Ultimate Witch Hazel Toner Recipe for Deep Hydration and Glowing Skin
Natural toners act as a refreshing drink for your skin cells, locking in hydration while providing different therapeutic properties. Our body and skin barrier need water to thrive, even for oil-rich skin. However, it’s not just about applying more water; it’s about how well your skin absorbs it. The smaller molecules in toners penetrate more easily, ensuring your skin effectively absorbs and benefits from the hydration.
Witch hazel is versatile and, when added with other naturally hydrating ingredients, can be used both as a mist for hydration and soothing, or alone as a toner for deep cleansing and clarifying the skin. The choice depends on your specific skin care needs and preferences. If you’re looking for a refreshing and calming effect, use it as a mist. For a more thorough cleansing and toning routine, use it as a toner. Either way, infusing witch hazel with rose hips, hibiscus, and Damascena (Damascus rose) is a wonderful way to harness the therapeutic properties of these botanicals and provide you with a wonderful accompaniment to your skincare regime.
Benefits of Rose Hips
Rich in Vitamins: Rose hips are high in vitamins A and C, which are essential for skin health. Vitamin C boosts collagen production, helping to maintain skin elasticity and reduce the appearance of wrinkles.
Antioxidant Properties: The antioxidants in rose hips protect the skin from free radical damage, which can cause premature aging.
Moisturizing: Rose hips contain essential fatty acids that deeply hydrate the skin, improving its overall texture and tone.
Healing: Known for their healing properties, rose hips can help reduce the appearance of scars and hyperpigmentation.
Benefits of Hibiscus
Anti-inflammatory: Hibiscus has natural anti-inflammatory properties that help soothe irritated skin and reduce redness.
Hydrating: Hibiscus is rich in mucilage, a natural substance that helps retain moisture, keeping the skin hydrated, soft, and smooth. Additionally, hibiscus helps maintain hyaluronic acid levels, which are crucial for skin hydration and elasticity.
Antioxidant Properties: Packed with antioxidants such as anthocyanins, hibiscus helps protect the skin from oxidative stress and environmental damage, promoting a youthful appearance.
Natural Exfoliant: Hibiscus contains natural alpha hydroxy acids (AHAs) that gently exfoliate the skin, removing dead skin cells and revealing a brighter, more radiant complexion.
Firming and Tightening: Known as the "Botox plant," hibiscus helps improve skin elasticity, reducing the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.
Astringent: Hibiscus has astringent properties that help tighten and tone the skin, making it look firmer and more refined.
Benefits of Damascena Rose
Anti-inflammatory: Damascena rose is highly soothing and reduces skin irritation and redness.
Hydrating: The natural oils in Damascena roses are excellent for moisturizing the skin, leaving it soft and smooth.
Antioxidant Properties: Rich in antioxidants, Damascena rose helps protect the skin from oxidative stress and environmental damage.
Aromatherapy Benefits: The calming scent of Damascena rose can help reduce stress and anxiety, promoting overall well-being.
Duration of Infusion:
Short-Term Infusion: For a quicker infusion, allowing the herbs to steep in witch hazel for about 2-4 weeks is generally sufficient. This time frame allows the witch hazel to extract a good amount of the active compounds from the rose hips and Damascena roses.
Long-Term Infusion: For a stronger, more potent infusion, you can extend the steeping period to 4-6 weeks. A longer infusion time will enable a more thorough extraction of the beneficial properties, resulting in a more concentrated product.
Steps to Infuse Witch Hazel with Rose Hips, Hibiscus, and Damascena:
Preparation: Start by selecting high-quality dried herbs. The quality of the botanicals will significantly impact the potency of your infusion.
Ratio: Generally, use about 1 ounce of combined dried herbs per 5 ounces of witch hazel.
Mixing: Place the dried herbs in a clean, dry jar. Pour the witch hazel over the botanicals until they are fully submerged.
Sealing and Storing: Seal the jar tightly and store it in a cool, dark place. A cupboard or a pantry away from direct sunlight is ideal to prevent degradation of the active compounds.
Shaking: Shake the jar gently every few days to redistribute the contents and aid the extraction process.
Straining: After the desired infusion time, strain the mixture through a fine mesh sieve or cheesecloth into another clean jar or bottle. Ensure to press or squeeze the botanicals to extract as much infused witch hazel as possible.
Storage: Store the strained witch hazel in a clean, airtight container. It is best kept in a cool, dark place to preserve its therapeutic properties.
Witch Hazel as a Mist:
Hydration: Witch hazel can be used with other natural ingredients and used as a hydrating mist to refresh and tone the skin throughout the day. Stay tuned for my recipe!
Soothing: It can soothe irritation and reduce inflammation, making it a great option for calming the skin.
Pore-Tightening: Witch hazel helps to tighten pores and control oil production, which can be beneficial when used as a mist.
Witch Hazel as a Toner:
Cleansing: As a toner, witch hazel is effective in removing excess oil, dirt, and makeup residue after cleansing.
Balancing: It helps to balance the skin’s pH, preparing it for the next steps in your skincare routine.
Clarifying: Regular use as a toner can help to keep the skin clear and minimize the appearance of pores.
If you try the recipe and want to share your experience, please comment below. I have many other free recipes in this section of my blog!
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