Sandalwood (Chandan) Powder Face Pack: Benefits and 5 Recipes for Clear, Cool Skin

Chandan, or sandalwood, has a special place in Indian culture, from temples to wedding rituals to the small bowl of paste that was once applied on the face every evening in summer. Beyond its fragrance, sandalwood powder is a genuinely effective skin care ingredient. It cools, calms inflammation, fades marks and gives the skin a soft, even glow.

Benefits of sandalwood powder for skin

• Cools the skin and reduces heat, redness and prickly heat
• Calms acne and reduces the redness around pimples
• Fades tan, dark spots and acne marks
• Brightens and evens the complexion
• Soothes rashes, sunburn and itching
• Tightens pores and controls mild oiliness
• Slows the appearance of fine lines with regular use
• Has a calming, natural fragrance

Which sandalwood powder to use

True sandalwood powder is pale yellow to light brown, smells sweet and woody, and is expensive. Red sandalwood (rakta chandan) is a different plant and is also used for skin, especially for pigmentation. Avoid bright yellow powders that smell like perfume; they are often coloured and scented wood dust.

Recipe 1: Chandan and rose water pack for cooling and calming

• One teaspoon of sandalwood powder
• Rose water to mix
• Apply a thin layer on the face, leave for 15 minutes and rinse. This is the simplest and most soothing pack for summer, sunburn and sensitive skin. Use two to three times a week.

Recipe 2: Chandan and multani mitti pack for oily, acne-prone skin

• One teaspoon of sandalwood powder
• One teaspoon of multani mitti powder
• Rose water to mix
• Apply for 15 minutes and rinse. Multani mitti absorbs oil while sandalwood calms the skin. Use twice a week.

Recipe 3: Chandan and turmeric pack for pimples and marks

• One teaspoon of sandalwood powder
• A pinch of turmeric
• A few drops of raw milk or rose water
• Apply on the face or just on the affected areas, wait 15 minutes and rinse. Use twice a week. Both ingredients are antibacterial and brightening.

Recipe 4: Chandan and milk pack for dry, dull skin

• One teaspoon of sandalwood powder
• Two teaspoons of raw milk
• Half a teaspoon of honey
• Apply for 15 minutes and rinse. Milk hydrates and exfoliates gently while chandan brightens. Use once a week.

Recipe 5: Chandan and orange peel pack for tan and pigmentation

• One teaspoon of sandalwood powder
• One teaspoon of orange peel powder
• Rose water to mix
• Apply in the evening for 20 minutes and rinse. Use twice a week and apply sunscreen the next morning.

Sandalwood for prickly heat and rashes

Mix two tablespoons of sandalwood powder with rose water into a thin paste and apply on the back, neck and chest. Let it dry and rinse in the shower. The cooling effect brings immediate relief from heat rash.

How often to use chandan

Sandalwood is gentle enough for use two or three times a week. People with very dry skin should stick to once a week with a milk-based pack.

Precautions

• Patch test, especially if you have a known wood or fragrance allergy.
• Use pure sandalwood powder, not scented wood dust.
• Avoid the eye area.
• Store the powder in an airtight jar away from moisture.

Chandan and multani mitti: the classic pair for oily skin

For oily, acne-prone skin, the sandalwood and multani mitti pack is a time-tested combination. PurePetal Naturals multani mitti is finely milled, chemical free and paraben free, which makes it the ideal base. Mix both with PurePetal rose water for a pack that cleans, calms and brightens in one step.