Soothing Botanical ·
Witch Hazel
INCI: Hamamelis Virginiana Water
What is it?
A plant-derived astringent and toner ingredient distilled from the witch hazel shrub, long used for its mild anti-inflammatory and skin-calming properties.
What does it do?
According to PubMed, a randomized trial comparing breast milk to a witch hazel (Hamamelis virginiana)-containing cream for treating diaper dermatitis in infants found both groups improved, with witch hazel cream producing a real, measurable decrease in dermatitis severity -- though smaller than the breast-milk group's improvement, and baseline severity differences between the groups limit a direct efficacy comparison.
Sources
This page provides general skincare information and is not medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Ingredient interactions and evidence summaries reflect published, cited sources — not a personal assessment of your skin. For medical skin conditions, rashes, pregnancy/lactation questions or persistent concerns, please consult a licensed dermatologist or HPCSA-registered practitioner.