Witch Hazel - Which?

**jwilock** · 05-01-2012, 05:15 AM

Originally Posted by mctmatt

I buy my WH at Wal-Mart or our local grocery store. I get a 16 oz bottle for less than $1.50. It contains 86% WH and 14% alcohol by volume. I then do up the following recipe for creating your own Thayers or Aftershave.

8 ounces of WH
3 ounces of Vaseline 100% Aloe Vera moisturizing gel
3 to 4 Full Tablespoons of Glycerin
2 Full Tablespoon of Aqua Velva Ice Blue or any other of your favorite aftershave. I have also used Old Spice and Aramis aftershave as I enjoy those old time fragrance of my youth.

Combine in the above order and shake bottle prior to use. The importance of Vaseline Aloe Fresh Moisturizing aloe vera gel is that it contains no alcohol, but the Aqua Velva does, yet it is not enough that it should cause any issues. The Aqua Velva does contain some Glycerin so keep that in mind. The Glycerin creates the sticky feeling on your skin so remember to adjust it to your preference. You can also take a few vitamin E capsules and cut open then add to the mixture.

I do something similar. The 8 to 3 ration is about the same as my 2 to 1 or 3 to 1. I don't use Vaseline aloe gel, though. I also use generic Walmart aloe gel. And I use maybe a little less glycerin but relatively the same amount. Again I use generic Walamrt glycerin too. The only thing I do really different is that I bought some lime essential oil, and some Green Irish Tweed scent oils and that's what I use to scetn it. It's possible I should add a bit of alcohol since I'm not adding an alcohol-based AS like you do. I've been thinking about that. I've also beenn considering adding bit of menthol in addition to the scent oil to make it a bit more "cooling".

**Crixus** · 05-02-2012, 06:47 AM

Originally Posted by dgerson

I wanted to try the Thayer's because everybody talks about it on here. So I got the no-alcohol rose scented. It sucked to be frank. None of the nice tightening I got from the Dickinson's

It didn't suck, it just didn't give you the facial sensation you were expecting. That non-alcohol Thayers is stock full of great ingredients for your face. It is more expensive than chain store generics, but that is because it contains specialty ingredients extracted in a costlier way. If you apply this stuff with a cotton pad, as recommended, it will last you forever and a day.

Folks that would pay $30+ for a 3Ts shave cream, and then balk at paying $8 or $9 for quality face care in non-alcohol Thayers should step back and reassess. Now, if you just want the tingly, face tightening sensation of inexpensive WH water and alcohol, without regard for its true skin care qualities, go cheap or go home.

**pipskicks** · 05-02-2012, 07:03 AM

Originally Posted by Crixus

It didn't suck, it just didn't give you the facial sensation you were expecting. That non-alcohol Thayers is stock full of great ingredients for your face. It is more expensive than chain store generics, but that is because it contains specialty ingredients extracted in a costlier way. If you apply this stuff with a cotton pad, as recommended, it will last you forever and a day.

Folks that would pay $30+ for a 3Ts shave cream, and then balk at paying $8 or $9 for quality face care in non-alcohol Thayers should step back and reassess. Now, if you just want the tingly, face tightening sensation of inexpensive WH water and alcohol, without regard for its true skin care qualities, go cheap or go home.

That's if you only use WH, I put on AS balm afterwards which makes the WH ingredient list less important, usually the balm has better products in it.

Now getting the WH to be able to replace the AS balm would be interesting, just not sure if that is possible....

**flatlinerz** · 05-02-2012, 07:24 AM

I like using Dickinson's its great

**SteveWY** · 05-04-2012, 03:15 PM

Originally Posted by jwilock

I do something similar. The 8 to 3 ration is about the same as my 2 to 1 or 3 to 1. I don't use Vaseline aloe gel, though. I also use generic Walmart aloe gel. And I use maybe a little less glycerin but relatively the same amount. Again I use generic Walamrt glycerin too. The only thing I do really different is that I bought some lime essential oil, and some Green Irish Tweed scent oils and that's what I use to scetn it. It's possible I should add a bit of alcohol since I'm not adding an alcohol-based AS like you do. I've been thinking about that. I've also beenn considering adding bit of menthol in addition to the scent oil to make it a bit more "cooling".

With either recipe, does the resulting product come out more like an aftershave splash, lotion, or balm? I have created a 50/50 WH/AV with essential oil that is balm consistency.

**mctmatt** · 05-04-2012, 03:30 PM

Originally Posted by SteveWY

With either recipe, does the resulting product come out more like an aftershave splash, lotion, or balm? I have created a 50/50 WH/AV with essential oil that is balm consistency.

Mine comes out as a splash, I make sure to shake mine before I use just to ensure that it is all mixed.

**Amir** · 06-09-2012, 06:41 PM

I went 'round the block on this one, too.

I was disappointed at the lack of variety when visiting drug stores/grocery stores, etc...then found Thayer's at Whole Foods. I had a choice of regular/aloe or Lemon w/alchohol (the others weren't stocked). and took the Lemon by default. I was pleasantly surprised. It's good stuff!

**rebos** · 06-09-2012, 07:16 PM

I use the Thayers unscented and I like the scent. ;)

**gus1942** · 06-09-2012, 07:18 PM

I use Thayers Lemon with alcohol

**Amir** · 06-09-2012, 07:25 PM

Maybe I've had beginner's luck, but so far, the Thayer's with alcohol has not created a burning sensation on my face.

Rather, it's been a soothing feel (even though that sounds like a commercial).

**phillylion** · 06-10-2012, 02:36 PM

Originally Posted by Amir

Maybe I've had beginner's luck, but so far, the Thayer's with alcohol has not created a burning sensation on my face.

Rather, it's been a soothing feel (even though that sounds like a commercial).

+1 I also use the Thayers non-scented with alcohol. Never stings and is very soothing. Pleasant scent too.

**Steveareno** · 06-11-2012, 06:33 AM

Originally Posted by mistercitizen

The thing I've noticed though is that after I use the alcohol free toner type and let it dry without rinsing it off... my face feels a bit sticky or tacky. Could this be the aloe in the Thayer's or have you guys experienced this with witch hazel that does not contain aloe as well? Just curious. I love the scent of the lavender and rose as I'm applying them. The scents fade very quickly and I only notice them while I'm applying them. Anyway, great stuff and well worth the money IMO when you think about some of the other aftershaves out there and how much they cost to acheive essentally the same thing.

Ben

I've been using the unscented, alcohol-free Thayers with aloe myself and I've noticed the same thing about my skin immediately afterward. I just put it down to getting all the shaving oil and soap residue cleaned off, since I don't know much about aloe. After the witch hazel dries, I just apply an after-shave balm or a little shea butter and my skin goes back to its normal feel. Thanks for the tip on the rose and lavender scented varieties. Those seem more easily available in my area than the unscented (at least in the alcohol-free category). I was worried that the scent would last and conflict with whatever scent I put on post-shave. So I may try one of them when my current bottle runs out and I can't find the same.

**Dennis324** · 06-11-2012, 07:11 AM

After reading the posts on using Witch Hazel here, I tried some last Saturday for the first time. I have to say it made a world of difference for me! Reduced the stinging and burn and left my face with a nice cooling sensation. (I'm going to take the suggestions to put my bottle in the fridge next time). I just used an unscented, generic version I got at Wal-Mart, but I think I'll look for the Thayer's soon.

Funny thing though. The talk of Witch Hazel started me thinking about the old 'Sanford & Son" tv series. Fred Sanford wouldnt be caught dead without his 'Pluto Water'. I didnt know what pluto water was and wondered if it was an old timey product used in men's grooming. So I looked it up.

(Imagine my surprise when I found out what it was really for). Lol!!!!

**GencoOliveOilCompany** · 06-11-2012, 07:17 AM

If Dickinson's is in the store, I'll get it; otherwise generic WH is fine. Thayer's is just too expensive for WH.

**Mandina** · 06-11-2012, 07:26 AM

In fact there are two different Dickinson's brands, Dickinson's and T.N. Dickinson's. Somewhere on either B&B or another shaving forum there's a link to a newspaper article on the history of w/h production and the Dickinson's company, including the family split that resulted in two different brands. T.N., if I recall correctly, is cheaper. I myself can't discern any significance between generic and Dickinson's; generic, moreover, costs much, much less in Target or WM than in CVS, Walgreen's, etc. If a person feels the need to justify the price of Thayer's, it can be said that it costs no more than any other good moisturizer/AS. I've decided to stick with the generic w/h, followed by a dab of my home-mixed oils.

**Chuckaluck** · 06-11-2012, 12:28 PM

Originally Posted by T-Dog

Thayer's is worth every penny! It is a top-notch aftershave all by itself.

Right on T- Dog! I use the Thayers Aftershave (transferred into a glass atomizer) every day.

**jrward2** · 06-11-2012, 12:51 PM

I bought some TN dickson's witch hazel from Walmart, and personally, I find that it does nothing for me. And the smell of it isn't that pleasant. It's not bad smelling it just isn't good. Perhaps I should venture out of wally world and try some Thayers instead.

**Colinallcarz** · 06-11-2012, 09:06 PM

I have tried Thayers Aloe, Witch Hazel Distillate, and Dickinsons Witch Hazel. The Thayers didn't really impress me but did the job. I had better results with the distillate, but it was pretty expensive, comparatively. Dickinsons, the cheapest (bought at Walgreens), seemed to do the job just as well as the distillate. However, I did Frankenstein the container - I poor the Dickinsons into my Thayers bottle and used the metal cap from the distillate (perfect fit). It gives it that oldtime look.

**Dennis324** · 06-13-2012, 12:34 AM

Shav ed tonight and splashed on some witch hazel. Of course it stopped the bleeding of a coupke os tiny nicks, but my face still irritated from razor burn. So witch hazel alone doesnt cut it for me. I splashed on some Clubman, but I'll be glad when my bottle of Musgo Real comes in.