Are you an oily skinned guy or gal that’s looking for complexion perfection?
Do you dream of skin that has the perfect matte finish, free of daily shine, blackheads, and breakouts?
Then look no further than your astringent products.
We appreciate this may seem a little counterintuitive; after all, this is one ingredient that does get a bad rap.
But we’re going to push the boundaries here, even if it does get us burned at stake and labelled a heretic.
You see, there is a lot of confusion and misinformation surrounding astringent products and their role within skin care.
Most people have a negative connotation with it due to its ability to dry out the skin; this is only partly true as the effects of astringents actually depend on the type and the quantity used within a product and how suitable it is for your skin type.
Because it’s a topic that’s given rise to a lot of debate and the answer is far from clear-cut, we will look at this ambiguous ingredient in more detail.
So join us as we explore whether the occasional use of astringents is really worth the hype.
Astringent Products
How do astringents work on our skin?
Derived from the Latin word “astringent,” which means “to bind fast
Astringents are designed to manage key issues at the skin surface, such as oiliness and its associated conditions like breakouts and blackheads.
They work on the protein, keratin, found in your skin. The salt bonds in keratin are affected by temperature and pH and form when your skin is slightly acidic or cool.
If the bonds break, the keratin molecules separate, causing the outer layer of skin to swell. When the skin cools, these salt bonds reform, and it is this process that produces the temporary “toning” effect associated with astringents.
What are the types of astringents used in skincare?
Natural astringent alternatives can give you the oil-reducing, skin-tightening effects, which are very beneficial, especially to those with oily skin.
Natural astringents
- sage
- rose
- camphor
- salicylic acid
- witch hazel
- lemon extract
- potassium alum
Witch hazel is a prime example; when used in low concentrations, it can be extremely soothing. The active component in witch hazel is tannins, a naturally occurring astringent. Used in high concentrations, they can be very astringent, so use with caution.
Alcohol astringents
Two alcohol astringents are used in the personal care industry:
- isopropyl alcohol
- SD alcohol, or ethanol, is a specially denatured ethyl alcohol
Astringents give the skin an instant cooling effect; when applied to your skin, it evaporates quickly, stimulating the skin’s sensory nerve endings that constrict blood vessels.
This action gives it the cooling feeling – much like splashing cold water on your face – this is why alcohols are often used in aftershave products.
Why do astringents get a bad rap?
You can overdo astringents because they can reduce the acid mantle and disrupt the pH balance and induce the overproduction of oil, so monitoring usage and resulting skin effects are important.
Because astringents offer a drying effect, we only recommend treating excessively oily skin or acne-prone complexions that are not suffering from underlying sensitivity. If used in the wrong setting, they can make your skin more irritated or flare-up.
Refrain from using astringents if you have any of the following:
- open sores or wounds
- super dry skin
- sensitive skin
- eczema
- rosacea
- sunburn
Can you permanently reduce pore size?
No! Apologies for being blunt here, but contrary to popular belief, this action is short-lived.
You can’t permanently reduce enlarged pores that are over-stretched, no matter what clever marketing campaigns try to tell you. This is a topic we discuss in greater detail in the article, “Oily Skin Remedies.”
Conclusion
In summary: If you suffer from excessively oily skin, incorporating the occasional, gentle astringent products into your skincare routine might not be such a bad thing.
We appreciate we are often told that you can disrupt the pH balance and induce more oil production when using astringents due to over-drying.
Not all astringents are created equal; some are of benefit to the skin. In contrast, others may be counter-productive, but it all depends on the types present in your products, their concentrations, and your skin type because there are many different types with many different properties.
So while there might be other ingredients that boast greater skincare credentials, the overriding message here is that all astringents, especially the natural ones like rose, witch hazel, and salicylic, aren’t to be feared.
Monitoring usage and resulting skin effects are essential; they need to be avoided if you have sensitive skin, eczema, acne inflammation, allergies, or skin conditions associated with inflammatory conditions.
Skincare is a lifelong relationship. You know your skin best. If you want to give astringent a go, start slow. Try it a few times a week and work your up to daily use. It might take some trial and error to see which astringent works best for you.
Hello.
I like your blog. Very interesting. Thank you!
I’m not sure if this question really suits this particular blog entry.. but anyway.. I’ve seen a lot of DIY projects on the internet of how to make natural facial toner. And this includes two ingredients : water and apple cider vinegar. What do you think about this type of toner? Can this cause any harm to skin?
Would be interesting to hear your opinion.
Indre, I think this has a place internally but not topically it’s just to acidic! Obviously internally it becomes alkaline but not when you apply it on the skin, use gentle protective ingredients instead like flower waters for a simple toner, check out my article on hydrosols https://thenakedchemist.com/hydrosol-natures-skin-tonic/ Samantha
Pores are stretched by the over production of oil in the sebaceous gland and Samantha is right nothing will shrink the pores sorry to say.
Hi Jen I almost have to agree with you, almost because I have been using astringent products on my open pores for many years but nothing has ever reduced them in size..frustrating to say the least 6
Hi Samantha
Are you saying , that it is actually not possible to permanently shrink pores? I feel I have to challenge this statement because so many skincare companies actually claim that you can… Why would you say other wise??
Hi Jen
I am sorry to be the one to tell you, but yes it is impossible to permanently shrink pores. A product that has this claim behind it, will usually contain an astringent ingredient that temporarily shrinks the pores, because it is irritating and the pore closes down. it is possible to absorb excess sebum from the pores but nothing permanent will reduce pore size which is due to genetics or overstretching due to over secretion from the sebaceous glands.