Beauty Benefits of Witch Hazel

Sep 14th, 2010

I’m usually quite the sucker for over-priced skin care products. My tinted moisturizer comes in just over $50, my eye cream a little under $70 and I’ve been seriously eyeing a $250 regenerative serum made of some very questionable ingredients. In my mind, I off-set those expenses with my $1.50 astringent – generic witch hazel from the corner drugstore. My dermatologist turned me on to this natural toner while cleaning my face at one of my ‘recapturing of youth’ sessions. The astringent properties in this herb from the witch hazel tree, provides a dual purpose for not only toning, but also has stong antioxidant properties, which makes it an ideal toner for oily and combination skin. The herb does an excellent job of absorbing oil without making your skin feel dry and screaming for moisturizer. Because I believe 6 am is a little too early to splash cold water all over my face, I use a cotton swab of witch hazel instead. It instantly refreshes my face and actually takes a lot of the puffiness away from my eyes. Witch hazel is also one of the main ingredients found in more expensive toners, astringents and interestingly enough, hemorrhoid cream. The generic bottle looks a bit out of place next to all of my fancier lotions and potions on my counter but it’s definitely one of the more effective – especially for the price.