The Benefits of Witch Hazel for Face Application
Witch hazel oil has been used as a holistic healing oil for centuries, and for good reason because of its astringent properties. It can help with inflammation, minimize your pores, and even make your face look less puffy. For these reasons, more and more people are incorporating witch hazel into their skincare routines.
In this article, we take you through everything you need to know about the benefits of witch hazel for face application. Read on to learn more.
What Is Witch Hazel?
Witch hazel is a plant that’s native to the East Coast of North America, specifically in the United States. While it’s commonly used as a decorative plant due to its beauty and tolerance for a wide range of climates, it does a lot more than look pretty.
This is because witch hazel is an astringent, which means that it can tighten muscles and other tissues, including your skin. For this reason, it’s useful for skin care, reducing inflammation, and much more. In fact, there’s a good chance that you can find it in your local pharmacy as a distilled liquid.
Benefits of Witch Hazel for Face Application
Incorporating witch hazel into your skincare routine offers a lot of benefits, and one of the best places to use it is your face. This is because it can reduce puffiness, tone your face, and even cleanse your skin.
Still, these aren’t the only benefits of topical witch hazel application. Learn more about how it can help below.
1. Reduces Inflammation
One of the best things that witch hazel can do for your face is reduce inflammation. Any inflammation on your face will lead to problems ranging from acne to swelling. Witch hazel can reduce inflammation due to its gallic acid and tannins, which work as anti-inflammatory aids.
What’s more, witch hazel is rich in antioxidants. This helps with free radicals that can lead to inflammation and skin damage, which can help you manage or prevent wrinkles.
2. Helps With Acne
Acne is tough to manage, but witch hazel makes doing so a breeze. This is due to its anti-inflammatory properties that reduce redness and swelling. In fact, you can apply it directly to your face and the areas of your face impacted by pimples, zits, and other types of acne.
What makes witch hazel effective for fighting acne is its astringent properties. As an astringent, witch hazel shrinks pores and soothes your face to help you control acne. In fact, by shrinking your pores, you’re giving bacteria fewer chances to find places to grow.
3. Protects Against Skin Damage
Another benefit of witch hazel is that it prevents skin damage. The tannins in the witch hazel can form a protective layer of the skin that prevents bacteria and other inflammatory cells from entering your skin and pores. This results in less damage from acne, inflammation, and even aging.
While the data is limited, some studies have also found that witch hazel can prevent the spread of free radicals that lead to skin cancer and other types of skin damage. Similar studies also found that the tannins in witch hazel can slow the growth of tumors, but it’s important to note that these studies were done on animals, and more research is necessary.
How to Use Witch Hazel for Face Application
If you want to apply witch hazel on your face, it’s a simple process. To begin, you’ll need to source witch hazel oil, and we recommend going with a high-quality witch hazel oil for the best results.
Once you have witch hazel oil, you can start by cleaning your face. Then, soak a cotton ball, pad, or rag in witch hazel oil and gently apply the witch hazel oil to your face. Make sure you avoid your eyes and start with a small patch of skin to prevent any allergic reactions from sneaking up on you.
It’s also a good idea to use a moisturizer alongside witch hazel because it can dry your skin out, especially if you use it frequently.
Experience the Benefits of Witch Hazel for Face Application
Witch hazel is one of the best natural remedies for a lot of skin conditions. Whether you’re dealing with acne, scars, or wrinkles, or you just need to add a little life to your skin, witch hazel for face applications is a great way to care for your skin.
That said, make sure you choose the best essential oil options and apply as needed. Also, always do a patch test before applying witch hazel oil to your face to ensure that you don’t have any allergies before getting started.
