On-Skin Benefits of Sandalwood Album Oil

Date Posted:23 June 2022 

Santalum album or Indian sandalwood, the small tropical sandalwood variety is most certainly sacred in India and the East where the precious oil commands a high price due to its incredible fragrance and vast multifunctionality properties. Today, Quintis has a staggering 12,000 hectares of Indian sandalwood in plantation, which truly make us one of the world’s largest and most revered suppliers of raw sandalwood materials. This is because our sandalwood offerings are sustainable and ethical, where the entire process, from planting, harvest to distribution is completely traceable- further reinforcing the authenticity of our sandalwood products. In fact, Quintis supplies the world’s only British Pharmacopoeia standard Indian sandalwood oil.

It is undeniable that Indian sandalwood is magnificent- but what are the exact benefits when it comes to on-skin applications?

Integral Ingredient for skincare

The calming effects stemming from its anti-inflammatory can mitigate inflammations while the anti-microbial and anti-septic nature of sandalwood oil provides a good basis for combating a broad spectrum of skin infections.

Since the days of Cleopatra well over 2,000 years ago, references made to sandalwood in ancient texts such as the ‘Brihat Samhita’ have been numerous, with over 1,820 cosmetic formulations listing sandalwood as an ingredient. Its natural affinity with the skin is well known, proven for treating various skin conditions, such as breakouts, dryness, aging and pigmentation.  

Protective Properties

Recent cellular research published in the Cosmetics Journal verifies that Quintis Indian Sandalwood oil is a lightly potent antioxidant ingredient.  This research demonstrated a notiable protective effect against pollutants; and found that Indian sandalwood oil is capable of significantly decreasing the damage to the collagen in skin tissue caused by stressors such as blue light for solar and digital sources, as well as pollution from cigarette smoke!  Dhanushka Hettiarachchi, Ph.D., Product Manager for Quintis Sandalwood details these findings further, "In the study, when isolated skin tissue was exposed to stimulated environmental pollution including cigarette and ozone, the enzyme MMP1 which digests the collagen tissue was increased.  However, when the skin isolates were treated with sandalwood oil, the enzyme MMP1 was decreased, suggesting the collagen protective effect of Indian Sandalwood reduces the appearance of wrinkles."  Additionally, skin cells exposed to "...a source of solar blue light and digital blue light...produced reactive oxygen species, which begins a casade of reactions detrimental to healthy skin.  However, when the cell cultures were treated with sandalwood oil, production of reactive oxygen species reduced by up to 76%." Though there has been research into sandalwood, this study provides a unique insight into Indian Sandalwood's antioxidant and anti-collagenase properties, within our increasingly modern environments.

Astringent & Moisturising Properties

Sandalwood oil is naturally very mild with notable astringent properties, which serves to firms and contracts the skins surface, making it ideal for reducing pore size, and for combating fine lines and wrinkles. Its moisturising effect too may reverse signs of aging, as it prevents the skin from becoming dry or even chapped in windy conditions. This does not just soothe the skin, but it also offers a gentle yet effective skin cleansing ability, which prevents potential breakouts. The positive results are often more supple, hydrated, and clearer skin.

Its functional benefits, coupled with its “…natural antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, antiseptic, and anti-pigmenting ingredient; it holds its own as a cosmetic wellbeing ingredient.” As it happens, sandalwood oil can work synergistically with other actives in cosmetic formulations, making it ideal as a key active ingredient for a host of on-skin applications, such as moisturisers, facial masks, and creams. It is thus not surprising that there is a myriad of skincare products formulated with sandalwood oil available in the market. https://www.thesandalwoodshop.com.au/quintis-body-butter-100g Considering that the skin we have been given is going to represent us for a long time, it certainly pays to invest in your skin.


Comments (1)

Why is Indian sandalwood better

By: on 24 June 2022
Wondering why Indian sandalwood is better then the Australian sandalwood .

The Sandalwood Shop Response
Hi Kate Both the Indian and Australian Sandalwood Oil have the anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidant, anti-bacterial and relaxant properties, that sandalwood is commonly known for. The Indian Sandalwood however possesses up to three times more Alpha-santalol than Australian Sandalwood. Alpha-santalol is the active therapeutic component which gives sandalwood oil its anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidant and moisturising properties, ideal for use in skincare and cosmetic products. Please let us know if you have any other queries. - The Sandalwood Shop Team

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