Baba’s Witch Hazel Aftershave Recipe
This rejuvenating aftershave is a potent, homemade version inspired by a traditional Lebanese remedy, using witch hazel to soothe skin, prevent irritation, and add anti-aging benefits. This small-batch recipe combines witch hazel extract, tincture, and your favorite essential oils for a refreshing aftershave that nurtures and protects the skin.
Equipment
- Large covered pot
- Strainer
Ingredients
- 2 cups water
- 1 cup witch hazel extract of chopped witch hazel bark, twigs, leaves, and/or green buds
- ¼ cup witch hazel tincture*
- 5 drops essential oil of choice (the aftershave smell you like most)
Directions
- Make your decoction by bringing your water to boil with the woody plant material then simmer for 20 minutes, covered.
- Turn off heat and add any tender leaves/buds and then cover again and let steep for 10 to 30 minutes.
- Strain out all plant material.
- Once cooled completely, add the witch hazel tincture and essential oil of your choice. Make sure you have researched that the essential oil you choose is safe for facial skin!
- Use aftershave within one month.
Notes
Please don’t let the time of year or availability of bark (or no bark) stop you from experimenting with your own witch hazel medicine making! If you have access to just witch hazel twigs, or perhaps only have permission to harvest the leaves—whatever part of the witch hazel tree it may be—make your extract or tincture with that. Witch hazel is strong, and all of these parts of the plant at any time of year will yield medicine more potent than any distillation you could buy at the pharmacy.
*For in-depth lessons on making tinctures and many other types of herbal preparations, check out our Herbal Medicine Making Course!