Witch Hazel is as magical as it sounds!

According to Dictionary.com, witch hazel is “a shrub, Hamamelis virginiana, of eastern North America, having toothed, egg-shaped leaves and small, yellow flowers.” Also, Dr. Weil says “witch hazel has a long, impressive history as an anti-inflammatory, topical extract useful for skin toning, cleaning, calming and healing. The first successful mass- produced American skincare product, debuted in 1846, was ‘Gold Treasure,’ later renamed Pond’s Cold Cream. It was based on wild-harvested witch hazel, which company chemists learned about from Native Americans in New York State.”
The best brand of witch hazel is T.N. Dickinson’s Original Witch Hazel. Here is how I use it:
 
 Skin Care

According to Dr. Weil, “witch hazel is a rich source of astringent compounds that can make proteins in skin cells and draw more tightly together, shrinking pores and constricting capillaries near the skin’s surface.  Also, a study in the European Journal of Pediatrics compared witch hazel to dexpanthenol ointment, a common synthetic topical medication, to treat minor injuries, diaper rash or local inflammation in children.”
I use witch hazel as a toner. At night, I wash my face with warm water and then apply the witch hazel to my face with a cotton pad. I then wait for it to completely dry and then put on an oil or aloe.