There are skincare ingredients that come and go with the trends, and then there are those that have earned a permanent place in the bathroom cabinet. Witch hazel is firmly in the latter category.
With International Witch Hazel Day providing the perfect opportunity to celebrate this hardworking ingredient, we’re taking a closer look at why witch hazel has remained a skincare staple for generations – and why it’s just as relevant to your skincare routine today.
Known for its natural astringent properties, witch hazel has long been used to help refresh, tone and clarify the skin. Genuine witch hazel is at the heart of our skincare range, including our iconic 100% Natural Witch Hazel Toner, alongside the Alcohol-Free Witch Hazel Moisturising Toner and convenient Witch Hazel Cleansing Pads.
So, what exactly is witch hazel, what does it do, and how can you make it part of your everyday routine? Consider this your witch hazel 101.
What is witch hazel?
Witch hazel is a botanical derived from the Hamamelis virginiana plant, a shrub native to North America. The plant naturally contains astringent properties which help tighten the skin and minimise the appearance of pores. This gentle tightening effect sooths the skin without the harshness of synthetic formulas.
Its history stretches back centuries. Indigenous North American communities traditionally used preparations made from the witch hazel plant for a variety of purposes. Over time, witch hazel became widely used in personal care, first aid and skincare.
Today, you’ll find witch hazel in products ranging from toners and cleansers to pre-soaked facial pads. Its ability to help remove excess surface oil and leave skin feeling refreshed makes it particularly well-suited to skincare routines focused on simplicity, balance and clarity.
T.N. Dickinson’s has a long relationship with the ingredient. The brand traces its heritage back to 1866 and has specialised in genuine witch hazel for generations.
Rather than treating witch hazel as one ingredient among many, it remains the hero of our range.
Why is witch hazel used in skincare?
One of the reasons genuine witch hazel has remained relevant for so long is its versatility. It can perform several useful functions within one simple skincare step.
- It helps refresh and tone the skin: Witch hazel’s natural astringent properties can leave skin feeling fresh and refined, making it a great post-cleansing step.
- It supports a balanced-looking complexion: If your skin becomes shiny or oily throughout the day, witch hazel can help remove excess surface oil without requiring an elaborate routine.
- It helps remove remaining impurities after cleansing: Even after washing your face, small amounts of oil, makeup or daily grime can remain. Applying toner with a cotton pad can help sweep away this residual buildup and leave skin feeling thoroughly refreshed.
- It fits easily into routines focused on freshness and clarity: Toner is a lightweight step, so it’s easy to incorporate without adding heavy layers. This makes witch hazel particularly useful if you’re embracing a simpler, more streamlined approach to skincare.
Our 100% Natural Witch Hazel Toner is an ideal choice for normal, combination and oil-prone skin. Its simple formula puts genuine witch hazel front and centre, helping to tone, refresh and remove excess oil.
Common myths about witch hazel
Despite its long history, there are still plenty of misconceptions surrounding witch hazel. Let’s clear up a few of the biggest.
Myth #1: “Witch hazel is always drying.”
Not necessarily. How a product feels on your skin depends on its complete formulation as well as your individual skin type.
Toners that make your skin feet tight often rely heavily on synthetic alcohol and the use of aggressive astringents, which can be both harsh and dry the skin. While they may temporarily reduce oil, they can also weaken the skin barrier and increase dryness or irritation over time.
If your skin tends to be dry or sensitive, look for a formula designed with hydration in mind. Our Alcohol-Free Witch Hazel Moisturising Toner, for example, combines witch hazel with hydrating and soothing ingredients including aloe vera and hyaluronic acid.
This makes it possible to enjoy witch hazel as part of a routine while adding an extra layer of moisture and comfort.
Myth #2: “Toner is only for oily skin.”
Toner isn’t a one-skin-type product.
Someone with oily skin may choose a toner to help remove excess oil and refresh the complexion, while someone with dry skin may choose a moisturising toner to introduce hydration after cleansing.
Combination skin can even benefit from using different formulas on different areas. Try our 100% Natural Witch Hazel Toner on an oilier T-zone and the Alcohol-Free Witch Hazel Moisturising Toner on drier cheeks.
The secret isn’t asking whether your skin needs toner. It’s finding the toner that suits what your skin needs.
Myth #3: “I don’t need toner if I already cleanse.”
Cleansing and toning are not the same.
Your cleanser does the heavy lifting when it comes to removing makeup, sunscreen, dirt and daily buildup. Toner follows cleansing to help sweep away remaining impurities, refresh the skin and prepare it for the next stages of your routine.
Think of them as complementary rather than interchangeable.
How to add witch hazel toner to your routine
One of the best things about a genuine witch hazel toner is how simple it is to use. You don’t need a complicated multi-step regimen to make it work.
Your morning routine
Step 1: Cleanse. Start with your cleanser of choice to remove overnight oil and buildup.
Step 2: Tone. Apply the 100% Natural Witch Hazel Toner to a cotton pad and gently sweep it over the face. If your skin is dry or sensitive, choose the Alcohol-Free Witch Hazel Moisturising Toner instead.
Step 3: Serum and moisturiser. Follow with any targeted serum you use and your preferred moisturiser.
Step 4: SPF. Finish with broad-spectrum sunscreen. Sun protection remains one of the most important steps you can take for your skin, regardless of the season.
Your evening routine
Step 1: Cleanse. Thoroughly remove makeup, sunscreen and the day’s buildup.
Step 2: Tone. Follow with your witch hazel toner to refresh the skin and remove any remaining surface impurities.
Step 3: Moisturise. Finish with a moisturiser suited to your skin type to support hydration overnight.
For days when your usual routine isn’t practical, our Witch Hazel Cleansing Pads provide a convenient alternative. The pre-soaked pads are easy to keep in your gym bag, travel bag or bathroom cabinet for a quick refresh when you need it.
What makes T.N. Dickinson’s witch hazel different?
When you’re choosing witch hazel skincare, it’s worth remembering that not all witch hazel products are created the same way.
T.N. Dickinson’s has specialised in witch hazel for more than 150 years, using carefully selected Hamamelis virginiana to create genuine witch hazel distillate.
The brand follows a carefully controlled distillation process to produce its witch hazel. The result is a clinical-grade, USP-standard ingredient created with a focus on purity, consistency and effectiveness.
That commitment matters because the quality and concentration of the witch hazel used in a product can influence the experience you get from the finished formula.
Our 100% Natural Witch Hazel Toner puts that heritage front and centre, offering a simple way to incorporate genuine witch hazel into your everyday skincare routine. For those wanting additional hydration, the Alcohol-Free Witch Hazel Moisturising Toner combines the benefits of witch hazel with skin-loving moisturising ingredients.
Celebrate International Witch Hazel Day with a skincare classic
Skincare trends may change, but sometimes the ingredients with the longest histories have stuck around for a reason.
Witch hazel offers a refreshingly straightforward approach to skincare. It can help tone, remove excess oil and residual impurities, refine the appearance of pores and leave your complexion feeling fresh and balanced – all within one easy step.
And whether your skin is oily, dry, combination or somewhere in between, there’s no need to take a one-size-fits-all approach.
This International Witch Hazel Day, discover the benefits of T.N. Dickinson’s genuine witch hazel toners or cleansers and find the formula that fits your skin and your routine.
Because after more than 150 years, genuine witch hazel still knows a thing or two about keeping skincare simple.
