Cheap and easily available, witch hazel is a wonderful product to have in your cosmetics shelf as well as in your medicine box. It helps with everything from preventing breakouts of acne to soothing sunburnt skin to making the bags under your eyes go away. In fact, you should already have a stock of it by now.
1. Making Bruises Disappear
By constricting the blood vessels, witch hazel decreases the chances of inflammation. This helps bruises heal and become less pronounced. All you need to do is soak a piece of cotton or a clean rag with it and spread it over that area every day till you are healed completely.
2. Preparation H Doesn’t Work but there’s Some Good In It
Haemorrhoid creams don’t actually work on dark circles though it is a very popular belief that they do. However, this myth isn’t devoid of all reason. If you strip them of everything else and just use witch hazel under your eyes, you’ll notice your skin tightening and looking brighter.
3. A Natural Toner
By fighting bacteria and inflammation, witch hazel clears your complexion and keeps your skin soft and moisturized. If you have a tendency to break out in pimples, this is the best solution for you because it soothes the skin while also clearing up any existing scars.
4. Dealing with Ingrown Hairs
Not only are they irritating, but they can also cause you a lot of pain. For those who have to deal with ingrown hairs every time they shave or wax, witch hazel helps by reducing the inflammation by constricting blood vessels thereby preventing the bud from bleeding. Its antibacterial properties ensure that the risk of a bacterial infection is heavily reduced.
5. Dealing with Sunburns
Swollen, irritated, painful skin when you have sunburn is terrible but witch hazel can help you heal. This is all due to the tissue being inflamed and since witch hazel reduces inflammation, it will have a soothing effect when applied to the affected area. It won’t be as painful as it was and it will gradually heal you as well. Spread it with a cloth and if the affected area isn’t large use a small piece of cotton.
6. Insects and Poisonous Plants
Because of its soothing properties, witch hazel can be used in treating itches and burns. So, if you’re ever bitten by an insect or even if you accidentally step onto poison ivy, applying a little witch hazel can make you feel better almost immediately. Moreover, witch hazel is also an effective mosquito repellent.
7. Preventing Infection
Since witch hazel has antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties, you can use it to treat all sorts of cuts and bruises without having to worry about the side-effects of medicines which contain alcohol. It relieves aches and pains, clots blood, and helps you heal faster. Even minor burns can be treated effectively with witch hazel.
