Rufus R. Noble When you read the headline, you may have thought: Wait. Witch hazel has been around for a long time. It has. In recent months, a number of skincare brands have launched new products containing witch hazel.
Toners and acne-prone skin are the most common uses for witch hazel products. The new formulations have a much higher level of sophistication and versatility.
Witch hazel is a plant that has anti-inflammatory properties and has been used to treat and prevent acne. It can also reduce redness, soothe acne, and heal bug bites.
Rebranding of Mainstay Brands
Many people may have painfully dry skin in mind when they hear the word witch hazel. It was historically used as an astringent to shrink pores and remove oil from the face. It also drained water from the skin.
Many brands, including Dickinson’s and Thayers (which launched their witch hazel toners in 1866 and 1847, respectively), have changed the formulas in order to solve the problem. Thayers launched a Hydrating milky toner last summer that combined witch hazel, snow mushroom, and hydrofluoric acid. The company claims that it will hydrate for 48 hours and also strengthen your skin’s moisture barriers.
Dickinson’s has also released a new line of products that combine witch hazel and specific ingredients to create toner-serum hybrids. These are meant to address certain skin problems. The Brightening Toner + Serum contains grapefruit and Vitamin C.
What is this?!
Some brands have rethought witch hazel and are using it as the main ingredient in new haircare products. Some brands use it to control sebum on the scalp gently. Another uses it in conjunction with lemon extracts to absorb excess oils.
Witch hazel is the star ingredient in a bath oil that, according to its manufacturer, “balances and regulates the skin’s oils content.”
It’s hard to believe that we are talking about the same thing for anyone who has ever had red, flaky skin after splashing witch hazel on their face back in the old days. In fact, it’s not. We’ve been here for centuries, but the skincare industry has finally realized that witch hazel is too strong for some people despite its benefits.
What is the common factor among all these new formulations? Ingredients that soothe the skin to counteract harshness.
Johnson & Johnson has pledged to cease selling its talc-based baby powder worldwide by the end of this year after thousands of lawsuits alleged that it caused cancer. Other companies still use it in eye shadows and powders, as well as deodorants, blotting papers, and different formulations. Since the 1960s, research has shown that talc, especially in the pelvic region, can cause cancer. Talc may be contaminated by asbestos, which is a carcinogen known to be found in talc mining areas.
Triclosan
Antimicrobial agents used to be found in body washes, hand soaps, and toothpaste. They are still present in deodorants and many other personal care products. The FDA banned triclosan and triclocarban in soaps because the FDA believed that their safety was unclear over the long term. Evidence suggests that the use of antimicrobials in soaps can lead to resistance.
