Witch hazels are flowering plants that provide us with many health care benefits. It has anti-inflammatory and antiviral properties, which may help you treat scalp and skin diseases.
It is also an astringent that is beneficial for the skin. Are you curious to learn more about Witch hazel?
Read the whole article to know the uses and benefits of witch hazel for your skin!
Benefits of Witch Hazel
Witch hazel provides many benefits for the skin. Let us dive deeper into each one of them!
1. Relieves inflammation
As mentioned above, witch hazel has anti-inflammatory properties that help you relieve skin inflammation. The gallic, tannins, and antioxidants help prevent widespread inflammation on the skin. It also helps alleviate scalp sensitivity and heal broken scalps by reducing inflammation.
Either directly apply crushed witch hazel on the inflamed area or dip cotton balls or cloth into liquid witch hazel and pat on the spot to soothe skin.
2. Tightens pores
Because witch hazel is an astringent, it temporarily helps tighten the skin pores by stopping sebum production. Also, the tannins in it compress the protein in your skin, tightening pores.
You can apply witch hazel toners to your skin after a face wash or makeup removal. But remember to use an alcohol-free toner.
3. Remove excess oil
Witch hazel, a natural astringent, helps remove excess oil from your skin by drying out most of it. But, it doesn’t leave your skin dehydrated as it gives a moisturizing effect to your skin, keeping it hydrated.
Wash your face, dip a cotton pad in witch hazel liquid or toner, and apply to your skin. Leave it for a few minutes, rewash your face, and apply cream or moisturizer at the end.
Tip: Avoid using the fingertip to dab witch hazel on the skin, as oil on the fingertip may get stuck on the skin.
4. Cure razor bumps
Again, as witch hazel is a natural astringent, it soothes irritations on razor bumps and helps cure them. You can also apply it after using a razor on the skin to avoid bumps. Just soak cotton balls in witch hazel astringent, apply it on the razor bump, and then moisten the area.
5. Reduces skin irritation
Skin irritation is caused by the cloth you wear, chemicals or soap you use, and many other reasons. But, one of the antioxidant properties of witch hazel, called tannins, can help you reduce skin irritations.
Apply topical witch hazel directly on the area you have irritations and get relief in some weeks on applying daily. Use cotton pads to apply it to avoid increased irritations.
6. Treat hemorrhoids
As said in the above points, witch hazel reduces irritations, swelling, and itching, which are the main reasons for hemorrhoids. And hemorrhoids mainly occur in people during pregnancy, bowel movements, or obesity.
To treat hemorrhoids, buy a liquid form of witch hazel and directly apply it to the affected area. Also, you can use anti-itching products or creams having witch hazel as an ingredient in them.
7. Soothes sore throat
Witch hazel helps soothe a sore throat by acting as an astringent and having anti-inflammatory properties. Also, it helps relieve the pain of canker sores as the tannins build up fluids in the throat that reduce inflammation.
Boil 1 tsp or 5ml witch hazel in one cup of water for around 10 minutes and gargle it at a warm temperature once a day to soothe a sore throat.
8. Protects against skin damages
Witch hazel’s richness in tannins and powerful antioxidant properties protects your skin against damage. The tannins act as a barrier for the skin to protect it and prevent inflammation-causing substances from entering the skin cells.
Either apply a liquid form of it directly to the skin or take a small dose of natural witch hazel available in the market.
9. Wards off signs of aging
The antioxidant properties help mitigate and prevent free radical damages on the skin, and the astringent properties make the skin look firmer, preventing signs of aging at a young age.
Witch hazel is a little drying, so do not use it daily. Just soak it in liquid form and rub softly on the skin. Apply it whenever you want a smoother look.
Advice: Moisturize immediately after using witch hazel on the skin to avoid dryness.
10. Soothes puffy eyes
Witch hazel helps combat puffy eyes because of its anti-inflammatory properties and astringent agent. Also, it rejuvenates your eyes and gives a chilled feeling.
Just soak witch hazel liquid with a cotton ball and pat on your eyes for 5 to 10 minutes in the morning.
11. Improves skin tone
Witch hazel tightens pores and refines the appearance. And as said before, it reduces inflammation, soothing your skin tone.
So, simply pat a cotton ball dipped in witch hazel on the face. Use it every day if you have oily skin. Otherwise, consider applying it on alternative days.
12. Relieves sunburns
The natural compound, tannins, helps you protect your skin from sunburns. It keeps your skin hydrated and also soothes a painful sunburn.
You can make a spray or cool compress and spray it on the face before going out. Also, you can add aloe vera gel or peppermint oil into the spray liquid to increase its cooling effect.
13. Diminishes dandruff
The natural soothing properties in witch hazel help diminish dandruff and scalp irritation. It is also beneficial for greasy hair as it absorbs excess oil.
Add a few drops of witch hazel into the shampoo you use. Mix it well, massage it on the scalp and rinse off.
14. Soothes bug bites
It helps reduce the irritation caused by bug bites on the scalp because of its anti-inflammatory properties.
Apply some witch hazel to the area of itching or irritation due to bug bites using a cotton pad.
15. Help cure varicose veins
Antioxidants are considered effective for curing varicose veins. And thus, witch hazel helps shrink the varicose veins and reduce the swelling and tenderness.
Apply it on the varicose veins using a cotton pad twice a day for a few months.
16. Reduce stretch marks
The anti-inflammatory properties in witch hazel help reduce the stretch marks and also help lighten the stretch marks caused after pregnancy.
Apply it to the area you have stretch marks, and then apply stretch mark cream. You can also add some aloe vera gel to witch hazel.
17. Help stop bleeding
Astringent tightens up the pores. Right? Therefore, it helps clot the blood of minor cuts and nicks.
Apply witch hazel’s leaf, liquid, or bark on the cuts. It will also relieve you from pain, discomfort, and itching caused by cuts.
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Conclusion
Witch hazel is an astringent flowering plant. It has anti-inflammatory and antiviral properties, providing many skin benefits.
Witch hazel relieves inflammation and sunburns, tightens pores, removes excess oil, cure razor bumps, reduces skin irritation and stretch marks. It also treats hemorrhoids, soothes a sore throat, bug bites, and puffy eyes. It may help you protect against skin damage, ward off signs of aging, improve skin tone, diminish dandruff, prevent varicose veins, and stop bleeding on minor cuts.
We hope you found this article helpful. Please share your experience reading this article with us in the comment section below.
