Astringent

adj. severe; harsh; constrictive; tightens (the skin)

n. substance which causes contraction; substance that stops bleeding; (Cosmetics) substance that tightens the skin and removes oils from the skin

An astringent substance is a chemical substance that tends to shrink or constrict body tissues, usually locally after topical medicinal application. The word "astringent" derives from Latin astringere, meaning "to bind fast". Two common examples are calamine lotion and witch hazel. Astringency is also the dry, puckering mouthfeel caused by tannins found in many fruits such as blackthorn, bird cherry and persimmon fruits. The tannins denature the salivary proteins, causing a rough "sandpapery" sensation in the mouth. Astringency tastes unpleasant to many mammals (including humans), which tend to avoid eating astringent fruit; conversely, birds do not taste astringency and readily eat these fruit. It is thought that fruit astringency gives a selective advantage to some plant varieties because birds are better than mammals at long-distance seed dispersal, often flying a great distance before passing the seeds in their droppings.
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Astringent /astrin·gent/ 1. causing contraction, usually locally after topical application. 2. an agent that so acts. as·trin·gent adj. [more]Astringent - Community and Resources

Noun
1. a drug that causes contraction of body tissues and canals
(synonym) astringent drug, styptic
(hypernym) medicine, medication, medicament, medicinal drug
(hyponym) alum
(derivation) astringe
Adjective
1. sour or bitter in taste
(synonym) acerb, acerbic, sharp
(similar) sour
2. tending to draw together or constrict soft organic tissue; "astringent cosmetic lotions"
(antonym) nonastringent
(similar) styptic, hemostatic
(attribute) astringency, stypsis

adj. astringent, severe

n. astringent, substance which causes contraction; substance that stops bleeding