For our beauty obsessed babes, a skincare routine means more than just slapping on a few creams and serums and calling it a day. it’s a way of life, and understanding what ingredients belong on your skin is a non-negotiable in 2023.
Hyaluronic acid, niacinamide and retinol are just a few of the many ingredients we trust to help combat our skin concerns. Now, sleuths on TikTok have circled back to an ingredient that was quite controversial in its hay-day for delivering Sahara-like dryness.
So, what is the product might you ask? Drum roll ... witch hazel — or for our Sherlocks out there speed reading the ‘contains’ list ‘Hamamelis virginiana’.
In Greek, witch hazel literally translates to ‘service tree’ and has widely been used in both medicinal and cosmetic products for centuries, aimed at combating inflammation and acne flare ups. Dermatologist Michelle Henry gives us the low down, saying, “In its purest form, witch hazel is used as an astringent to contract the skin’s tissues to give the appearance of smaller pores and draw oil.”
So why did said tree of life get such a bad rap? Basically, up until now, those with sensitive and normal skin types were told to stay away from witch hazel. As with most ingredients, diluting this product was necessary to see the benefits.
As the beauty industry has continued to morph to meet the demands of consumers, we’ve seen cult-classic brands rejigging old formulations and releasing new products onto the market.
This year already, witch hazel is at the top of the ingredients list for some of our favourite beauty brands, and serves as a purifying ingredient in many cleansers, sprays, and toners.
So, it’s no surprise that witch hazel has been trending on TikTok, with the tag seeing more than 69 million views. Brands like Clarins, Medik8 and Thayers have been quick to jump on the Tok bandwagon, with Thayers pushing their latest and greatest ‘Hydrating Milky Toner’, which is said to be a clarifying powerhouse formula that will reduce the appearance of pores without drying the skin out.
Already we have seen a range of top beauty influencers in the TikTok space, like EdwardZO receiving over 6 million of views on a single video, cementing that witch hazel is truly in its comeback era.
So, if you haven’t yet thought about witch hazel this year, here’s your official PSA: There’s nothing spooky about witch hazel, it’s time to embrace the magic and get with the times.