Herbalists and natural cosmetic enthusiasts rely on several herbs to shrink and tone skin. These astringent herbs make useful facial toners, aftershave lotions, body odor treatments, and eczema and dermatitis soothers. They even help cold sores and hemorrhoids through their tightening action. Although skin-shrinking herbs are applied topically, check with your doctor to rule out any side effects or drug interactions.
Sage
Sage's astringent properties make it a good herb to use in aftershaves, toners and foot odor formulas. The herb's tannic acids helps shrink blood vessels in both the skin and sweat glands. To promote food odor control, GrannyMed.com notes that simply sprinkling the leaves in the bottom of your shoes may help, as will soaking your feet in cooled sage tea. To tighten skin on your face, splash it with cooled sage leaf tea. As an aftershave lotion that tightens pores, herbalist Jeanne Rose notes sage works well when infused in apple cider vinegar for one week; add 1 oz. sage to 1 cup apple cider, or add 1/2 oz. each of sage and rosemary. Strain and mix with 1 cup witch hazel.
Witch Hazel
Witch hazel's famous shrinking abilities turn up in cosmetic and medicinal applications ranging from hemorrhoids to cold sores to dermatitis. Like sage, witch hazel leaves contain highly astringent tannins. Use a witch hazel extract, widely available in drugstores, to put on sunburns and eczema, suggests James A. Duke in The Green Pharmacy Herbal Handbook. It also helps shrink pores for those with oily skin.
Rosemary
Rosemary works well in facial steams and toners to shrink skin, notes Kathi Keville in "Herbs for Health and Healing." Infuse rosemary needles in vinegar to make a facial astringent, or add them to a facial steam. Add 4 tsp. rosemary needles to 3 cups hot water in a basin. Alternatively, replace some of the rosemary with other skin-shrinking herbs, such as sage or yarrow. Bend over the basin with a towel over your head and the basin to form a steam tent. Stay under the tent at least 10 minutes; rinse your face with cool water and gently pat dry.
Agrimony
The flowering herb agrimony creates a tightening effect both internally and externally. To tighten skin, Drugs.com notes that making a poultice represents the most popular external method. Prepare a decoction of dried agrimony by boiling it for at least 10 minutes. Use 1 oz. agrimony for every 9 oz. water. Strain and let the water reach a lukewarm temperature. Use a compress or several compresses on the area you wish to treat; one clean cloth soaked in the agrimony decoction works well on small eczema patches, while an astringent face treatment requires a large cloth. Lie down, lay the poultice on your face and rest for about 10 minutes.
Yarrow
Yarrow remains a favorite in cosmetic herbal preparations, according to natural beauty expert Jeanne Rose. She recommends a homemade facial toner made by boiling 1 oz. fresh yarrow flowers in 2 cups apple cider vinegar for 10 minutes. Put the mixture in a clean jar, cover and let steep for two weeks. Strain again and put the toner in a clean jar or bottle. Use by mixing a small amount of the yarrow astringent with an equal amount of plain water or rose water. Apply to the face with a cotton ball. Alternatively, rinse your face with half yarrow vinegar and half water or rosewater.
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