Sandalwood is a skincare essential for Sharmila Tagore. Know its benefits

By Medha ChawlaApart from her incredible career in films, veteran actress Sharmila Tagore has always wowed fans with her ethereal beauty as well. If you have also ever found yourself gushing over her mesmerizing beauty and that innate glow on her face, we bring you a secret from her skincare diaries. We are talking about chandan aka sandalwood.

Chandan, a natural ingredient that is considered sacred and is known for its captivating fragrance, is a gem for skincare. Sharmila Tagore revealed she was inspired by her mother and grandmother, and uses sandalwood as a go-to skincare ingredient.

“In today’s world, we are inundated with information on various complex beauty regimens that promise to give us beautiful, vibrant skin. However, my mother and grandmother had kept things very simple and used concoctions made of natural ingredients, recipes of which were passed down. Drawing inspiration from them, one of my go-to ingredients is incorporating sandalwood as a skincare essential,” Sharmila Tagore, who is currently associated with Vivel VedVidya as the brand ambassador, said.

From blemishes and scars to tan, sandalwood is known to help deal with oodles of skincare issues. Talking to IndiaToday.in, Dr Bhagyashree, a clinical cosmetologist, revealed that sandalwood balances excess sebum production in the skin by providing a balance of astringent qualities and also comes loaded with nourishing and moisturising benefits.

Sandalwood reduces dryness and increases skin elasticity. The antioxidant component also helps prevent wrinkles by fighting free radical formation, Dr Bhagyashree said.

“The effects of a suntan can last for long if not treated quickly. Applying sandalwood paste or oil on the affected parts can remove the suntan gradually as well as reduce the redness and burning caused by overexposure to the UV rays,” she said while sharing how it can bring relief from tanning.

Sandalwood has anti-inflammatory as well as antiseptic properties. Hence it aids in tackling issues like itching, skin irritation, product reactions, acne, cuts and boils as well. You can also use sandalwood powder for skin brightening as it helps get rid of skin impurities and gives an even tone.

Do you also want to incorporate sandalwood into your skincare routine? Well, here are some super-easy ways:

• Add sandalwood oil drops in the water while bathing. Make sure to not apply sandalwood oil directly to your skin. It should be diluted
• You can also use a DIY facemask by mixing it with some other ingredients. People with dry skin can mix it with honey to make a hydrating pack. If you have oily and acne-prone skin, mix sandalwood powder with rose water and a pinch of turmeric and apply it on the skin until it hardens.
• To bid adieu to tan, you can mix it with curd, lemon and cucumber.

Even though sandalwood suits all skin types, it is suggested to do a patch test first.