Our Gaultheria Procumbens (wintergreen) leaf extract is the first 100% naturally-derived salicylic acid obtained from wintergreen leaves; an incredible alternative to traditional synthetic salicylic acid. 

Despite its minty-sounding name, our extract is odorless and does not impede the magnificence of The Honey Mud's lush aromatics. With a long history of use in traditional medicine, wintergreen is an evergreen shrub from Canada which grows in the pine forests and underbrush of North America. It was known by the native populations who used it in traditional medicine to treat various ailments, including within compresses to ease skin inflammation.

To extract this natural acid, our supplier first distills the leaves of the wintergreen plant, then uses a process called hydrolysis - which sounds like a fancy word, but can be explained simply as using water to break down the oil, which in turn produces salicylic acid.

What results is an anti-microbial, anti-inflammatory compound ideal for gently purifying oily and breakout-prone skin, visibly reducing the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, easing redness and discomfort, decongesting clogged pores, and bringing a glow and radiance that surpasses even the beauty of our much-loved original formula.

Our wintergreen extract works similarly to beta-hydroxy acid (BHA) to target certain protein bonds in the skin. The goal here is to enhance the skin's natural shedding process that can become inhibited due to damage from the sun, environmental factors, the natural aging process, genetics, and inflammatory conditions such as acne. 

Natural salicylic acid helps to release dead skin not just on the surface, but also in the pore lining, where accumulation of pollution, makeup, and sunscreen mix with your natural oils and dead cells. Without effective exfoliation on both levels, skin may present as congested, dull, bumpy, rough, irritated, and simply lacking the glow of health. This buildup also impedes the effectiveness of all other products you use, blocking their delivery to your skin.

The gentle exfoliation delivered by our unique extract leaves skin incredibly soft, smooth, and even-toned, particularly over time and with consistency.

Bonus: Beyond its immediate benefits to the skin's appearance, in the plant world, salicylic acid plays a key role in the resistance of plants to pathogens. This special quality allows this unique extract to offer itself as one more player in our skin-supportive, natural preservation system.

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