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Witch Hazel

Hamamelis Virginiana (Witch Hazel) Water · Hamamelis Virginiana (Witch Hazel) Extract

A plant extract that gives oily, congested skin a tight, clean feel. The distilled kind often contains alcohol, which can dry skin.

What it does

Witch hazel water is steam-distilled and often contains alcohol unless it says alcohol-free; the extract is stronger and carries tannins, which give the tight feel. On dry, damaged or flaring rosacea skin, the alcohol adds dryness on top of irritation.

The EU’s ingredient database lists it as a skin conditioner, its general term for an ingredient that keeps skin in good condition.European Commission, CosIng (© European Union, CC BY 4.0) · uses put in plain words by Drop ↗

The evidence, graded

expert consensusIf skin is reactive, peeling, stinging, or burning unexpectedly, pause all actives — retinoids, benzoyl peroxide, AHAs, BHAs and vitamin C — and rebuild the barrier with a simple cleanser, a moisturizer and SPF for 2–4 weeks before re-introducing actives one at a time.Lodén 2003 · American Journal of Clinical Dermatology ↗

Graded per the methodology: strong · moderate · emerging · expert consensus. A weak source on a strong claim gets the weaker label.

Also known as

hamamelis virginiana

Pairs worth knowing

Niacinamide (Vitamin B3) · works together ↗Centella Asiatica (Cica) · works together ↗

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