These days it seems like there is a new beauty brand popping up every week, launching products with the latest hot ingredients. There’s something to be said for a brand that has been around for over a century, and is still loved for the same signature ingredient.

If you’re a fan of witch hazel, you’ve probably heard of Humphreys Witch Hazel–the brand has spent more than 150 years perfecting their organic, wild-harvested witch hazel toners. We chatted with Jayme Evans from Dickson Brands Inc. to learn about the history of Humphreys and everything you should know about witch hazel.

Humphreys Witch Hazel was founded in 1854. Who is Humphreys and why did he decide to start the brand?

More than a century ago, Dr. Frederick Humphreys took the lead in homeopathic circles making pivotal and significant contributions such as his finding of homeopathic “combinations” and coining the term “Homeopathic Specifics.”  This, along with his belief in natural healing, were the basis for starting the brand.

What is witch hazel and where does it come from? 

Witch hazel is a plant, also known as winterbloom, that grows in New England forests. It bears delicate golden flowers and seed capsules in autumn, after leaves have fallen. When the plants are dormant in the winter months, wild harvesting their mature bark and twigs can both help promote forest regrowth and allow us to capture great potency for the main ingredient in our products. 

Do you know if there is a story behind why it is called "witch" hazel?

The “witch” in “witch hazel” isn’t witchy at all, though the plant does seem to have some magical powers! “Witch” is a derivation of an old English “wice,” which means “bendable,” like the branches of the plant.

There is some belief as well that the twigs can be used to help find subterraneous water, with this power potentially having influenced the “witch” part of the name.

Was witch hazel used any differently in the 1800s than it is today? What are the benefits?

It was first discovered by Native Americans in the early 17th century when they recognized the power of the plant to treat minor wounds, abrasions, and skin irritations. Those are all still great uses of genuine distilled witch hazel today!

Since the late 1800s, distilled witch hazel extracts have been formulated into many well recognized cosmetic and over-the-counter pharmaceutical products. The effective, versatile plant extract naturally provides skincare, haircare, eye care, and topical over-the-counter drug products with toning, oil control, astringency claims, and powers hundreds of essential personal care and skincare products used for everything from facial toners to hemorrhoidal treatment to personal cleansing to postpartum care!

How do you recommend using witch hazel in a skincare routine? Are there any skin types it is most recommended for?

Genuine distilled witch hazel has many skincare benefits. Witch hazel toners such as Humphreys remove impurities from your skin, remove excess oil, and help balance and clarify your complexion. They can also reduce irritation and redness and leave your skin, more nourished, and feeling refreshed.

Humphreys witch hazel is good for all skin types and has a range of products depending on your needs – from Nourish with Aloe to Clarify Pure Witch Hazel to Soothe with Rose.  All are gentle enough to use daily and won’t over-dry skin.

Is there anything you'd like customers to know about the ingredients used in your products and how they are sourced?

We love this question because we’re so proud of our story and so excited to educate about how Humphreys is the real deal and not all witch hazel is the same.

• Our witch hazel is wild-harvested in the plant’s natural habitat (not on manicured, cultivated, highly monitored farms). Out in the forests, the plants grow to maturity, and more resilient and nutrient-dense as they’ve had to fight to survive out in the elements. We mindfully harvest the dormant plants, using sustainable harvesting methods, always leaving enough of the plant to promote regrowth and benefit the natural ecosystem. We then extract the potent yet gentle elements of the bark and twigs to use as our main ingredient to enrich and delight your skin.

• Our witch hazel plants are certified organic. We ensure our plants are never exposed to pesticides or any inorganic contamination.

• Humphreys distills its wild harvested witch hazel in a state-of-the-art system specifically designed to capture witch hazel’s natural purity and potency better than production practices used by other brands.

• Organic witch hazel is always our first ingredient – and, unlike other brands, our toners & mists are never watered down. Be sure to read the ingredient label whenever you buy witch hazel. When witch hazel is the first ingredient, you’ll know you’re getting the real deal and not a diluted product.

• Witch hazel has a signature botanical scent that comes through in our products, another great cue that this is real, potent, gentle, skin-loving, effective witch hazel.

• Our witch hazel is combined with other skin-loving botanicals such as certified organic aloe, certified organic chamomile, certified organic rose, cucumber, and more, for the beautiful benefits they bring to your senses and skin.

• In order to preserve the natural, organic compounds in our products, we use a small amount of natural grain alcohol. Not all witch hazel brands use that high grade or alcohol to preserve their products. Please note we also offer some alcohol-free products.

• Humphreys products are free of dyes, sulfates, phthalates, parabens, and gluten.

What role does sustainability take in the brand's packaging and practices?

We are always looking to improve on sustainability and protecting our planet. Our current practices include:

• We wild harvest to mindfully select our organic plants out in nature, harvesting only dormant plants, and always leaving enough of the plant to promote regrowth and health for the forest.

• We use QAI, USD Organic certified processes.

• Our production plant uses heat recycling. (We heat our building with steam from our distillation process!)

• Any remaining witch hazel wood chips are recycled as garden mulch for a local garden store.

• We use recyclable packaging with a real bamboo cap.

What is your most popular product?

Our most popular toner is the Humphreys Nourish with Aloe. It is an alcohol-free toner loved by all who use it for its calming, nourishing, clearing, balancing effects on their skin.

Any launches we should watch out for next?

Up next – Nourishing Cleansing Pads and Clarifying Cleansing Pads! These are launching this fall and are a great addition to your cleansing, toning, skincare routine at home or on-the-go.

A University of Michigan graduate, Lizzy Sherman is an award-winning digital content writer/editor. Her work has appeared in publications including Beauty Launchpad, Nailpro, DAYSPA, CNET, Entertainment Tonight, and more. She has been a featured guest speaker at Cal State University Northridge, Digital LA, and The National Association of Audience Marketing Professionals. When she's not writing, Lizzy enjoys yoga and playing guitar. Follow her on Instagram and Twitter: @zillizy, @zillizy16