Ingredient glossary / Exfoliant
Willow bark extract
On the label: Salix Alba Bark Extract · Exfoliant
What it is
Extract of white willow bark, the plant source of salicin (related to salicylic acid); used as a gentler 'natural BHA' though it is not the same molecule.
Exfoliants: Exfoliants remove dead cells from the surface, by chemistry (acids, enzymes) or by rubbing (physical scrubs).
Wikidata: Chemical compound. Q72516566 →
In the research
8 PubMed papers mention it with skin, cosmetics or hair; the three most recent:
- Development and evaluation of a multifunctional natural composite microemulsion for anti-acne therapy: synergistic anti-inflammatory and antibacterial effects · Drug development and industrial pharmacy, 2026
- The Treatment and Evaluation of Dandruff and Scalp Erythema with Fermented Salix purpurea Bark Extract · Clinical, cosmetic and investigational dermatology, 2025
- The clinical efficacy of a new emulsion for acne and conspicuous facial pore amelioration · Journal of cosmetic dermatology, 2024
A paper is a paper, not a verdict: titles are listed so you can read them, and a study on cells or mice says little about a cream on a face.
Products whose label lists it
1 on the siteMatched from the ingredient list the supplier printed; the position in the list (first or thirtieth) is on each product page.
Other exfoliants
Dew & Balm describes ingredients from the public record and makes no claim about what a product will do for you. Statements about dietary supplements have not been evaluated by the FDA. If a product causes a reaction, stop using it; a reaction that spreads or affects breathing is a call to a doctor or 911.