Sandalwood,the angelic worker!

Nature is so awesome, it has given us everything we could ever possibly need. Sandalwood is a natural gift which has multipurpose uses and it would be a crime to never use it! There is a solid reason why it is so important in Indian culture,it is used for health and beauty reasons, it is also used in our religious ceremonies, it is a symbol of beauty and purity itself! It can be used as oil or powder. Thus says my mother and my grandmother agrees. Here are some vital ways to incorporate sandalwood in daily life. My mother issues a stern advice-Go only for REAL sandalwood, not the second grade one. The true sandalwood is definitely expensive but worth it!

1. Most important first step-buy those real sandalwood sticks,yes,those thick ones! It is much better than buying those packaged powders which almost always have more multani mitti or such ingredients added instead of real sandalwood. Buy those sticks and make your own sandalwood paste by using it! Or,go to an ayurvedic store and buy pure sandalwood powder,again this is a trust issue. Go with purity always,even if it is expensive.
2. Sandalwood + Turmeric powder is the most famous and effective natural beauty treatment. And trust me,even after traveling through the world,I still have to see anything even remotely as amazing as this simple beauty tip. 2 spoon of sandalwood powder with just about 1/4 spoon of (or 3 pinches of) turmeric powder, Mix it with curd or milk cream depending on your skin type and apply it on face as well as body,let it seep in for 15-20 minutes and then wash off to reveal the smoothest,softest,most glowing skin on the planet. Do this everyday for a month and then thank me :)
3. You can use sandalwood with any ingredient to make a different product. For example, mix it with oats to make a wonderful and gentle face exfoliator that cleans and moisturizes at the same time. Mix it with few drops of almond oil and curd or milk cream to make the most moisturizing face pack. Mix it with equal parts neem to make an anti-pimple treatment at home that clears the blemishes but not the natural oils of the face.
4. I especially love the cooling element of sandalwood. That is why it is used on forehead in tikka because it cools down the head (perfect for those whose temper is always high!) So I use it to cool down my skin after coming home from outside where I am exposed to sun. Just mix it with curd and aloe vera to create the coolest face treatment. It cools down the skin, removes the red patches, prevents and reduces tanning too. Do make it a part of your skin care routine during summers!