The Best Witch Hazel Toner – 2024 Reviews & Top Picks

Beauty should first and foremost start with a good and suitable routine to ensure the thorough cleansing of the face. That can help to clear the skin in the long run.

One of the best but quite often overlooked parts of a beauty regimen are toners. These can be used for all skin types and cater different needs.

When it comes to acne-prone, oily and combination type skin, products containing Witch Hazel can help to alleviate blemishes and excessive sebum.We have listed different reasons on how to understand and make use of this natural compound.

We have also rounded the top five best products so you can easily choose and try one for yourself.

Quick Overview: Our Top Picks of the Best Witch Hazel Toner

Our best pick is the Thayers Alcohol-free Rose Petal Witch Hazel with Aloe Vera. The inclusion of Rosewater and Aloe Vera extract can help to calm the skin and limit the chances of irritation. Meanwhile, the added Grapefruit Seed Extract and Citric Acid can assist in brightening the skin tone and improving elasticity.

Second on our list is the Dickinson’s Original Witch Hazel Pore Perfecting Toner. Though this product has a similar formulation to our second top pick, we experienced different benefits from using this one. We were delighted to notice fewer breakouts and less visible pores. We were also glad to find an improvement in the skin’s overall condition and texture.

The third choice for this category is the T.N. Dickinson's Astringent, 100% Natural, Witch Hazel. We were impressed to find a product that contains only pure, natural Witch Hazel Extract. That can be beneficial to treat pimples or oily patches, as well as to clean all traces of dirt on the skin.

Fourth on the list is the Quinn's Alcohol-Free Witch Hazel. We like that this toner contains both Aloe Vera Extract and Glycerin. These can help to limit the eventual dryness, related to the high astringent powers of Witch Hazel Extract.

The last but not the least of this roundup is the Pure Witch Hazel Toner - Alcohol Free with Aloe Vera & Lavender Essential Oil. We love that this product makes use of Lavender Essential Oil. That particular oil is prized for its anti-inflammatory properties. It is often used to speed up the healing process of wounds and sunburns due to its ability to improve the formation of healthy tissue.  

Uses of Witch Hazel

Witch Hazel is derived from the bark and leaves of a witch hazel plant. It is commonly used for multi-purpose beauty remedies, medicine, and much more.

Native Americans have long discovered the benefits of this potent natural compound.

They have tried boiling its parts, and now experts are continuing to find more and more advantages of this wonder plant.

In the beauty world, Witch Hazel is implied to provide reducing of breakouts and clearing the skin, as well as controlling oiliness and getting rid of blemishes.

It can help to add a subtle glow on the face by leaving it radiant and fresh.

Witch Hazel can be a cure for many skin issues but is mainly targeted on treating acne.

We have gathered and compiled some of its healthy properties below. 

• Removes Makeup

• Treats acne and blemishes

• Minimizes pores

• Minimizes Varicose veins and bruises

• Makes skin glowing

Since the skin is the most vulnerable and exposed to outside threats organ, it is obligatory to limit the harmful effects of free radicals.

That becomes more and more to-date, as we live in the era of technology. Pollution that comes from traffic and industry leads to premature aging and dull complexion.

Computer and cell-phone screens emit the so-called high-energy visible light.

These high-frequency short wavelengths of light are incredibly counterproductive to our skin’s overall condition.

Studies refer to that radiation as being as related to aging like sun damage.

Nonetheless, we must not forget the adverse reactions, associated with UVA\UVB rays which are always present, even when we don’t get direct sun exposure.

Witch Hazel possesses both anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. Being a free radical scavenger, it can help to inhibit cell proliferation in cancerous cells.

Research shows that it has the potency to prevent the death of dangerous cells, related to mutations.

Moreover, its benefits are not only limited to things beauty-related. As it has strong astringent powers, it provides an array of possible features to support our well-being.

• Soothes rashes

• Treats bug bites

• Helps clean wounds

• Can help reduce itching and redness

Witch Hazel Toners and Skin Types Suitability

As we mentioned above, Witch Hazel is considered gentle enough to use on all skin types.

The adverse effects, related to that particular element, are lowered to a minimum.

However, as with any other ingredient, results can vary with people.

Our best advice includes always to make a patch test if it is your first time to try a particular compound.

That can help to avoid any chances for an allergic reaction to occur, especially when it comes to the sensitive skin type which can often surprise with an unexpected response.

We usually apply a toner after washing the face. It can aid to wipe off the excess gunk that is accumulated in hard to reach places and in deep pores.

Witch Hazel toners can be great to address oily skin conditions. That’s because these can help to limit the overproduction of sebum.

If you happen to have dry skin, though, we recommend that you always follow it up with a suitable moisturizer.

The same appeals for people with combination skin type.

You can choose to apply a hydrating cream on the affected zones, or just limit the use of a witch hazel toner on these patches.

Witch Hazel can become an essential staple in retaining and maintaining the skin’s youthful looks and texture for people with normal or acne-prone skin.

It can aid in blurring the appearance of pores and preventing future infections.

After revealing some of the possible benefits of this natural compound, we are eager to make you a part of our selection for the best witch hazel toner.

Product Reviews: Our Top Five Picks of the Best Witch Hazel Toners

#1 - Thayers Alcohol-free Rose Petal Witch Hazel with Aloe Vera

The product that heads this roundup is the Thayers Alcohol-free Rose Petal Witch Hazel with Aloe Vera.

We love how it can help to make the face glow after a couple of uses. We also noticed it could clear the skin and reduce the size and redness of blemishes.

It contains natural ingredients aside from Aloe Vera to help keep the skin healthy and calm.

That includes Rose Water, Vitamin E, and Grapefruit extract which can contribute to brightening the complexion.

All of these compounds are not related to irritation or inflammation, so we highly appreciate that all skin types can benefit from the hypoallergenic formulation.

Another factor that we like about the product is that it has a mild scent which doesn’t come from artificial fragrances.

The main downside that we find is that visible results may take longer to develop and become noticeable.

Though it doesn’t tend to overdry the skin, we would still encourage you to pair it with a good moisturizer.  

The Dickinson’s Original Witch Hazel Pore Perfecting Toner becomes our second choice.

We appreciate how it can be used for cleansing the skin both before and after makeup. It absorbs well and helps to increase the penetration of creams or primers.

Thus, we were able to enjoy a long-lasting makeup, since the cosmetics can stick better after application.

The hypoallergenic formulation can make it gentle enough to use on sensitive skin or acne-prone skin.

Apart from its listed action on minimizing of the pores, we did notice decreasing of breakouts while applying it on a regular basis.

One of the fond things about this product is that there is a refreshing feeling afterward. We also find it beneficial in reducing stubborn pimple marks.

Moreover, we were pleasantly surprised to notice a diminishing of the dark circles under the eyes and easing of the puffiness around them.

What we did not like is that it does have a weird and robust scent. Anyway, the good part is that it tends to fade away quickly.

We chose the T.N. Dickinson’s Astringent, 100% Natural, Witch Hazel as our third top pick.

It can help by penetrating deep down the pores to address acne-causing bacteria. The active ingredient of this toner is only pure Witch Hazel, containing 14% alcohol.

And even though it has the ability to seep through the surface and eliminate dirt, we did not to experience over-drying.  

We also notice that it can be suitable to use after shaving as it can reduce the razor burn and bumps.

Furthermore, it can aid in treating acne and blemishes on the skin by speeding up the healing process through eliminating the microbial sources of inflammation.

What we did not like is that it does have an odd scent. It can be bothersome to those who are sensitive towards fragrance.

However, we would recommend mixing it with essential oils that can reduce the smell without affecting the potency of the product.

The Quinn’s Alcohol-Free Witch Hazel toner spots our fourth top pick for the best witch hazel toner.

We like that it combines the astringent properties of Witch Hazel with the moisturizing ability of Glycerin.

That’s why we think that particular toner might be beneficial for those with sensitive skin type, being free of alcohols, parabens, or artificial fragrance.

It makes use of Aloe Vera, Citric Acid, and Citrus extract. The latter comes from Grapefruit which is full of proanthocyanidins.

These are a type of polyphenol, which carry high antioxidant potency. The inclusion of Citric Acid improves the absorption of the Grapefruit Seed Extract.

However, we notice that there is some kind of residue left on the skin. We didn’t mind it, though, as it seemed to be barely noticeable.

Another factor that we disliked was that despite being non-drying, the skin might feel slightly sticky after application.

We believe it is better suited for normal to dry skin, rather than oily and combination type.

The Pure Witch Hazel Toner - Alcohol Free with Aloe Vera & Lavender Essential Oil is the fifth product that made it through our selection.

We enjoyed the pore-tightening effect after application as it was almost immediate and easy to notice.

The Lavender Essential Oil combines antiseptic and antioxidant properties. It can assist to improve both sleep and the brain function.

Meanwhile, it can aid in restoring the skin’s complexion by reducing acne and slowing down the aging process.

The main reason why we decided to include this product on our last position is that it contains Polysorbate 20 to its formulation.

That particular ingredient is quite useful for cosmetics, as it helps to mix oil and water.

However, the compound needs to be treated with ethylene oxide to become an emulsifier.

That is the process of implementing ethylene oxide when the concoction can get contaminated with a potentially dangerous by-product.

Thus, if you fall into the category of people who have relatives ever diagnosed with cancer, you have to be on the watch.

The Bottom Line

Witch Hazel is among the natural remedies that can help to add an extra glow to the skin by deeply cleansing it from accumulated impurities.

The primary feature that has made Witch Hazel products some of our favorites is that these can be beneficial to all skin types, including sensitive and acne-prone skin.

The key is to find the formula that works well for you.

After a thorough evaluation, the Thayers Alcohol-free Rose Petal Witch Hazel with Aloe Vera has become our top choice for the best witch hazel toner.

We highly appreciate its ability to help reduce blemishes and promote an even and radiant complexion.

We also like how it can amplify other cleansers and moisturizers by letting the ingredients penetrate deep through the surface.

All the products that made it to our list deserved our attention with their anti-inflammatory properties.

We love how these can detoxify the skin without stripping its natural moisture. We would be more than happy if you join us in the comment section.