We’ve all heard the magical wonders of coconut oil, the natural product that does pretty much everything from skin care to cooking, but what about the often ignored genius of witch hazel?
Witch hazel (Hamamelis Virginiana), stemming from the Hamamelidaceae plant family, is found in both North America and parts of Asia (pictured below). The thin leaves of witch hazel have strong healing abilities that can greatly reduce multiple, prominent skin issues.
Below, I have listed some of the many benefits natural witch hazel can provide.
T H E M A G I C O F W I T C H H A Z E L
Natural Astringent & Antioxidant:
Witch hazel is known to be a very effective astringent, that actively kills “bad” bacteria that clogs pores. This, in turn, stops cellular damage that can unfortunately lead to serious skin cancer.
Anti- aging/ Anti- inflammatory:
Due to its strong polyphenol properties (one of the most common antioxidants in our diet), witch hazel has found to be a natural way to prevent common signs of skin aging. With this, witch hazel has been proven to slow down and prevent skin cancer growth by protecting against DNA damage. This damage can accumulate in time from different free radicals (i.e UV light, bad diet, stress…).
Aids in common skin issues:
Witch hazel’s anti- inflammatory properties can be used to aid in the treatment of a variety of skin issues. I personally use it as a toner, as it gently leaves my skin feeling tightened and fresh. I notice that ever since consistently using witch hazel for a month, my pores are less visible and clear with less irritation.
Other than clearing out my pores, witch hazel is fantastic at clearing up acne, and preventing blemishes. With blemishes often comes hyper pigmentation, and witch hazel is proven to relive such redness/ swelling.
Bruises, allergic reactions, bug bites, razor burns, ingrown hairs, eczema/psoriasis, varicose veins, sun damage, hemorrhoids, oil- prone skin and itchy scalp are all additionally proven to be relived with the help of this simple plant!
So where do you get witch hazel?
Most grocery or health food stores carry witch hazel. Any brand will do, though my personal favorite is Dickinson’s original witch hazel: pore perfecting toner ($4). It’s simple, easy to apply and is gentle on the skin! This product also comes in convenient pads for on-the-go, quick usage!
Witch hazel is an inexpensive, natural way to healthy skin! Whether you have fairly non- irritated skin or suffer from a handful of skin issues, witch hazel can benefit anyone of any age.
As always, thank you so much for reading!
xx,
jackievw.com 
Thanks for sharing! This is a great post. I love witch hazel and swear by it for my blemishes.
Thank you so much!!