Starwest Botanicals Red Sandalwood Powder Wild Crafted, 1 Pound

Please read this review before reading the negative reviews, I felt compelled to review this product as there seems to be a bit of confusion. The negative reviews are confusing Red Sandalwood, or Pterocarpus santalinus, native to Eastern India with Santalum Sandalwood of South India. Red Sandalwood is *not* aromatic and is used for cosmetic and medicinal purposes in Ayurvedic medicine. Santalum Sandalwood is very fragrant and used to make mala beads, incense and perfume. I hope this gives some clarification. Starwest Botanicals is a very reputable company and this is a lovely product. It's organic and there are no dyes added as previous reviewers suggested. Now that we have clarified that confusion, let's get to my actual review.My background: I'm a student of Chinese Medicine (Herbs and Acupuncture) as well as a fan of Ayurvedic medicine. I have a long history of skin issues and have worked tirelessly to find natural solutions to all sorts of skin ailments. It's been great for my education, not so fun when you're the person suffering. I've been making skin salves for eczema, acne and aging and purchased Starwest Botanical's Red Sandalwood from Amazon to use in my arsenal against skin ailments. Why Red Sandalwood?HEALTH BENEFITS:Red sandalwood or ‘Rakta Chandana’ is known to be one of the most reliable natural beauty ingredients:1. It nourishes skin cells: Add 1-2 teaspoons of red sandalwood powder to your regular body oil or simply make a paste of them for regular use2. Is known to make a complexion "radiant" and nourish both acneic and dry skin: Mix 2 tablespoons of milk and 1 tablespoon of red sandalwood powder and (1/2) teaspoon of turmeric powder to make a face pack that treats acne, rosacea and wrinkles. Alternately, for dry skin, you can mix rosewater and red sandalwood powder for a moisturizing face pack. You can make a spot treatment by mixing honey, cinnamon and red sandalwood powder and applying directly to acne spots (please don't apply to broken skin!)3. Evens out skin pigmentation by increasing dermal exfoliation: mix 4 tablespoons of coconut milk, 2 tablespoons of almond oil (you can also use argan oil or grape seed oil) and 4 tablespoons of red sandalwood to make a mask.4. Controls oiliness: Add the juice of 1 lemon to 1 tablespoon red sandalwood and apply as a mask. It will regulate sebum production.I personally love it as an all natural blush and bronzer. The color is perfect and it actually improves my skin. How many products can you say that about? I noticed when I apply regular face masks with red sandalwood, my skin is indeed smoother and brighter and less acneic. I've also used it in preparations for friends with rosacea and they said it really helps their skin.Starwest Botanicals always has the highest quality products and I'm very please with their Red Sandalwood. I use it daily and couldn't imagine my herbal beauty arsenal without it!

It is a beautiful deep, rich, terra cotta like color! I can't wait to use it in my homemade soaps and hope the color stays the way it is naturally! Also, this product came packaged extremely well, shipped right from India! It was sealed in a heavy duty plastic pouch and then placed in a nice plastic box so there was no breaking or tearing of the plastic pouch during delivery.

Very strong.

Shipped well, has a great scent to it. Seemed very fresh! I used it to make tub teas for gifts last year. It was a great purchase!

THIS IS NOT SANDALWOOD. What Starwest Botanicals is trying to sell as Red Sandalwood is actually an African tree which they seem to have added red dye to. DO NOT BUY THIS. THIS SMELLS NOTHING LIKE SANDALWOOD. Because it isn't sandalwood. Save your money, go to your local Hindu grocery store and get your sandalwood there. Do not buy this. If I could make this no stars I would. I bought this, tried it and am returning it.

It fades old hyperpigmentation from old acne scars and gives my skin a wonderful brightness!!

Purchased to use in making my homemade soaps and masks. I use 1 teaspoon per pound of oil it gives a slight natural colorant and exfoliation to my soaps. Excellent for use in masks. No scent-my only complaint.

This is not red sandalwood powder. It may be called that by vendor but wrong genus.