Skin Ingredient Spotlight: Witch Hazel

During the early to mid 19^th century, Witch Hazel became a staple in most medicine cabinets because of its healing and soothing properties. Women used it to tone their complexion, men used it as an aftershave, and families used it to soothe sunburns, disinfect cuts, and dry out poison ivy.

The leaves, bark and twigs of the Witch Hazel shrub were boiled to draw out the natural extracts and oils. Alcohol was added to allow it to evaporate on contact and to provide a cooling sensation.

Today, we use the petals of the Witch Hazel shrub in skin care formulations since they are shown to give the best skin benefit. In the late fall, the shrub blooms with long, yellow, tendril-like petals after the leaves have dropped. The petals go through steam distillation to draw out the essential oils and natural extracts. Today we do not add alcohol like was done years ago, since it will create a drying effect on the skin.

Witch Hazel (also known as Hamamelis Virginiana) is an excellent ingredient for its use in toners and moisturizers to lessen oily skin, hydrate dehydrated skin, soothe redness in sensitive skin and disinfect problem complexions…

The follow Renée Rouleau products contain natural Witch Hazel:

Balancing Skin Tonic

Hawaiian Nourishing Cream

Revitalizing Ginseng Toner

Important! The Witch Hazel astringent found in drugstores DOES contain alcohol and is not recommended. You should not use toners containing SD Alcohol 40 or Denatured Alcohol. Read our list of skin care ingredients to avoid.

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Information courtesy of www.ReneeRouleau.com, a website with skin care tips, products based on nine skin types and advice from skin care expert and celebrity esthetician, Renée Rouleau.