You care about your skin, otherwise, you wouldn’t even be reading this. Maybe you want to correct some problem areas or want to add something new into your skincare routine to give your skin a bit of a glow-up. Well, you’ve come to the right place, my friend. You and I will journey together into the sometimes intimidating world of cult-beauty that makes people (Instagrammers) ravage stores looking for the latest viral beauty product.

Sometimes beauty gurus will catch onto something totally epic. One such product, Thayer’s Witch Hazel Toner has been making waves in the beauty industry for quite some time now.

Today, we will learn about why people are flocking to stores by the thousands to get their hands on this magical elixir. 

So, let’s talk about the gloriousness (is that a word?) about using witch hazel as a toner on your face because this stuff is seriously good. 

Simply put, it’s legit.

Your skin has earned, no, deserves the privilege of feeling this magical essence all over your face.

Witch hazel didn’t have to go this hard, but it did. 

Witch hazel could have just kept minding its own business, strollin’ on by just helping people with hemorrhoids. But, no. That’s not like witch hazel.

Just when you think you’re stuck, out of options and filled with regrets, witch hazel will show up and will consistently be the one thing you can count it when everything else keeps disappointing you. 

Witch hazel is all that. Let me tell you why. 

(This post contains affiliate links – I may receive credit if you purchase items from links on my blog. Check out the disclosure for more information. Thanks for supporting Sincerely Farah!)

What is Witch Hazel?

Before we get into the details, let’s chat about why witch hazel is a cult favorite. 

Witch hazel is that girl in high school that mostly kept to herself, didn’t try too hard, hair always tied, didn’t wear name-brand or follow trends, seemed cool but nobody really knew her deal.

Until you bump into her like 15 years later and she’s now this insanely beautiful, wildly successful author, talk-show host, award-winning botanist and tech CEO who’s been featured in Forbes. Twice. 

It’s also a plant with little yellow flowers! 

As a result, you can’t or maybe shouldn’t just grab witch hazel and straight-up start rubbing it on your face (although that’s probably exactly how it was discovered).

I’m assuming that many years ago, a group of witches wanted some natural, budget-friendly skincare options (don’t we all?) and just started brewing this stuff in their cauldrons.

Literally, don’t want to know any alternatives to this theory. 

This fabulous concoction is inexpensive and filled with antioxidants. No wonder people have been obsessed with witch hazel for centuries!

Back in the day, dermatologists actually used to warn clients to stay away from astringents, like witch hazel because they can be very drying on the skin as a lot of formulas contained alcohol. 

However, astringents are back in the beauty game in a big way because a lot of astringents are now alcohol-free and made with soothing ingredients such as aloe vera and rose water.

So, how exactly can witch hazel help your skin look and feel its best?

The Benefits of Using Witch Hazel on Your Face

There are a lot of reasons to incorporate an astringent such as witch hazel to your skincare routine. Astringents can be used to help: 

• Heal and restore skin
• Tighten skin and shrink pores
• Eliminate bacteria from pores
• Clean irritants from the skin
• Reduce inflammation
• Reduce acne 
• Remove excess oil from the skin

Basically, witch hazel has naturally occurring compounds in it called tannins, also known as polyphenols.

Polyphenols are super high in antioxidants which is why they are incorporated into a ton of beauty products and anti-aging supplements. 

The tannins help remove excess oil which is why witch hazel is considered a great natural treatment for acne and reducing oiliness.

Witch hazel can be used for various reasons, such as postpartum healing, as a scalp treatment and even soothe a sore throat. The benefits are endless. 

The result? It’s like WD-40 but for your body, because it can pretty much fix anything. 

What is so special about Thayer’s Witch Hazel Toner?

Think of it as bottled rose petals that have fallen from the sky, laying tender kisses on your face. It’s also very soothing and smells delightful.

I would probably choose it in those “what would you take to a deserted island” situations.

There is a reason that this product has over 10,000 reviews on Amazon with an impressive 4.5 rating. Yes, 10,000!

Reviews. Don’t. Lie. 

The best part about this formula is that it’s infused with aloe vera and rose water.

Unlike conventional drug-store witch hazel, which can be drying, this formula is specifically designed to be hydrating and nourishing, leaving your skin, soft, smooth, and smelling like actual roses.

It’s alcohol-free and free of parabens. Perfect. 

Check out this product description right from the good people at Thayer’s: 

“Rose petals, which, through distillation, create the rosewater we use in our formula, are full of natural oils and sugars that help restore dehydrated skin and bring out a natural, dewy, glowing complexion. The natural astringent properties of rose petals work in tandem with witch hazel, tightening pores, controlling oil production, locking moisture in, and keeping free radicals out. Rosewater is also full of Vitamin C, which is crucial for collagen production, strengthening skin cells, and fading blemishes and scars. Thayers creates the only Witch Hazel products made of non-distilled extract from the Witch Hazel shrub, maintaining the highest levels of therapeutic tannins, the mild antioxidants that help your skin look and feel its best. These natural elixirs have been a fixture in medicine cabinets for generations. Once you use them, you’ll know why.“

What’s not to love?

Now that you know about how witch hazel works, let’s talk about the benefits of using witch hazel as a toner for your face. 

11 Life-Changing Benefits of Thayer’s Witch Hazel Toner

1. Fight Acne

We talked about the benefits of using an astringent on your face to reduce inflammation and excess oil, which is exactly why witch hazel is so effective at reducing acne.

Acne starts to form when pores get clogged with oil and dead skin cells. Since witch hazel has antibacterial properties, it can help keep your pores clean while drawing out excess oil and reducing inflammation.

It’s easier to prevent acne than to deal with it once it’s already reared its ugly head. Witch hazel cleans and tightens skin, while also shrinking pores.

Using witch hazel can prevent irritants and bacteria from entering your pores, and as a result, fighting acne before it even begins to form. 

If you are suffering from acne, witch hazel can reduce redness and inflammation and speed up the healing of scars and scabs, while balancing the skins pH level.

Your skin should not feel oily after using witch hazel. However, it might feel dry so it’s very important to use a quality witch hazel with soothing properties like Thayer’s. 

Notice trouble brewing on your face? Apply witch hazel directly to the problem area as soon as it begins to form. Acting fast should prevent the issue from getting bigger or spreading and can start to heal the problem area quickly. 

If you feel like daily use is too much for your skin, you can still use it three to four times a week.

You might notice dirt and oil coming off your face as you are wiping your face with witch hazel. That’s a good thing! It means that the formula is pulling oil and irritants off your face and leaving you with clean, tight, smooth and nourished the skin.

Not bad for a product under $10. 

2. Fights Signs of Aging 

Witch hazel is a natural astringent, which means it can help tighten skin and slow down signs of aging such as discoloration, redness, and dryness. Instead of using products that are filled with harsh chemicals that can actually increase dryness and irritation in your skin, try switching to witch hazel as a protective measure. 

Due to it is anti-inflammatory, antibacterial and antioxidant properties, witch hazel protects the collagen in your skin and your skin’s elasticity just as well as many other high-end beauty products, but without the steep price-tag.

Due to its affordability, witch hazel can be a great long-term solution for preventing irritants and environmental stressors from damaging your skin. 

3. Protects Skin from Sun Damage and Soothes Sunburns

Witch hazel is perfect for protecting against your skin against sunburns and healing sun-damaged skin, as it prevents peeling and flaking.

Witch hazel can also protect against skin cancer and damage from UV light because it’s so high in protective polyphenols and antioxidants. These tannins and antioxidants can help protect healthy skin cells as you get older. 

The healing properties in witch hazel also speed up the recovery of sun-damaged skin, while also fading sunspots. I recommend using witch hazel combined with a high-quality sunscreen to protect your skin from sun damage. 

If you need to treat a sunburn, Thayer’s Witch hazel has got you covered because it is infused with organic aloe vera.

Just soak a cotton ball with the good stuff and dab it onto your sunburn. You will get the healing benefits of witch hazel and the soothing benefits of aloe vera. Ahhh, sweet relief! 

4. Nourishes Skin

We know that witch hazel removes dirt, oil, impurities, and bacteria from the skin while also nourishing your skin with antioxidants and moisturizing properties.

Thayer’s is particularly good for people with dry skin as the rose water and the aloe vera infuses the skin with even more moisture and hydration so that your skin doesn’t dry out. 

If you use a good quality toner after washing your face, it will actually lock in the moisture that entered your pores and create a protective barrier that will block impurities and irritants from penetrating your skin.

This is particularly important during the winter months when mother nature decides that dry skin is all the rage!

Thayer’s Witch Hazel Toner is perfect to use all year round to keep your skin feeling moisturized, hydrated, nourished and refreshed. 

5. Heals cuts and bruises 

If your toddler punched you in the face, like mine sometimes does, or if you walked into the door in the middle of the night, fear not!

Witch hazel will quickly take care of any bruises or scars you want to get rid of since it tightens skin by constricting blood vessels, which reduces swelling and inflammation. 

I have actually been using it on a pretty bad burn with deep scarring from heating up tortillas! Ugh. I am pleased to say my scar is almost gone. and the texture of my skin is pretty much back to normal!

You can even dab on some witch hazel on a small cut because of its antibacterial properties. I am constantly putting witch hazel all over my cuts and bruises, my face and body for its healing properties. 

Which brings me to my next point. 

6. Soothes rashes and razor burns, and prevents ingrown hairs

Since we already know that witch hazel works very well to help heal scars, bruises, cuts, and nicks, then it’s no surprise that witch hazel is the perfect solution to heal razor burns, rashes and prevent ingrown hairs. Ahhhhmazing. 

Like me, some of you may even be shaving your face. If not, then don’t freak out! I don’t use a real razor or anything but I am a huge proponent of face-shaving. It’s a game changer. Seriously. Even Huda Kattan does it! 

This is the razor I use, btw and it’s one of my main secrets for achieving great skin. 

Back to my point, if you do shave your face or wax your face, or even if you are getting laser hair removal, then Thayer’s Witch Hazel Toner is a life-saver. 

Apply the toner after shaving to slow down any bleeding from cuts or rashes.

Burn yourself waxing? You know what to do.

Even if you don’t burn yourself waxing, Thayer’s is the perfect post-wax solution because of the aloe. Sooooo soothing! 

The vitamin C found in rosewater will also strengthen your skin cells, and fade the blemishes and scars on your face while also producing collagen.

That’s why I prefer Thayer’s Witch Hazel Toner over standard witch hazel. It has all the regular benefits of regular witch hazel but with even more goodness! 

7. Protects Lips and Mouth

Who doesn’t want smooth, hydrated, beautiful lips? I always, always have super dry, flaky lips which I can’t help but peel to the point of bleeding. Especially guilty of this in the winter. So gross, I know.

Use Thayer’s Witch Hazel Toner to moisturize, hydrate and nourish your lips with vitamins, antioxidants and aloe vera. Just a few drops will work wonders. 

You can also use standard witch hazel for eliminating blisters on your lips, and even inner cheeks and gums. It can help heal and reduce pain and swelling from painful sores, bleeding, and blisters. It can even help with bad breath! 

8. Brightens and reduces puffy eyes

The puffy eye struggle is real. This problem is particularly applicable to moms, students, new puppy owners and, anyone who has ever lost sleep for any reason. 

So basically, everyone.

For whatever reason, if you wake up with puffy eyes, witch hazel has got you covered. 

We know that witch hazel tightens skin and reduces inflammation, which is also the secret sauce for reducing puffiness around the eyes.

I keep a bottle of Thayer’s in the fridge for extra rough days, when the bags and puffiness under my eyes look not-so-designer.

I love applying the cool formula to my eyes and face. It feels so good when it’s cool and applying the formula when its cold is even more effective for reducing puffiness. 

You can even apply a few drops to some cold water, soak the cloth in the water and place it over your eyes for a few minutes to refresh your eyes. 

You can also apply witch hazel under your eyes right before bed, to prevent any puffiness from forming while you sleep, while also making the eye area look brighter and tighter in the morning. Lovely!

9. Refreshes Face

Feeling a bit tired? Is your skin feeling dull? Need a quick pick-me-up? Spray or dab some Thayer’s Witch Hazel Toner on your face. The scent of rosewater will have you feeling like you’re in a zen garden.

The witch hazel will invigorate and revitalize your skin while cleaning out dirt and oil from your pores. The aloe vera will soothe your face and leave it feeling refreshed, nourished and touchably soft. 

10. Treats eczema

Witch hazel can be an effective formula for treating eczema and combatting dry skin due to its anti-inflammatory and moisturizing properties.

It can reduce itching, redness, burning, scarring, and even flakiness.

Thayer’s Witch Hazel Toner is extra hydrating and moisturizing due to the infusion of rosewater and aloe vera. 

Thayer’s formula might be particularly good for those suffering from eczema. 

I get eczema but only on my thumbs, which is so weird.

I apply a few drops of the Thayer’s toner and mix it with Skinfix hand cream (my absolute favorite line of products for eczema).

My hands are much less dry and scaly since combining a few drops of witch hazel with my moisturizer.

I also really like using it around my eyes where my skin gets very dry and flaky.

I have noticed a huge difference since using Thayer’s around my eyes as the skin around my eyes is moisturized and has no more flakes. Yay!

11. Evens Skin Tone and Complexion

Over 10,000 people agree that Thayer’s Witch Hazel toner has improved their skin in one way or another. 

The antioxidants in witch hazel heal blemishes on our skin while helping the skin on our face stay clean, protected from irritants, and nourished.

It’s no surprise that when witch hazel is combined with rosewater and aloe vera, the results are nothing short of magical.

Many people using this formula have noticed major improvements for problem areas on their face such:

• Acne scars fading
• Bumps and redness reduced,
• Smaller pores,
• Tighter skin,
• Fewer pimples
• Faster healing of cystic acne

The benefits and healing properties of Witch Hazel combined with Thayer’s special formula really does help improve and even one’s skin tone and complexion, resulting in a smoother, hydrated, softer and clearer skin. 

The overall consensus is that Thayer’s Witch Hazel Toner will leave your face feeling soft and looking dewy and healthy. That’s what we’re all after, right? 

You obviously value your skin and want to nourish it and keep it looking it’s best.

Thayer’s is a great, reliable, affordable product that can help you enhance your skin without breaking your bank.

However, good skin starts from the inside. There is no amount of witch hazel in the world that will give you perfect, dewy skin unless you are putting in the work. 

Take care of your skin first by staying hydrated and out of the sun. Eat well. Rest up. Nourish your body.

Be happy. Love Yourself.

You’ll be glowing in no time. 

Let me know if you’ve tried using witch hazel on your face? Did it work for you?

Is there a witch hazel fix that you swear by?

Do you use any other affordable, natural products that you simply cannot live without?

Let me know in the comments below!