Hey there, folks!
I've been looking for a good witch hazel base aftershave for quite a while, but I've had no luck so far. Does anyone know any good ones, preferably not too expensive? ;)
Thanks in advance!
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Hey there, folks!
I've been looking for a good witch hazel base aftershave for quite a while, but I've had no luck so far. Does anyone know any good ones, preferably not too expensive? ;)
Thanks in advance!
I've not used it but Dickinson's is a brand I've heard recommended. It's on the inexpensive side and can be found at Wallgreens, CVS, probably others.Quote:
Originally Posted by JJMononoetoe
Thayers is another brand and the one I'm currently using is their witch hazel astringent. It's a little pricey but I like it. I found mine at Whole Foods.
hth,
Kent
Thanks! Now I have some specific brands I could look for. I'll have to go look on eBay, most of the brands you're naming aren't available over here in the Netherlands :) That's okay though, most of the time when I get it from America, it's better for my wallet ;)
I found the one you use. Looks good, I was wondering if if was good :)
IMO, you'd be better off getting a bit of witch hazel (cheap, generic is as good as Thayers which isn't worth the extra money IMO) and using your favorite AS afterward. Witch hazel has a very distinctive scent that dissipates very quickly and your normal AS will work well in conjunction with it.
Best,
I see. In my case, I would first use some witch hazel, and then some moisturizer cream. Will that be fine? I normally actually don't use anything except for moisturizer, although sometimes I use alum to fix my face ;)
For actual WH based aftershaves you can try Ogalalla ....
I use witch hazel then follow up with Proraso pre-shave cream a few minutes later. I have the most sensitive skin of anyone I've ever known, and that combo works wonders. I've tried using other aftershave balms and creams after the witch hazel, but the Proraso pre-shave works the best for me.
As for the witch hazel, I prefer Thayers because the scent is tolerable. It is about $6 for 4 oz. plus I have to pay for shipping. I bought a 16 oz bottle of 84% witch hazel from the local beauty supply store for the same $6. It works just as well, but the smell is rough. It does dissappear pretty quickly though.
Is this the company you're referring to Glen?Quote:
Originally Posted by gssixgun
http://www.ogallalabayrum.com/
If so, I should be red in the face, since they're located in the state I live, and I've never heard of them. :) Looks like they sell samples, I'll have to give them a try.
Thanks,
Kent
That's pretty much why I use Thayers as well. I don't like the smell of witch hazel. I also don't like cologne type smells on my skin, and the lemon scented Thayers I'm using dissipates quickly.Quote:
Originally Posted by captainboog
Kent
Not to start a whole big deal or anything, but witch hazel that doesn't have 14/15% alcohol isn't really witch hazel according to the FDA which isn't in most of the Thayers "witch hazel" products. The alcohol component being similar to red wine is what is attributed to the astringent effect of witch hazel. I can provide a slough of links if needed.Quote:
Originally Posted by captainboog
I've seen the "slough of links" at B&B and don't really care to see more of the same. Maybe others do, that's just me. I just want something that smells pleasant but not overbearing, and has some alcohol to cool my face. The 10% alcohol in Thayers fits that bill nicely, for me. I think the Thayers with 20% alcohol would be a bit much.Quote:
Originally Posted by richmondesi
Cheers,
Kent
I didn't want to see them either. :p However we deal in minutia all of the time around here, so you never know who may.Quote:
Originally Posted by keenedge
10-4 on that. :)Quote:
Originally Posted by richmondesi
Kent
So I guess I read the bottle wrong, becuase the plain witch hazel I have actually says 86% witch hazel 14% alcohol. The Thayers says something like natural grain alcohol, Thayers proprietary witch hazel extract blended with purified water. It doesn't give the percentages. Interestingly they both work very well (much better than anything I've tried not claiming to be witch hazel) Could be psychosomatic.Quote:
Originally Posted by richmondesi
That's just how I do it. I've been using Thayer's Witch Hazel Skin Astringent with Aloe which has 10% alcohol and I find it an inexpensive and solid product.Quote:
Originally Posted by JJMononoetoe
X
+1 on Ogallala. I like the bay rum and sandalwood best so far and I haven't found one of theirs I don't like yet. The Bay rum colognes are great stuff too. Here's a link to there site. They do have cost effective samples so you can try them before going all out.
Ogallala Bay Rum
Gentlemen,
I have used Thayer's Super Witch Hazel with Aloe Vera for quite a while. It is soothing as well as refreshing. I am sure other fine witch hazels are available; however, this one works quite well for me.
Regards,
Obie
I just got two bottles of Thayers in an order of other stuff. The first bottle is exactly the same as previous couple that I've had. The other is in a different shaped bottle (short and square). The label is basically the same but it does also say astringent on the label. Not sure if it is the same or not.
The Thayers products labeled "astringent" contain 10% alcohol. The ones called "toner" are alcohol free and the "medicated" has 20% alcohol.Quote:
Originally Posted by captainboog
Looking at their website I discovered they have an aftershave. I didn't know that.
Thayers Witch Hazel After Shave w/Aloe Vera Formula - $6.50 : Thayers Natural Remedies, Since 1847
Kent
Witch hazel is a plant and they use the extract from it mixed with alcohol and sometimes other things to make aftershaves and such. Whether it has alcohol or not that does not affect it being witch hazel.
I'd say. Witch hazel is witch hazel. Alcohol is alcohol. Put them together, and you get... Witch hazel with alcohol. It's magic! :oQuote:
Originally Posted by thebigspendur
Man, this kid is sharp! :D
It's been made clear that this isn't necessarily a discussion that is really welcome here, so I'll say this and it will be my final word on the subject. There is a witch hazel plant from which Witch Hazel Water is derived.Quote:
Originally Posted by thebigspendur
Now, the specifications, as officially laid out by the FDA, are
Specific Gravity 0.979-0.983
pH 3.0-5.0
Alcohol Content 14.0-15.0%
Nonvolatile Residue 0.025%
Tannins To pass test
Shipping Information:
Ethanol solution, 3, UN1170, PG III
Storage Information:
HEAT SENSITIVE: Keep tightly closed.
Again, as was stated before the astringent quality of witch hazel water (which is commonly referred to as witch hazel) is due to the fact that it has an alcohol content similar to that of red wine. If you were a chemist working in a lab and asked to buy witch hazel, and you bought something that didn't meet the above criteria, it wouldn't be acceptable.
Like I said, I'm not interested in a major back and forth on this, and I'll not argue the point any further.:)
Aww. But I want to discuss it :( :p *biology student* Excuse me. Your response made me do some research.
You're right. Witch Hazel Water, as stated by the FDA apparentely, contains alcohol. This is because of the distillation process. They take twigs of the plant, soak it in warm water, and add alcohol to the distillate. The plant itself does not contain any form of ethanol. Attributing the astringent properties of witch hazel to ethanol (a chemical not found in witch hazel) would also directly mean that witch hazel is nothing more than a marketing trick. However, the leaves and the bark of the witch hazel plant contain tannins, astringent polyphenols found in plants, so there is no need to worry. It does in fact have astringent properties.
The typical astringent properties of red wine are to be primarily attributed to the phenols from the skins and seeds of the grapes.There are phenols that give wine it's colour, other phenols that give it it's taste, and yet other polyphenols (tannins) that are responsible for astringency.
What does this mean in the end? It probably means that when you're buying witch hazel aftershave, that there's alcohol in it. I wasn't trying to disprove alcohol, as it's quite an effective antiseptic that definitely has it's uses. I was trying to make the difference between alcohol and (pure) witch hazel clear, mainly that witch hazel's astringent properties are not to be attributed to alcohol, but to the tannins that are found in the leaves and the bark.
As I said, I'm not going to argue the point. It isn't fruitful. However, if you want to dispute it, I'd really appreciate you setting these people straight on it if they are wrong: Encyclopedia of Alternative MedicineQuote:
Originally Posted by JJMononoetoe
This is what they have to say on the matter:
Quote:
In the United States, there is another controversy about the remedial benefit of witch hazel. Hamamelis water, when distilled, contains no tannin. Distilled witch hazel consists of a mixture of 14% of alcohol in water with a trace of volatile oil. The astringent effect of witch hazel is due to an alcohol content similar to that of red wine. But the unstudied volatile oils exert some effects similar to topical tannin, and are also antimicrobial.
If you want to buy $10 extract of witch hazel peach tea to rub on your face buy Thayers, no law against it.
If you want a good enough witch hazel for 3 bucks, Dickinson's at Walmart.
If you want a .90 cent el cheapo witch hazel that works just like any other try Delon.
If you want a superb witch hazel based aftershave with a nice Bay rum fragrance try budget priced, Ogallala.
If you want a nice trick someone suggested that was used by barbers, mix Bay Rum or another kind of aftershave in your hand WITH witch hazel and use it that way.
I think I will try the Ogallala next. What does bay rum smell like anyway?
Nah, I know. It often results in flame wars and such. Quite ugly :p Your post just kind of inspired me to look further into the matter. That's also why I find your "counter"-responses to be just as educational.Quote:
Originally Posted by richmondesi
That's a really interesting quote there, too! I didn't know it the distilled hamamelis water didn't contain tannin. Hmm, that's very interesting. In that case, the astringent effect would indeed primarily be attributed to the alcohol. It's a shame those volatile oils aren't studied yet, I would love to read more about that.
My $.99 witch hazel mixed with AV works very well too. I love that cheap combo! :rock:Quote:
Originally Posted by Hanzo
99 Cent? Dang. You know, I'm not even going to buy it from eBay anymore. I'm just going to look around here (it has proven to be very hard to find though). The shipping costs are too high *cough* much higher than for guitar hardware *cough*. Jeez, I'm not going to pay €11 shipping costs for something that costs €2! That's madness! :pQuote:
Originally Posted by richmondesi
(That, in total, would be about $18.5)
Where are you looking? I find the cheap witch hazel in the pharmacy section of Wal-mart next to rubbing alcohol and hydrogen peroxide.Quote:
Originally Posted by JJMononoetoe
Looks like I'm going to have to find the Dutch equivalent of Wal-Mart ;) It's surprisingly hard to find witch hazel stuff here! I even checked the natural shop, and they didn't have it. Boo!Quote:
Originally Posted by richmondesi
But yeah, I'll keep looking ;)
Here:Men's Toiletries and Gifts
Em's Place for shaving needs and witchhazel splashes.
dannyr
Aw, too bad they only ship to America :) But thanks anyway.
Have you tried the Proraso Aftershave? It has witch hazel in it (according to the ingredients), and it is fantastic!
Agreed! It's a great aftershave with a bit of everything; soothing, cooling, and pleasant smell.Quote:
Originally Posted by richmondesi
Ooh, cool! I can get Proraso stuff from a webstore here :D Another reason to try out Proraso ^_^ Thanks for the suggestion!Quote:
Originally Posted by richmondesi