inflammatory agents. Applying lotion with witch hazel to irritated or inflamed skin will help soothe it and reduce redness and itching. In fact, some topical skin treatments for eczema, psoriasis and other inflammatory skin conditions contain witch hazel as one of their active ingredients. However, you shouldn’t apply alcohol-based witch hazel preparations on inflamed or broken skin, since alcohol may aggravate irritation (the only exception is if you use it as a spot treatment for insect bites).

Check this out: 5 Natural Products to Soothe Irritated Skin

Fights Acne

Due to its powerful anti-inflammatory and astringent properties, witch hazel is a popular anti-acne ingredient. When you apply it to pimples, it reduces inflammation, normalizes the production of sebum (skin oil), inhibits the growth of acne-causing bacteria, soothes your skin, and prevents acne scars. Like we’ve already mentioned above, if you use alcohol-based witch hazel, you should apply it only to pimples and avoid the surrounding skin.

Check this out: 4 Natural Products to Get Rid of Acne Scars

Is a Great Toner for Oily Skin

The antioxidant and astringent properties of witch hazel make it a great ingredient for toners designed for oily and combination skin. It helps remove excess oil from the surface of the skin and normalizes its production, tightens pores, making them appear smaller and preventing blackheads, and improves skin tone. That is why witch hazel extract is such a popular ingredient in mattifying skin toners.

Check this out: 8 Effective Ingredients for Oily Skin

Soothes Razor Burn and Prevents Ingrown Hairs

Thanks to its anti-inflammatory properties, witch hazel has one more use: you can use alcohol-free witch hazel toner as an aftershave. It will help prevent razor burn and razor bumps in your armpits or on your legs, as well as minimize the risk of ingrown hairs and soften the skin.

Check this out: How to Soothe Your Legs After Shaving

Relieves Sunburn

Some people apply lotions with witch hazel to treat sunburn due to its soothing and anti-inflammatory effect. However, you should keep in mind that witch hazel has no proven sunscreen properties. It doesn’t block UV rays, it simply relieves sun-damaged skin. So you still need to apply sunscreen – and if you do it right, you probably won’t even need to use witch hazel afterwards.

Check this out: 6 Tips for Relieving Sunburn

Bonus: How to Choose the Right Witch Hazel Products for Your Skin

To make sure witch hazel does more good than harm to your skin, you should steer clear of alcohol-based toners and opt for alcohol-free products that are much gentler. They will still have antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties thanks to witch hazel, so there is no need to subject your skin to ethanol. Make sure that the product also contains moisturizing ingredients, such as aloe vera or hyaluronic acid. And, of course, you should try it on a small, inconspicuous area of your skin before the first use to make sure you aren’t sensitive or allergic to witch hazel.