How we scored it
Steam distillate of witch hazel leaves in water: plant volatiles and water only. 100% natural = 1.00.
What counts. ISO 16128-2 scores the atoms that remain in the final ingredient. Reagents, solvents, catalysts and protecting groups used during manufacture leave no mass behind and are not counted.
Where it comes from
Obtained by steam-distilling the leaves of witch hazel (Hamamelis virginiana) and collecting the aqueous distillate. Commercial witch hazel waters are often stabilised with ethanol, which is listed separately and is not part of this ingredient.
In plain English
A watery distillate from witch hazel leaves, used as an astringent toning ingredient. It is made by steam-distilling the leaves and collecting the water.
CosIng definition: Hamamelis Virginiana Leaf Water is an aqueous solution of the steam distillates obtained from the leaves of the Witch Hazel, Hamamelis virginiana L., Hamamelidaceae
References
- 1ISO 16128-1:2016 and ISO 16128-2:2017 — Guidelines on technical definitions and criteria for natural and organic cosmetic ingredients and products. ISO, Geneva.
- 2HAMAMELIS VIRGINIANA LEAF WATER. CosIng — European Commission cosmetic ingredient database. ec.europa.eu/cosing ↗
- 3HAMAMELIS VIRGINIANA LEAF WATER. CosIng u2014 European Commission database for information on cosmetic substances and ingredients. https://ec.europa.eu/growth/tools-databases/cosing/search?search=HAMAMELIS%20VIRGINIANA%20LEAF%20WATER