Thayers - Original vs Medicated vs AfterShave?

**StillShaving** · 10-20-2008, 07:35 PM

I was curious if anyone knew the difference between these 3 variants of Thayers Witch Hazel; especially in terms of their main ingredients. I picked up a bottle of the Original formula from Whole Foods (my other choices would have been Lemon or Rose Petal) and I like it, but I was a little disappointed in the alcohol content. It reportedly contains 10% alcohol, but I could not feel the slightest burn even when applying over a open cut. If had done the same with aqua velva, it would have lit me up. I am not looking for pain, but I do enjoy the cooling sensation and feedback of the alcohol. The Thayers website doesn't go into any great detail about the difference between these products in terms of the percentage of witch hazel content versus any other ingredient. One can see that the After Shave contains more twice as much alcohol (20%) the Original formula but is that the only change, and was it at the expense of the Witch Hazel? The Medicated Superhazel has additional ingredients which sound good, but there is no way to judge if these are only included at trace amounts or are something that really helps. I will probably try the Medicated version next, but hoped to get feedback from someone who has used them or knew more details. Thanks.

**vior** · 10-20-2008, 07:42 PM

I'm a big thayers witch hazel fan. I have all except the original and cucumber. The superhazel is very soothing and has a nice cooling sensation, but I get no burn from it. The aftershave has the highest amount of alcohol and does have a slight burning sensation. I like to mix a dab of AS balm like QED with the thayers aftershave. When I use the medicated, I let it dry and then splash my face with cold water

-this give a wonderful cooling sensation and is extremely soothing.

**The Zook** · 10-20-2008, 07:45 PM

Can't help you there, I just get witch hazel for ... well, the witch hazel.

$3/bottle at Wal Mart!

**atlguitfiddle** · 10-20-2008, 08:28 PM

I have the Thayers Rose and the Medicated Superhazel.

The rose does little (if anything) for me. It smells very good, but it doesn't sooth my skin and sometimes it can make irritation worse.

The SuperHazel, on the other hand, is spectacular. While I do wish it had a different scent (its reminiscent of Sea Breeze astringent), the scent is short lived. It is very soothing and very effective.

**jkh** · 10-20-2008, 08:32 PM

I have used the Thayer's Aftershave and I didn't like it. It did pack a nice alcohol punch, much more pronounced than any of the other Thayer's that contain alcohol, but the alcohol was smell was overpowering and off putting ... dare I say misplaced? Thayer's witch hazels always have lovely aromas, but this stuff was just bad. Not to mention it was double the price.

If you enjoy the alcohol burn then stick to an alcohol aftershave ...

My $0.02

**sphiny** · 10-20-2008, 08:35 PM

I have to say that I much prefer the non-alcoholic Rose over the Superhazel (with the disclaimer that I've only used the latter once). For some reason, I find the Rose more soothing/calming, and my skin just doesn't seem to react well to alcohol. While it didn't turn out bad after i used superhazel, my skin just felt a little irritated/abused.

**Gruder** · 10-21-2008, 04:50 AM

I have both the original and the superhazel. I use the superhazel as an as -- I think it's closer to what you're looking for than the original, though still wouldn't describe the effect as an alcohol "burn". I use the original to tone/remove oil later in the day. Both are quite nice.

**1969Fatboy** · 10-21-2008, 06:14 AM

I have had the thayers lavender w/ no alcohol...didnt like. Have the thayers lemon w/ alcohol and absolutely love the stuff. It has very little alcohol and very little burn and smells out of this world. I am also able to get the stuff very cheap. Even at $7...its cheaper than other AS on the market.

**superbleu** · 10-21-2008, 01:01 PM

My vote goes to the lemon also, I got the sampler for thayers, and the gargantuan sized rose scented one(not a big fan of the scent)
I wish I got the big sized lemon scented one instead.

**mankini** · 10-21-2008, 01:19 PM

I got the sampler too, it included the cucumber which I saw for about four days then it was assimilated by SWMBO

The superhazel is superb, just the right amount of zing while being smooth and soft.

**BD1970** · 10-21-2008, 02:15 PM

Originally Posted by atlguitfiddle

The SuperHazel, on the other hand, is spectacular. While I do wish it had a different scent (its reminiscent of Sea Breeze astringent), the scent is short lived. It is very soothing and very effective.

+1

**TorzJohnson** · 10-21-2008, 03:48 PM

I've never tried the others, but the Superhazel is terrific.

**Evbo** · 10-22-2008, 06:39 AM

Originally Posted by TorzJohnson

I've never tried the others, but the Superhazel is terrific.

Ditto. And a big +2 on the superhazel!

**superbleu** · 10-23-2008, 01:04 AM

If you want to increase the alcohol content of the WH you have now, you can try adding some rubbing alcohol to it.

Originally Posted by StillShaving

I was curious if anyone knew the difference between these 3 variants of Thayers Witch Hazel; especially in terms of their main ingredients. I picked up a bottle of the Original formula from Whole Foods (my other choices would have been Lemon or Rose Petal) and I like it, but I was a little disappointed in the alcohol content. It reportedly contains 10% alcohol, but I could not feel the slightest burn even when applying over a open cut. If had done the same with aqua velva, it would have lit me up. I am not looking for pain, but I do enjoy the cooling sensation and feedback of the alcohol. The Thayers website doesn't go into any great detail about the difference between these products in terms of the percentage of witch hazel content versus any other ingredient. One can see that the After Shave contains more twice as much alcohol (20%) the Original formula but is that the only change, and was it at the expense of the Witch Hazel? The Medicated Superhazel has additional ingredients which sound good, but there is no way to judge if these are only included at trace amounts or are something that really helps. I will probably try the Medicated version next, but hoped to get feedback from someone who has used them or knew more details. Thanks.

**prewt** · 10-23-2008, 05:24 PM

Originally Posted by The Zook

Can't help you there, I just get witch hazel for ... well, the witch hazel.

$3/bottle at Wal Mart!

Look Zook, I told you how bad my sister hazel was but you married her anyway. Now knock off the witch jokes or she will turn you into a newt.

**burnwood** · 10-23-2008, 06:21 PM

I only have the Aloe Vera one and like it. Would love to find the cucumber one.

**whitebar** · 10-23-2008, 07:55 PM

I have the Superhazel, Rose, & Lavender. My favorite by far is the Superhazel. Aloe Vera is the #1 ingredient in it and that seems to make a big difference in how it works. The #1 ingredient in the other two is water.

I highly recommend the Superhazel. It is slightly cooling with only the slightest burn. I find no need for any other product when I use it whereas I usually end up using some balm on top of the rose or lavender.

**sphiny** · 10-23-2008, 08:25 PM

Just a quick question: When you guys refer to the "Superhazel"....are you actually referring to the bottle titled thusly......or the one labelled "After Shave" in the Green bottle???

**superbleu** · 10-23-2008, 11:47 PM

superhazel has a blue label
http://www.thayers.com/store/index.p...cfd1ab34c4283l

and the aftershave has a green label
http://www.thayers.com/store/index.p...bcfd1ab34c4283

Originally Posted by sphiny

Just a quick question: When you guys refer to the "Superhazel"....are you actually referring to the bottle titled thusly......or the one labelled "After Shave" in the Green bottle???

**deshaveman** · 10-24-2008, 04:53 AM

Originally Posted by jkh

I have used the Thayer's Aftershave and I didn't like it. It did pack a nice alcohol punch, much more pronounced than any of the other Thayer's that contain alcohol, but the alcohol was smell was overpowering and off putting ... dare I say misplaced? Thayer's witch hazels always have lovely aromas, but this stuff was just bad. Not to mention it was double the price.

If you enjoy the alcohol burn then stick to an alcohol aftershave ...

My $0.02

I agree. I think efficacy-wise, the AS version with 20% alcohol does soothe your face nicely compared to the 10% alcohol astringents they offer (like Lemon). However the rubbing alcohol smell is a bit annoying. I suppose you can spruce it up with an EO but why bother when there are plenty of options out there that smell much better and work just as well. The alcohol-free toners (like Lavender) don't do much post-shave. I smelled the Medicated Superhazel which is supposedly also 20% alcohol and it was too "medicinal" for me. I passed on purchasing it so I can't compare that one to the AS version.