This year, I started incorporating witch hazel into my everyday beauty routine. As a skincare fanatic constantly trying new products daily, I was astounded to learn that a guy friend of mine (who isn’t gay by the way) knew of this holy grail product that I had been living years without! Now, I can’t imagine getting through the day without using it. Honestly, I don’t even know how we got onto the topic, but we started talking about our skincare regimen and this casually came up in conversation. I am so glad it did!
In case you aren’t familiar with witch hazel (just like how I wasn’t a few months ago), applying it on the face comes with heaps of benefits. It is actually a plant native to North America, and the leaves and bark are used to make a skin-healing astringent that works miracles in naturally curing all sorts of skin issues. The best part is, you can get a sizable bottle of it from your local Walmart or Target for just a few bucks! Long gone are the days I’d spend a ridiculous amount of money on a facial toner. I love that this dermatologist recommended astringent is very gentle, making it ideal for morning and night use. It is TOTALLY underrated! In addition to these perks, using witch hazel as a facial toner may be the solution to some common epidermis problems such as…
Acne
Like I’ve mentioned several times in my previous beauty posts, I often suffer from hormonal acne a week or two before my period. Calling these pesky pimples annoying would be an understatement. While I still break out here and there, I’ve noticed that witch hazel has helped reduce acne immensely over the months. Witch hazel works to kill germs, soothe, and remove & balance oil on the skin. It has also diminished the appearance of my acne scars, which is amazing because I no longer have to wear as much makeup to conceal these flaws.
Dry Skin
I was told that witch hazel can be really drying especially if you use it twice a day as a toner. However, I actually haven’t experienced witch hazel to be overly drying. Instead, it removes excess oil and impurities to balance my skin’s pH level. Since I use it as a toner though, I always follow with a good SPF moisturizer in the mornings, and a rich night cream in the evenings. Just like anything else, everyone’s skin may react to this astringent differently. Overall though, I’d say that it’s a pretty gentle formula and safe to use on all skin types everyday.
Wrinkles & Aging
Witch hazel also has incredible anti-aging properties. If you like to be outdoors a lot, you may want to consider incorporating this into your routine to fight premature aging. Signs like wrinkles, discoloration, scarring, and loss of elasticity can be improved with long-term use. It’s also been proven that witch hazel’s tannins and polyphenols work to protect the skin against cancer, melanoma, and other forms of damage caused by UV exposure. This is great news for those who love tanning by the pool!
Inflammation
Suffer from puffy eyes or itching from a bug bite? Witch hazel may be your new best friend! Along with anti-aging properties, this holy grail tightens the skin, which helps to reduce puffiness. I would be careful with applying witch hazel around the eyes, but it’s totally gentle and safe to use under it and even over the lids. Thanks to its anti-bacterial agents, witch hazel naturally heals the skin and provides instant relief for any insect bites or allergic reactions on the skin.
Large Pores
One of the most commonly asked questions I get is how I keep my skin looking so pore-less all the time. Full disclosure — that’s partly makeup, but witch hazel has minimized the appearance of my pores on the nose and cheeks. With repeated use, witch hazel tones pores and delivers a flawless complexion. If you’re looking to shrink your pores or at least keep them clean & unclogged, using witch hazel as a facial toner will definitely help!
Personally, I have been using Dickinson’s Original Witch Hazel. It’s around $5 at my local Walmart and has worked well for me, so I haven’t ventured out to try other brands yet. For those of you wishing to try witch hazel but can’t find the Dickinson’s brand in store, the good news is that even the off-brand astringents supposedly deliver the same effects and are also similar in price. 🙂
What’s a beauty product that you swear by that is also affordable and underrated?
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Kenzi || Life of a Sister
April 11, 2018I love my Witch Hazel as my toner! It works great and it’s really perfect for my nighttime skincare routine! I never knew it could reduce your pores, I need to try this in the morning too!
Sharon Wu
April 11, 2018Yayyy! I am so glad to hear you love witch hazel too. It’s so good! Works miracles for sure 🙂
Briana
April 11, 2018I seriously need to try a new toner! Especially for my pores sake!
Briana
https://beyoutifulbrunette.com/
Sharon Wu
April 11, 2018Witch hazel is a game changer! And doesn’t hurt to give it a try since it’s so affordable too 🙂
Brielle
April 11, 2018Cheap and easy! Solid choice for a toner especially when it’s alcohol free, not that easy to find.
Brielle
http://www.lovethepinkdetox.com
Sharon Wu
April 11, 2018So true babe! There’s no reason to not love witch hazel lol 😉
annie
April 11, 2018Witch hazel sounds like an amazing toner and an affordable alternative too! I need to try it. Thanks for sharing xo
Sharon Wu
April 11, 2018It is! You should totally try it and let me know how you like it xx
Eileen
April 11, 2018Ahhh your skin is always so flawless I need everything in your bathroom shelfie hahaha. Will pick up witch hazel and try it soon! Xo
Sharon Wu
April 11, 2018Aww thanks Eileen! Appreciate it 🙂 I definitely recommend giving witch hazel a try xx
Eda Semana
April 11, 2018I swear by witch hazel as well. I love Dickensons!
xx,
Eda
http://luxeandlinen.com/three-rockin-music-festival-outfits/
Sharon Wu
April 12, 2018Dickinson’s is the best! Glad you enjoy using witch hazel as well 🙂
Katie
April 11, 2018I need to try this! I love the affordable price!!
Sharon Wu
April 12, 2018Yes! You can’t go wrong 🙂
Gita
April 11, 2018I heard so much good things about witch hazel, especially for acne prone skin like mine. Definitely gotta try this out.
Sharon Wu
April 12, 2018Yeah, I have acne prone skin as well and this works great for me.
Kileen
April 11, 2018Wow that is so awesome!! I definitely need to pick some up and try it!
Kileen
cute & little
Sharon Wu
April 12, 2018I definitely recommend it! xo
Deborah
April 12, 2018AHH I use this exact witch hazel toner and I love it! I was thinking of switching to the Thayer witch hazel and rose water toner but I need to use this up first before making that decision! Love it!
Sharon Wu
April 12, 2018Ohhh! I am so glad to hear that this witch hazel works well for you too. I haven’t tried Thayer personally but have heard great things about that one too… so I might try it one of these days! xx
Jessi Malay
April 12, 2018I’ve heard so many amazing things about Witch Hazel!! I’ll have to try it finally 🙂
XO, Jessi
https://jmalay.com/last-minute-coachella-looks/
Sharon Wu
April 15, 2018You’ll have to let me know how you like it! xo
Jenny Yang
April 12, 2018I am definitely going to try this–I’ve actually heard a lot of good benefits of doing so!
xx Jen
http://lilthoughtswithjen.com/
Sharon Wu
April 15, 2018Yes! I’d love to hear your thoughts on it after you try 🙂
the eye traveler
April 13, 2018I used to use witchazle back in college. It certainly is a great product!
Sharon Wu
April 15, 2018I’m glad you like it too!
Mariann Yip
April 13, 2018I’m actually a huge fan of witch hazel toner! I discovered this about a year ago and it has been wonderful for my skin!
Sharon Wu
April 15, 2018That’s wonderful to hear, Mariann!
Kyla
April 13, 2018I’ve heard of witch hazel but had no idea what it’s benefits are! I love good old classic coconut oil!
Kyla
wanderlustkyla.com
Sharon Wu
April 15, 2018Coconut oil is amazing for a moisturizer! I like to follow with this after using witch hazel sometimes 🙂
JaNae
April 14, 2018I didn’t know about all of the benefits of witch hazel. Very interesting! I will have to start using the bottle I have
Sharon Wu
April 15, 2018I hope you’ll love it as much as I do!
Taylor Mobley
April 15, 2018I love witch hazel! It’s such an underrated product!
Sharon Wu
April 20, 2018I’m so glad you like it too! Seriously underrated but works so well!
Andrea
April 16, 2018my mom has been using witch hazel for as long as I can remember as a toner and passed that on to me and I agree it really is amazing.
Sharon Wu
April 20, 2018Yayyy! That’s amazing girl!
Samantha Mariko
April 19, 2018I used to use witch hazel as my toner a couple years back and I can’t remember why I stopped using it… I should get that back in my routine again 🙂
xo Samantha
Sharon Wu
April 20, 2018Yes girl! Haha it works wonders 🙂
Tania Cascilla
April 20, 2018I’ve been hearing about witch hazel for a while. Maybe I’ll give it a try!
Sharon Wu
April 20, 2018Yes, it’s definitely worth a try and lives up to its hype!