Details: The Shrub of Life. Thayers Original Witch Hazel Astringent Pads with Aloe Vera is a soothing, natural treatment that cleanses, heals and preserves skin, made of extract from the Witch Hazel shrub (Hamamelis Virginiana) and hydrating Aloe Vera. The Traveler’s Best Friend – who needs cotton balls? These Original Astringent Pads are ready to provide our proprietary skin-soothing treatment in the car, plane, train or boat, in the woods, by the beach or anywhere else. Thayers creates the only Witch Hazel products made of non-distilled extract from the Witch Hazel shrub, maintaining the highest levels of therapeutic tannins, the mild antioxidants that help your skin look and feel its best. These natural elixirs have been a fixture in medicine cabinets for generations. Once you use them, you’ll know why.