Does Witch Hazel Expire – Is Expired Witch Hazel Safe To Use?

Witch hazel is a common topical medicine that is used for a wide variety of purposes, mainly as an astringent.

Before we get into details, let’s first answer the main question.

Yes, witch hazel does expire. Most witch hazel products will have a UPC Code that tells you when it was made and an expiry date stamp on the bottle. Double dipping in witch hazel also contaminates it. In both cases, the product should be disposed of. Expired or contaminated witch hazel is not safe. 

What Is Witch Hazel?

First of all, it is essential to know that witch hazel is a plant used to extract or make medicine. However, its twigs bark and leaves are used to make medicine.

Witch hazel liquid or water is distilled or extracted from dried bark, leaves, and partially dormant witch hazel twigs.

 

What Is Witch Hazel Used For?

Witch hazel is used by many people in the world to cure mucus colitis, diarrhea, coughing up blood, vomiting blood, colds, cancer, tumors, and tuberculosis.

Witch hazel is applied directly on the skin for swelling, pain, itching, skin injury, eye inflammation, hemorrhoids, insect bites, bruises, acne, minor burns, sensitive scalp, and other skin problems.

Therefore, witch hazel products are used to tighten the skin and are included in some medications to give those products the ability to stop bleeding or slow bleeding.

However, the medicines are useful in treating hemorrhoids, stings, teething, itching, minor pain, irritations, and insect bites.

Types of Witch Hazel And Expiration

Considering witch hazel expiration, it is essential to know that there are many types of witch hazel.

However, you should note that witch hazel has the UPC Code that tells you when it was made. In addition, there is a stamp on the bottle that shows the date.

The date stamp is used to tell the user the date when the witch hazel was made. In this case, it is vital to consider going by the last digit.

It is essential also to know the type of witch hazel you want to use since there are different types. different types of witch hazel will have varying expiry.

Moreover, one should remember to use the right witch hazel and consider buying a small amount of the product to use the first start to use it.

It is also vital to ensure that you do not double-dip while using witch hazel because you will be contaminating it.

If it is contaminated, that means it is pretty much as bad as expired and you cannot use it anymore. Therefore, it should be thrown away.

It is also important to note that if you have not used the product for more than six months and it has expired, then there is a need to throw it away. Contaminated witch hazel breaks you out giving rashes.

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In addition, witch hazel is a natural product; hence, all-natural products do expire. It will depend if it contains alcohol will prolong its life. Some people say that it lasts for years, but it is advisable not to take risks.

Is Expired Witch Hazel Safe To Use?

So since witch hazel can expire, is expired witch hazel safe to use? What happens If I use expired witch hazel?

Studies show that expired witch hazel is not safe to use because it may harm your skin. we generally do not recommend using expired items on your skin. In the same way, we do not recommend using expired aftershave for example.

This is especially true if your witch hazel turned yellow. Everybody should be keen to check the date of expiry to avoid such instances.

Contaminated witch hazel can result in skin bleaches. Moreover, witch hazel is a natural product; hence, all-natural products do expire.

It depends if it contains alcohol will prolong its life. Some people say that it lasts for years, but it is advisable not to take risks. Expired witch hazel becomes fake; hence once applied on the skin can result in rashes.

 

What Happens If You Use Expired Witch Hazel?

There are repercussions once one uses expired witch hazel. If it is expired it means you cannot use it anymore and should be thrown it away.

It is also important to know that if you have not used the witch hazel for more than six months, then it has expired and there is a need to throw it away. Expired witch hazel breaks the skin hence making one prone to rashes and other skin diseases.

In addition, witch hazel is a natural product; accordingly, all-natural products do expire. Sometimes if it contains alcohol may prolong its life, but it’s essential first to check its expiry date before use. Some individuals say that it lasts for years, but it is advisable not to take risks.

 

Does Liquid Witch Hazel Expire?

Yes, Liquid hazel expires. The fact remains that all types of hazel do expire. The only thing one should be keen on is ensuring that the container has a date stamp.

The date stamp will enable the user to identify the date of expiry of the liquid hazel. Therefore, it is essential to note liquid hazel and solid witch hazel expire.

As earlier explained, liquid hazel is a natural product. This shows that all-natural products do expire. It will depend if it contains alcohol will prolong its life. It is advisable to take risks and follow the manufactures expiry date notice on the container.

 

Is Witch Hazel Safe on Skin?

First of all, it is vital to consider the three steps that should be followed when using witch hazel.

The first step is to wash the face before applying the product. It sets you up to be in a position where you can use more powerful ingredients and other products effectively.

The second step is to ensure you always use alcohol-free hazel witch hazel. This reduces irritation and dryness. Lastly, one should apply moisturizer, eye cream, and serum. It is vital since it retains moisture.

How To Know If Your Witch Hazel Has Expired

You can easily know when a witch hazel cream has gone bad based on the easily noticeable color change. Knowing this is necessary especially if your witch Hazel has been poured into a different bottle other than its original container.

Witch hazel is a transparent/clear liquid in its pure state. It takes on a yellowish tinge when it has expired.

Also, be sure to pay attention to the change in the scent. Good witch hazel normally has a slightly woody scent like a root beer. If the witch hazel has expired, the scent would be slightly “off” and would be noticeably different.

Unless you always leave the cover off or the witch hazel becomes infected, witch hazel prepared in a lab should remain for four to five years without expiring.

Conclusion

So, there you have it, answers to the question – does witch hazel expire? We all know that witch hazel is used by many people in the world to cure mucus colitis, diarrhea, coughing up blood, vomiting blood, colds, cancer, tumors, and tuberculosis.

Witch hazel is applied directly on the skin for swelling, pain, itching, skin injury, eye inflammation, hemorrhoids, insect bites, bruises, acne, minor burns, sensitive scalp, and other skin problems. But, in some cases, if it expires becomes harmful to use.

The date stamp is used to show the user the date when the witch hazel was made. In this case, it is crucial to consider going by the last digit. It is essential also to know the type of witch hazel you want to use since there are different types of it. Moreover, one should remember to use the right witch hazel.  Lastly, ensure that before using witch hazel, the expiry date is not yet because it can harm you.