In today's skin care market, you can find thousands of all kinds of creams, tonics, scrubs, gels and facial cleansers. All of them are designed in one way or another to solve common problems: fight acne and allergic rashes, reduce pores and shine, nourish cells with much-needed moisture and vitamins. However, most of the cosmetic products offered by world-famous manufacturing companies may turn out to be not only not useful, but harmful to the skin of the face, since the composition of innovative products mainly includes components of synthetic origin.
What do connoisseurs of natural cosmetics recommend? According to adherents of a he althy lifestyle who share the principle of using only natural products, witch hazel oil extract remains the best remedy for the skin. What is it and why is it so useful?
A unique source of healing substances
Witch Hazel is a plant native to North America and parts of Asia. People from time immemorialFor centuries, its leaves and bark have been used to prepare an astringent with a high healing ability. It has been used to treat acne, blisters, insect bites, poison ivy dermatitis, and inflammation of any kind. And this list is by no means exhaustive.
Although this miraculous plant can also treat the mouth, gums and throat, nowadays people mainly use witch hazel extract for the skin. Being a strong antioxidant, witch hazel effectively destroys bacteria that parasitize in the skin pores, prevents cell damage that can lead to cancer, slows down skin aging and at the same time accelerates its healing. An amazing substance can be found in the composition of a wide variety of natural cosmetics products, as well as in some medicines. For example, witch hazel extract often enriches anti-aging serums, shaving creams, lotions for sensitive skin, repellents, nail treatments, hemorrhoid products, shampoos for problem hair.
How does it work?
Why does a single plant have such an impressive array of he alth benefits? The high levels of active healing ingredients found in natural witch hazel help reduce inflammation, prevent cellular decay and prevent swelling while providing relief from open wound pain.
The bark, twigs and leaves of the plant are used for cookingextract of active ingredients - polyphenols and tannins. The resulting substance is then diluted with water or alcohol to produce a finished concentrated product, which is called "witch hazel water" or "distilled witch hazel extract." It can be used topically, applied to the surface of the skin, or taken orally as a conventional medicine to relieve the symptoms of diarrhea, colds, vomiting, coughs, flu, etc.
The natural tonic or mask with witch hazel extract owes its astringent effect to tannins - substances responsible for cleansing the skin of excess fat. That is why this extremely useful plant is used to prepare all kinds of gels, foams and lotions to combat acne and age-related rashes. Pure witch hazel extract is 100% natural, free of environmental contaminants and components that could potentially cause irritation or an allergic reaction. This concentrate is also free from synthetic fragrances.
What can witch hazel help with?
For many centuries, the bark and leaves of the plant have been used to treat and prevent the following phenomena and diseases:
- acne;
- skin damage;
- hematomas (bruises);
- redness and swelling;
- ingrown hairs;
- psoriasis and eczema;
- oily skin;
- excessive sweating;
- varicose veins;
- cracks and blisters;
- insect bites;
- poison ivy touch dermatitis;
- scalp irritation;
- sunburn and melanoma;
- shaving irritation;
- inflammation of mucous membranes;
- hemorrhoids;
- allergic reactions.
How to apply?
The simplest and most popular application is as follows. To take full advantage of witch hazel extract for the face and body, the natural substance is mixed with a carrier oil such as coconut oil or jojoba oil. The resulting product is applied directly to the skin in the form of a serum, lotion, tonic or cosmetic water for washing. Witch hazel is so gentle that even the most sensitive skin will not be harmed.
Against acne
It's no secret that most often witch hazel extract in cosmetics is used to prepare all kinds of products to combat acne. However, for the timely and effective removal of acne, it is not necessary to purchase finished products at a pharmacy or a specialized store - a natural concentrate will easily help you. To increase its effectiveness, you can mix the substance with any other antibacterial component, such as coconut or tea tree oil. Regular apple cider vinegar will also work.
Instead of squeezing a festering pimple or waiting for a new red dot to "ripen", take a clean cotton ball or Q-tip, moisten it with a purchased concentrate and lubricate acne of any degree of maturity several times a day.
First signs of aging or sunburn
If you are looking for a natural way to get rid of wrinkles and slow down the signs of skin aging (minor damage, redness, discoloration, dryness and puffiness around the eyes), the solution lies right in front of you, in the window of your nearest pharmacy. Witch hazel extract protects against skin cancer, melanoma and other diseases caused by harmful ultraviolet radiation due to its content of polyphenols and tannins - natural antioxidants.
Apply concentrate directly to problem areas, avoiding simultaneous use with synthetic cosmetics that cause dryness and irritation. You can mix witch hazel with any natural oil that speeds up skin healing. Evening primrose, frankincense and tea tree oils are best suited for this purpose.
Insect bites
Many insect repellants and itch relievers contain witch hazel. Is it more useful to use pure concentrate for the same purpose? Without a doubt, natural witch hazel extract effectively fights not only itching, but also redness, pain and swelling at the bite site. It also prevents allergic reactions and the spread of irritation.
To combat the latter, synthetic creams are often used, including dexpanthenol ("Panthenol", "Bepanthen"), approved for use in children from birth. Some experts, however, prefer to recommend witch hazel extract to their patients.instead of the usual dexpanthenol. It may be worth trying both options and experimenting to find the best one for your skin type.
