By: Kristina Tortoriello

Witch hazel is my skin savior at the moment. Specifically, Thayer’s witch hazel astringent pads are kicking bad skin’s butt.

Sales in similar products have picked up of late, the trend has seen an internet boom with health blogs (hi!) singing it’s praise- so what exactly is the craft behind this covetous self care must-have?

To start, this favored foliage is deciduous, found in mild, temperate regions of Canada and the US. It’s garden-friendly, and not a particularly fussy plant, so upkeep stays simple. When in bloom, the flowers are fairly acidic which enhances natural astringent qualities. Like magic! All of these factors point to a practically ready-made home remedy. (And it strikes a resemblance to the hazelnut plant- which would explain the ‘hazel’, but jury’s still out on the ‘witch’…)

The medicinal properties of witch hazel have long been cultivated for personal use. Apart from clearing the skin, it retains the skin’s moisture, refreshes pores, soothes troubled under-eye bags, and staves off irritating derma-dilemmas like rashes, sunburn and razor burn. Bonus points: It removes the grease and grime from your hair line!

…It’s also a pretty effective, high quality product, I’ve found, for the low price it averages.

Bewitched yet? For a face the fairest of them all, check out any of the Thayer’s Natural Remedies products.