Just squirt it into your cupped palm and splash it on, baby! Also, to whom it may concern, witch hazel does not sting. It may be that you had a stinging sensation with a product that contains witch hazel AND some other stinging ingredient, most notably alcohol. That is one reason why I prefer Thayer's witch hazel toner with no alcohol. It also contains aloe vera and comes in several nifty scents, such as: lavender, lemon, rose to name a few.