Sandalwood is popularly known for its fragrance, evoking peace and calm, finding its use in aromatherapy and meditation.
There are in total 16 varieties of sandalwood, categorized under four groups, namely:
- East Indian Sandalwood
- Australian Sandalwood
- Hawaiian Sandalwood
- Pacific Islands Sandalwood
East Indian Sandalwood is considered the best among the four. The sandalwood oil extracted from the East Indian sandalwood tree has been in use for centuries in the Indian and Chinese traditional medicines.
Benefits Of Sandalwood For Skin
The benefits of sandalwood for skin have been extensively studied and scientifically backed. Let’s explore the multiple sandalwood benefits for the face:
1. Sandalwood for wrinkle-free skin (Anti-Ageing Property)
Wrinkles on the skin develop as a part of the normal ageing process that involves cell damage due to the production of free radicals. Poor nutrition, smoking, alcohol abuse, and air pollution have led to the production of free radicals, cell damage, and wrinkle formation even at a very young age. According to a study, sandalwood, rich in antioxidants, is excellent for use as an anti-ageing agent.
To get wrinkle-free and young skin, use sandalwood oil as mentioned in the following steps:
- Take a large bowl of steaming water and add one to two drops of sandalwood oil to it
- Keep your face over the bowl for 10 minutes (with your head covered over by a towel)
- Doing this daily or weekly may enhance your skin glow and reduce your face wrinkles significantly
2. Sandalwood for Acne
Sandalwood has been found in a study to be effective in acne. Sandalwood powder uses in acne and skin infections have been well documented in ayurvedic medicine.
Sandalwood powder applied to the skin balances the excess oil and sebum on the face, nourishes the skin, and provides relief from acne. As per studies, sandalwood oil has antimicrobial properties and thus provides relief from acne and fungal infections of the skin.
To prepare an anti-acne paste, follow these simple steps:
- Add turmeric powder to a bowl
- Add a few drops of sandalwood oil to the turmeric powder
- Prepare a paste and apply it to your face
- Leave it overnight
- Use plain water at normal temperature to wash it off
3. Sandalwood powder for skin whitening
The skin may become dark or get tanned due to exposure to excessive heat and UV light, producing an excess of melanin (the pigment responsible for skin darkening). Sandalwood inhibits a melanin-producing enzyme and prevents abnormal pigmentation and darkening of your skin.
Skin whitening paste can be prepared by following these simple steps:
- Add two to three tablespoons of sandalwood powder to a bowl
- Add one tablespoon of honey, lemon juice, and curd to the sandalwood powder
- Mix to make a paste
- Apply the paste prepared to your face and leave it for 15 minutes
- Wash your face with plain water at normal temperature
4. Sandalwood Oil for Dry Skin
Sandalwood oil contains more than 200 constituents and is a rich source of phytochemicals and santalol that help moisturize the skin and provide relief from dry and itchy skin.
- To get relief from dry skin, follow these simple steps:
- Add sandalwood powder and yoghurt in a bowl (Tip: You may use milk instead of yoghurt)
- Mix them to get a paste-like consistency
- Apply it to the face and wash it off after 10-15 minutes to get relief from dry skin
5. Sandalwood In Wound Healing
Sandalwood oil benefits for the skin include wound healing due to its antiseptic and antimicrobial properties. Sandalwood also provides a cooling effect against burning and pain sensations from the wound.
6. Sandalwood In Skin Cancer
Sandalwood's use is not just limited to skin aesthetics. It has been extensively studied and reported to be useful against skin cancers. According to a study, sandalwood oil prevents the progression of pre-cancerous skin diseases to skin cancer.
References
- Dr. Md. Shahinoor Rahman Dulal, Mohammad Abu Taher and Hasib Sheikh, November 2018; SANDALWOOD OIL CAN BE A MIRACULOUS TACKLE ON SKIN AGING, SKIN APPEARANCE AND WRINKLE SKIN – A REVIEW - https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Mohammad-Taher-10/publication/
- Moy RL, Levenson C, So JJ, Rock JA, December 2012; Single-center, open-label study of a proprietary topical 0.5% salicylic acid-based treatment regimen containing sandalwood oil in adolescents and adults with mild to moderate acne - https://europepmc.org/article/med/23377508
- Sally E Dickinson, Erik R Olson, Corey Levenson, Jaroslav Janda , Jadrian J Rusche , David S Alberts, September 2014; A novel chemopreventive mechanism for a traditional medicine: East Indian sandalwood oil induces autophagy and cell death in proliferating keratinocytes - https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25004464/
