astringent

/əˈstrɪndʒənt/
adjective
  1. Causing the skin or other body tissue to tighten or contract, often used in skincare products to clean or reduce oil.
    • She applied an astringent toner to her face after washing it.
    • The astringent properties of witch hazel help reduce acne.
    • Many aftershaves contain astringent ingredients to soothe the skin.
  2. Sharp, harsh, or severe in taste or smell, like a dry wine or unripe fruit.
    • The astringent smell of vinegar filled the kitchen.
    • This red wine is too astringent for my taste.
    • The green apple had an astringent flavor that made my mouth pucker.
  3. (of a remark or manner) Sharp and critical; biting.
    • He has an astringent sense of humor that not everyone appreciates.
    • Her astringent comments made everyone in the room uncomfortable.
    • The critic's astringent review was harsh but fair.
Antonyms
noun
  1. A substance that causes body tissues to tighten or contract, used in medicine or skincare.
    • The doctor recommended an astringent to help stop the bleeding from the small cut.
    • Many natural astringents like lemon juice can be used on oily skin.
    • She bought an astringent from the pharmacy to treat her razor burn.
What does "astringent" mean? | whatsthatwordmean | whatsthatwordmean