Witch hazel can be used to prevent acne, removing makeup, treating razor burn, reducing eye puffiness, sunburns, treating oily skin, reduce scars and stretch marks, moisturizing dry skin, removing hair dye from the skin, treating blackheads, for dandruff, soothing hemorrhoids and healing minor cuts.
What is witch hazel?
Witch hazel is like a topical astringent that comes from a medicinal plant it’s all natural and it’s derived from the leaves and the bark of a specific tree known as Hamamelis virginiana, which is a North American witch-hazel tree. Its properties make it highly effective in treating skin ailments of all kinds. It is very useful for new moms as it has amazing benefits for skin and hair, which usually fades after pregnancy.
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Here are the most important medicinal properties:
- Astringent
- Hemostatics
- Styptic
- Tonic
- Anti-abortive
- Anti-phlogistic
- Sedative
- Anti-inflammatory
- Antiseptic, antibacterial and antiviral
What is An Astringent?
An astringent is a substance that promotes the contraction of skin tissue. It is usually made from alcohol. An astringent tightens the skin, closes up pores and reduces the oil on your face.
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21 Surprising Uses of Witch Hazel for New Moms
Prevent and treat acne
Witch hazel cleanses the skin’s dirt and excess oils which clogs pores and causes acne. Like hydrogen peroxide, witch hazel with the astringent properties removes the excess oil and its disinfectant properties kill microbes which cause infection. It closes the pores and reduces skin inflammation.
Damp a cotton ball with witch hazel and wipe it over your whole face and different spots where you are inclined to skin inflammation. Use it at least three times every day for best outcomes. Since it treats the causes and effects of acne, it gets rid of blemishes and prevents new ones.
Remove makeup
Use witch hazel on a cotton ball to get rid of makeup. As a major aspect of your night routine, it soothes the skin as it cleans and tightens skin and pores. It leaves your skin with a healthy sparkle.
Treat razor burn
Witch hazel soothes skin irritated by shaving and closes the pores. By using it immediately after shaving, you can prevent those little red bumps you sometimes get after shaving. Apply it generously anywhere on the body where shaving irritation occurs.
Reduce eye puffiness and under-eye bags
Those irritating under-eye packs have numerous causes; however typically, swelling of the tissue under the eye causes them. You may likewise have puffy eyes from crying, sensitivities, or exhaustion.
Witch hazel’s calming properties lessen the swelling, and it takes care of the skin to decrease the general puffiness and any redness. Simply apply a little witch hazel over the eyelid and under the eye.
Witch hazel benefits for sunburn
Give a relief to sunburned skin with an application of cooling witch hazel. It is amazing at reducing the inflammation and swelling caused by sunburn. It conditions and moisturizes the skin, and helps it to heal.
Treat oily skin
Witch hazel does a brilliant activity of removing the soil and oils from your skin. It goes above and beyond and balances your skin’s oil secretion. Use it one to three times day by day, depending on the oiliness of your skin. You’ll definitely notice that your skin is healthier and less oily.
Use after waxing
Apply witch hazel after waxing. It shuts the pores, lessens irritation and tones the skin. Splash a cotton ball in witch hazel and apply promptly after waxing. Witch hazel is protected to utilize, even in your most sensitive areas.
Reduce scars and stretch marks
Witch hazel is an incredible tonic for scarred skin and firmly stretched skin. Pregnant and breastfeeding ladies utilize witch hazel wipes over the extended belly and breasts to decrease stretch marks, to tone the skin and make scars less visible.
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Moisturize dry, itchy skin
Apply witch hazel promptly after a bath or shower to close the pores and secure moisture. It moisturizes the skin, calms the irritation, and diminishes itchy sensations.
Remove hair dye from skin
Hair color always appears to wind up on the skin in the most unwelcome spots. Use a little witch hazel on a cotton ball to expel hair color stains while they are fresh. For substantial stains, you may need to change the cotton ball. Continue cleaning until the point that all stains are no more.
Treat blackheads
Similarly as witch hazel is viable acne, use it to treat blackheads too. Simply use it as a toner instantly after you wash your face and you’ll see a decrease in dark and whiteheads.
Use witch hazel between shampoos
Expel excess oil from the scalp with a quick cleaning between shampoos. Mix one part witch hazel with nine parts of water. Use the tip of a clean cloth to dab the solution around your hairline, down the part, and in oily places.
The diluted witch hazel diminishes oil secretion and removes abundance oil. It will leave your hair fresh for the day.
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Use for dandruff
Witch hazel battles dandruff and flaking by moisturizing and conditioning the scalp. Rub it into the scalp before shampooing. You can likewise utilize it between shampoos to condition your scalp and expel abundance oil.
Anti-aging properties
The compounds in witch hazel shield the skin from harm caused by sun exposure, including skin cancer, melanoma, wrinkles, and fine lines. It prevents the multiplication of tumor cells and protects healthy skin cells. It also tightens the skin and decreases scars and aggravation.
Anti-cancer properties
The scientists at the University of Barcelona have published a research demonstrating that witch hazel extracts inhibited the proliferation of colon cancer cells and caused the death of existing cancerous cells. This fundamental investigation done in Petri dishes, however, it demonstrates that witch hazel has a promising future and needs more examinations.
Heal sore gums and mouth
Witch hazel shrinks the inflammation and helps heal sore gums and mouth sores. Rinse it around the mouth after brushing and spit it out
Soothe a sore throat and laryngitis
For a sore throat and laryngitis, use the healing power of witch hazel tea. Either gargle the tea or drink it. For added pain relief, add a couple of cloves to the leaves before brewing or a single drop of clove oil after brewing.
Clean and heal minor cuts
Use it to clean scratches and afterward keep on applying it until the point when the cut has mended. It relieves the skin, avoids disease, and supports recuperating.
Soothe and clear diaper rash
Witch hazel relieves diaper rash and enables the irritated skin heal. Apply witch hazel to a cotton ball and delicately apply to child’s skin, or put witch hazel in a spray bottle and spray on the affected regions.
Soothe hemorrhoids
It reduces inflammation, relieves itching and burning, stops bleeding, and helps the hemorrhoids heal. Chill your witch hazel in the refrigerator to use as a cold compress. Soak a cotton pad with cold witch hazel and hold it in place as long as possible.
Improve your mood
Combine witch hazel with essential oils to create a fragrance that will not only smell great but improve your mood as well. To use it as a fragrance, you simply need to combine it with your favorite essential oil (in this example, I’ll be using lavender). Combine water, lavender, witch hazel, and lemon essential oil in a spray bottle and spray it around the house, especially in places where you spend a lot of time — such as your favorite chair. Not only will your house smell fantastic, but you’ll feel calmer, and your mood will improve substantially.
Conclusion
Witch hazel uses and advantages are plenty. It is a brilliant skin cleanser, additionally a helpful household item to clean and germicide usage. It is completely safe for everyone. Some people may have minor reactions to it. Severe allergic reactions are rare.
