Witch hazel, it’s a common and natural ingredient that is so commonly used, but never pushed as the main ingredient.  In fact, you may have taken several products which actually include witch hazel and never have known it.  But witch hazel is actually an inexpensive astringent that has been proven to work against acne without causing many of the side effects that seem to haunt users of ingredients like benzoyl peroxide.  In addition, it can be used in internal or external treatments, depending on the wants and needs of the individual.

Witch hazel is a liquid astringent, and it can even be bought as a stand alone in your local drugstore.  Many users apply it twice daily as a toner, and it has been found to pull oils from the pores and shrink pimples as well as the pores, preventing dirt from building up as frequently.  It has also been shown to reduce inflammation.  Because of all its properties, it has even been used to treat conditions such as minor cuts, localized inflammation, and diaper rash.

Witch hazel can be combined with a number of different ingredients.  But it has most commonly been combined with salicylic acid.  With salicylic acid shedding away dead skin cells and unclogging pores and witch hazel shrinking said pores while also reducing inflammation and providing various other benefits, this combination often gives you the one two punch you need to effectively fight acne.