Farm to Bottle: How Thayers Witch Hazel is Made

When it comes to Witch Hazel, there tend to be a lot of questions. Have you ever wondered what witch hazel actually is? Maybe you’re even curious how it’s made? And why do people swear by adding Witch Hazel to their skincare routine?

Paying close attention to the ingredients in the products you use each day and the processes used to create them is important. That’s why we’re excited to give you a behind-the-scenes look into our farm-to-bottle process, so you have an understanding of how our proprietary formula is born. This process is entirely unique to Thayers, and is one of the reasons why our formula is so efficacious and beloved today. Here’s what you need to know about our process and why farming for skincare products is, well, a pretty big deal.

What is Witch Hazel? Locally Grown at a Family Farm in Connecticut

First thing’s first - let’s understand what Witch Hazel is. Witch Hazel is a plant, or shrub, that is native to North America, containing natural, beneficial properties. The leaves and bark of the plant are typically used to make extracts to help soothe skin for various reasons.

The Witch Hazel plant that goes into our Thayers Natural Remedies Facial Toners is grown locally at a family farm in Easton, Connecticut. Harvested by hand the old-fashioned way, the leaves, stem and bark of the Witch Hazel plant are trimmed and collected every fall by a local family and farm workers.

The Witch Hazel Extraction Process

Wondering how our Witch Hazel products are made? Once harvested, the Witch Hazel is taken to a family-owned extraction facility less than twenty miles down the road. The plant then undergoes the following unique extraction process to create Thayers proprietary Witch Hazel blend, which is used in our skincare products.

Step 1: Maceration

Our Witch Hazel is cold-soaked with aloe and glycerin and let to steep. This gentle process avoids the use of heat and alcohol to preserve the Witch Hazel tannins and remain gentle on skin.

Step 2: Filtering

The macerated blend is filtered through a fine mesh, removing plant particles and debris, and then tested for quality control.

Step 3: Bottling

Transported directly to our local Northeast facilities, the macerated blend is combined in a kettle with other skincare beneficial ingredients, like rosewater or cucumber extract, and then poured and sealed into our Thayers signature bottle with the red cap.

Thayers Witch Hazel for Skin - Why We Do What We Do

Why do we take so much time and effort in growing our own Witch Hazel? Thayers Natural Remedies has been a medicine cabinet staple for nearly two centuries, thanks to the pure and efficacious ingredients we use. Our farm to bottle process, including Witch Hazel plant farming, is special to us, as we know it brings a quality product to the hands of our consumers.

Trust the Red Cap - Trust Thayers

Alcohol-free, cruelty-free, gentle and non-drying, Thayers Natural Remedies Facial Toner visibly improves the quality of skin, helping skin feel purified, balanced and renewed. Tried and true, Thayers Toner have been a fixture in medicine cabinets for generations – once you use them you’ll know why.