Is Witch Hazel Bad for Your Skin? Here's What You Need to Know, According to Experts

Witch hazel has been a staple in beauty aisles for years—the name being synonymous with products from Thayers and T.N. Dickison. However, the OG ingredient has been met with controversy. While some use it as a tried and true toner, others claim that it’s too drying for their skin. So I put my detective hat on and asked a few dermatologist and an esthetician to answer the big question: Is witch hazel bad for your skin? Here's what I found out.

• Dr. Hadley King is a board-certified dermatologist and clinical instructor of dermatology at the Weill Medical College of Cornell University. She has two decades of experience in medical and cosmetic dermatology. She has a background in immunology, and her research has been published in numerous journals including the Journal of the American Medical Association. 
• Nicole Hatfield, certified esthetician for Pomp and founder of Radiant Beings Wellness & Beauty Coaching. When she's not offering complimentary coaching consulting, she offering integrative yoga sessions.
• Dr. Shuting Hu is a cosmetic chemist and CEO of Acaderma, a clean beauty skincare brand. She has eight years of experience in the skincare industry. She was previously a director at SkinData Research & Innovation at the University of Hong Kong, where she studied biology and how natural ingredients affect the skin.

“Witch hazel is a botanical extract derived from a flowering plant. Preparations have been made from its leaves and bark for ages,” says Dr. King. The entire plant (Hamamelis virginiana) is processed and creates a clear liquid that's regularly seen in popular products. The plant can be found primarily in North America, dating back to the Native Americans who used it as a remedy for reducing inflammation and irritation. Now, the ingredient can be found in just about every drugstore or beauty aisle.

And why is it called witch hazel? No, it has nothing to do with magic. The word “witch” comes from the Old English wiche that means it’s bendable—kind of a nod to how its processed. The more you know.

The ingredient has anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and astringent properties. The benefits include reducing inflammation, improving the skin’s appearance and removing excess oil. Here are three ways it’s most commonly used:

• It can soothe irritation. According to the experts, witch hazel can reduce inflammation and minimize irritation for minor skin injuries (aka cuts, scrapes and/or rashes), bug bites, poison ivy or hemorrhoids. Note: it works on small areas and should not be used as a solution for skin conditions like psoriasis and eczema. There's limited research that points to this ingredient improving these specific conditions.
• It may reduce the appearance of large pores. This is why it’s commonly classified as a toner. “Witch hazel is a natural astringent, so it is often used to remove excess sebum and temporarily decrease the appearance of pores,” said Dr. King. The ingredient has a host of antioxidants—a big one being tannins. Tannins have a drying and tightening effect that appears to minimize pores, especially for oily skin.
• It can help treat sunburns and razor burns. As mentioned before, the anti-inflammatory properties can help reduce surface-level discomfort. Need a product to prevent razor burns? Laid out in the sun too long? Here's a helpful sunburn remedy: Apply a soft cloth or cotton pad onto the affected area to soothe the pain. Press, don’t rub the product onto the skin to limit further irritation. And no, this shouldn’t replace your go-to face sunscreen.

Uh...it depends. “Witch hazel can cause skin issues but only if used too frequently. You should only be using witch hazel a few times a week to avoid over-drying or stripping away the skin's natural protective barrier,” said Hatfield.

Aside from the key substance (tannins), many witch hazel products contain alcohol ingredients (like ethanol) that over-dry the skin and sometimes do more harm than good. Some variations can have up to 15 percent alcohol, which might be irritating to certain skin types like people with dry, acne-prone or sensitive skin.

Again, it depends. “Witch hazel is an astringent that can help to fight acne bacteria. It is also anti-inflammatory which can help alleviate redness, pain, and swelling related to inflamed acne,” said Hatfield. But while it can remove excess sebum, reduce the appearance of pores and soothe the skin, it could also make blemishes worse and cause more irritation, depending on your skin type. It might work for small acne areas (aka blackheads or whiteheads), but if you’re looking for a solution to minimize cysts or pustules, then consider consulting with a dermatologist for treatments.

One of the benefits of witch hazel is removing excess oil, so the ingredient is best for people with oily, acne-prone skin. “Oily and acne-prone skin may particularly benefit from adding a toner, because it provides another way to add active ingredients like salicylic acid and witch hazel to the skincare routine to remove excess oil, unclog pores and temporarily shrink the appearance of the pores,” said Dr. King.

But reminder: Stay away from witch hazel if you have sensitive or dry skin. The ingredient can dry out the skin further and can worsen problematic areas. But regardless of skin type, it’s important to look at a product’s formula carefully, especially when alcohol, fragrance or key ingredients (like witch hazel) are involved. It pays to get to know what your specific skin can tolerate and what it can’t.

Witch hazel comes in liquid, cream or gel form. For many bruises or rashes, people should reach for an ointment and simply use as needed. However, the most popular witch hazel products are toners. Both professionals recommend applying after cleansing and before any moisturizer, makeup, SPF or acne treatments.

As mentioned before, the ingredient can be very drying, so make sure it’s only present in one or two (not all) of your skincare products. It should primarily be in your toner, but if it is included in anything else, make sure it’s accompanied by more gentle ingredients like glycerin, hyaluronic acid or niacinamide.

Overall, witch hazel is safe for your skin. It all depends on your skin type, the amount you use and what you’re actually using the ingredient for.

But witch hazel should always be used in moderation. Dr. King suggests doing a test patch before applying it to your skin. If you see any reaction (redness, rash or extreme dryness), stop using immediately and consult with a medical professional.

FYI, the ingredient is not the answer to all your skin problems, but it can ease a bit of the discomfort for some. Just remember to always check for the other ingredients included in your witch hazel product (especially the alcohol or fragrance levels) to play it safe.