What it is
Artemisia Argyi Leaf Water is the water obtained from the steam distillation or aqueous processing of mugwort leaves. It often serves as a botanical water base in place of, or alongside, plain water, carrying small amounts of water-soluble plant constituents. It is used to lend a calming, skin-conditioning character to formulas and contributes to the overall feel of a product.
Safety & warnings
As a member of the Asteraceae (daisy) family, mugwort can occasionally provoke reactions in people sensitive to that plant family or to mugwort pollen, so a patch test is reasonable for them. At typical use levels the leaf water is generally well tolerated and, being an aqueous ingredient, is not associated with comedogenicity.
Origin & sourcing
Natural; the aqueous fraction produced when leaves of Artemisia argyi (mugwort) are distilled or processed in water.
History
Mugwort is a longstanding botanical in East Asian herbal tradition and has become a popular calming ingredient in Korean skincare, where leaf waters are used as botanical bases.
Questions everyone asks
How is mugwort leaf water different from the extract?
The water is the aqueous distillate or water phase of the leaves, often used as a base, while the extract is a more concentrated preparation of plant constituents.
Does it have a strong scent?
Plant distillate waters can carry a faint herbal aroma from the source plant, though this varies by product and processing.