Sandalwood has astringent, antiseptic, anti-inflammatory, emollient and anti-microbial properties? In other words, sandalwood soothes the skin. It also fights infections that could be caused due to microbial agents such as bacteria, viruses, fungi and protozoa. It has emollient properties which soothes and softens skin. Its antiseptic properties prevent further infection and heal scars, wounds and pimples. Its astringent properties induce contractions in the skin and muscles and prevent sagging.

What is more is that all this and much more is readily available at home. Sandalwood is the best skin care product that is naturally available. skin care.

Here are a few details about how sandalwood helps your skin and how you could exploit that using few simple face packs.

1. Daily care face pack

Take two tablespoons of Sandalwood powder and add five drops of rose water to it. Mix well to form a paste. Apply this paste on your skin and wait till it dries. You can then wash with warm water. Doing this regularly in the evening or at night helps prevent scar formation and lightens the skin. It also helps to keep infections at bay.

2. Skin lightening face pack

Applying sandalwood regularly helps to lighten skin tone and complexion. You can make your own skin lightening face pack at home. For this, take one tablespoon of sandalwood powder and one tablespoon of Almond Oil. Mix well and add one tablespoon of milk. Add half a tablespoon of honey to this and blend well to form a paste.

On washed and dry skin, apply this face pack and allow it to remain for about twenty minutes. You can then rinse with warm water. You can use this face pack two to three times a week and notice the skin lightening benefits.

3. De-tan face mask

Sandalwood also helps to improve skin colour lost due to tanning or sun damage. Exposing your skin to the sun for a longer period of time and especially between eleven to three pm could cause considerable sun tan and damage.

To reverse your tan, mix two tablespoons of sandalwood powder with two tablespoons of sour curd and one tablespoon of Organic Honey. Blend well and apply this face pack at night. You can rinse it with warm water after twenty minutes.

Yogurt has excellent Anti-Tan properties and sandalwood soothes your skin. Honey blends in as a skin toner. This preparation can be used every day as a night-care tan reversal treatment.

4. Anti-aging face mask

Sandalwood has been used for many centuries in anti-aging preparations and cosmetic products. It has a sweet fragrance combined with the ability to fight cellular damage caused due to free radicals and oxidation. Using sandalwood in Anti Wrinkle preparations helps to fade out fine lines and furrows. It also constricts the pores on the surface of the skin and tightens skin. This is the perfect remedy to correct sagging of skin which is one of the signs of aging.

To get the anti-aging benefits of sandalwood, take one egg yolk and blend well. To this, add one tablespoon of sandalwood oil and one tablespoon of ground Pumpkin Seeds. Mix well and apply the paste to your skin evenly to form a thin layer above your skin. Wait till it dries completely and then wash with cold water.

Egg yolk nourishes the skin and strengthens connective tissues. Sandalwood and pumpkin seeds also have excellent anti-aging properties that are harnessed through this face mask.

You can apply this twice a week at night before you go to bed.

5. Rashes, allergy and prickly heat

Skin rashes and allergies are best treated with sandalwood because of which it is the base constituent of many skin ointments and creams. You can make your own anti-rash and anti-allergy cream with sandalwood paste. To two tablespoons of sandalwood paste, add one tablespoon of Aloe Vera gel and add a drop of Jojoba Oil. You can apply this to affected areas and note that the rash, itching and allergy subside quickly.

Prickly heat is a common problem during summer when increased temperatures and humidity cause sweating and pricking pain in the skin. This can be overcome with a simple prickly heat recipe. Make a paste of sandalwood and add two to three drops of Peppermint Oil to it. Apply this to all affected areas including neck and back. You can sense the cooling effect and relief from prickly heat.