Product Name: Witch hazel extractLatin Name:Hamainelis Mollis.
Part Used:Fruit & Flower
Appearance:Brown Powder
Specification:15% Tannic acid, 4:1-20:1
Introduce:WHAT IS WITCH HAZEL?
The witch hazel plant, Latin name Hammamelis virginiana, is a flowering shrub that grows wild throughout a good portion of NorthAmerica and Asia. The leaves, bark, and twigs are processed to create a clear liquid that’s sold commercially as witch hazel. Theplant extract itself is also used in topical ointments, although the toner-like liquid form is far more common for skincare andhome remedies.Like many plant-derived substances, witch hazel is a source of several antioxidants, many of which benefit skin; however, onemainantioxidant is a group of chemicals known as tannins. Applied to skin, tannins have a constricting and drying effect. They compress proteins in skin, creating an invisible “film” that can, to a minor degree, temporarily de-grease skin and minimize the look of enlarged pores. While that’s good for the short term, the long term is another story, and it doesn’t have a happy ending! The tannins in witch hazel are sensitizing. Depending on the part of the witch hazel plant used to make it, witch hazel naturally contains between 8% and 12% tannins. In addition to the tannins, almost all types of witch hazel are distilled using denatured alcohol (ethanol), with the extract containing about 14% to 15% alcohol. Although the distillation process destroys some of the tannins (which ironically is a good thing, given that the tannins are irritants), applying alcohol to your skin is always a bad thing because it generates free-radical damage and impairs th skin’s surface. By the way, while a 14% to 15% alcohol content might seem low, research has shown that even lower amounts of alcohol can damage skin. Another concern related to long-term use of witch hazel is the volatile oil it naturally contains. This oil is a source of the potent fragrant sensitizer eugenol, which is definitely not good for skin. Taking the best care of your skin requires using ingredients that contain only the good stuff, and none of the bad stuff.