Hamamelis virginiana witch hazel water

Hamamelis virginiana witch hazel water

AKA “bark and leaves of Hamamelis virginiana”

Mineral

Ingredient Facts

Hamamelis virginiana witch hazel water

AKA: Bark and leaves of Hamamelis virginiana

Mineral · Skin Conditioning · EWG: 1

Plant-Derived Synthetic

Solvent

Skin Conditioner

Mineral

Clean

Hamamelis Virginiana Witch Hazel Water is a cosmetic ingredient. Rated low hazard by EWG.

CAS #

84696-19-5

Form

Liquid

See origin →

Functions

Skin Conditioning

A catch-all term for ingredients that improve how skin looks and feels — softer, smoother, more supple. The workhorse behind most moisturizers.

Solvent

Dissolves other ingredients so they distribute evenly in the formula. Often the invisible "base" everything else is mixed into.

Minimizes pores

Controls excess oil

Traditional Use

Used by Native Americans for centuries as an astringent remedy for skin irritation, inflammation, and wound healing. European colonists adopted witch hazel for these properties, and it became a standard ingredient in 19th-century American pharmacopeias and skincare.