Authentic Grade A thanaka powder from Myanmar, paired with pure organic safflower oil for a patient, hands-on hair-care routine. Mix a little fresh paste each day, take time over the application and get to know how your own skin responds. This is not an instant hair-removal cream.

Why I brought this unusual product to the shop

Authentic thanaka from Myanmar is hard to obtain, and it is something I take particular care over sourcing. Our Grade A powder is pure thanaka, not a blend padded out with other ingredients.

I first tried the thanaka and safflower oil mixture on my rather hairy legs. After a few months, I still remember looking at them and thinking, 'Whose legs are these?' I was delighted with my experience, and I remember how good the condition of my skin felt too. I also tried it on the area above my upper lip.

That is my personal experience, not a promise that everyone will get the same result. What I would emphasise is patience. This is a routine to make time for, rather than something to apply once and expect an overnight transformation.

You might be interested in less noticeable hair rather than complete removal. You can also pause your routine and resume later if you wish. I would not promise that progress will be maintained during a break, but if you carry on patiently you will begin to see level of reduction and permanent removal can be achieved.

What makes our thanaka different?

• Authentic origin: sourced from an established farm in Myanmar, also known as Burma.
• Grade A purity: 100% pure thanaka powder, without added fillers.
• A distinctive natural powder: light in colour, with a very light, sweet, woody aroma.
• Carefully chosen oil: cold-pressed high linoleic, organic safflower seed oil, also known as Kusumba or Kusuma oil.
• Flexible buying options: choose a complete kit or replenish your powder and oil separately.

Choose your kit or top-up

Recipe No. 1: Thanaka and safflower oil kit

Choose this option for the two-ingredient mixture.

• Small: 25g thanaka powder and 50ml organic safflower oil.
• Medium: 50g thanaka powder and 100ml organic safflower oil.
• Large: 100g thanaka powder and 200ml organic safflower oil.

Recipe No. 2: Kit with soapnuts

Includes the same powder and oil quantities as Recipe No. 1, plus 250g organic soapnuts in each kit size. This option is for the recipe using prepared soapnut liquid, which makes a smoother paste. The kit contains soapnuts, not ready-made liquid.

Powder-only and oil-only top-ups

Thanaka powder is available in 25g, 50g and 100g packs. Organic safflower oil top-ups are listed in 50ml, 100ml and 200ml sizes. These are individual ingredients, not complete kits. Check the option selected before ordering.

Ingredients

Thanaka powder

Limonia acidissima powder. Ground from the wood and roots of the thanaka tree. Thanaka has a long tradition of cosmetic use in Myanmar. Our Grade A powder is not mixed with other ingredients.

Organic safflower oil

Carthamus tinctorius seed oil. Cold-pressed from organically grown safflower seeds. We select the high-linoleic type for this mixture.

Before you begin

Read the instructions and patch test before using the mixture over a larger area. Choose a small area to start with and take photographs in consistent lighting if you want to keep track of your experience.

Use a proper 5ml measuring spoon, not an ordinary household teaspoon. Our guide is that a level 5ml measure of thanaka powder weighs approximately 1g. Measure the recipes by volume, not by matching the weight of powder to the volume of oil.

How to mix your paste

Recipe No. 1: The simple two-ingredient mixture

• Mix 1 part thanaka powder with 2 parts organic safflower oil by volume.
• For example, mix 1 level 5ml measuring spoon of powder with 2 level 5ml measuring spoons of oil.
• Make only what you need fresh each day.

Recipe No. 2: With prepared soapnut liquid

• Mix 1 part thanaka powder, half a part prepared soapnut liquid and 1½–2 parts organic safflower oil by volume.
• Mix the soapnut liquid into the powder first. It will form crumbs.
• Add the oil and mix into a smooth paste.
• Make fresh daily.

This recipe uses prepared soapnut liquid, not whole soapnuts. If you are unsure how to prepare the liquid, please ask us before starting. You can choose Recipe No. 1 if you prefer the simpler mixture.

How to apply the mixture

1. Apply your freshly mixed paste once a day to clean, intact skin in your chosen area.
2. Massage gently for around 5 minutes. Do not rub hard or continue if your skin becomes uncomfortable.
3. The original routine leaves the paste on for 2–3 hours before rinsing off. Only proceed with extended contact after a patch test, and rinse off sooner if there is discomfort.
4. Rinse away the paste and observe how your skin feels before the next application.

The paste can roll off the skin during application. A multipurpose shaving brush can help you spread it more evenly.

If you remove hair as part of your usual routine, allow any irritation from shaving, waxing, threading or plucking to settle before applying the paste. Do not combine it with chemical depilatory creams.

How much should I mix?

Start with a small batch and adjust to the area you want to cover, keeping the same recipe proportions. The original guide used approximately 1 level 5ml measure of powder per leg, or around half that amount for a small upper-lip or chin area. Avoid the lips themselves.

At approximately 1g of powder per leg per application, 100g would provide around 50 applications to both legs. This is an ingredient-usage guide, not a prediction of how long results will take.

Patience, breaks and realistic expectations

My experience is why I sell this product, but there is no reliable timetable I can promise you. Hair type, the area being treated and individual responses differ.

You can stop the routine when you choose, or resume after a break, provided the mixture still suits your skin. If you are aiming for less noticeable hair rather than complete removal, that is your choice too. Many customers continue until they do achieve permanent hair removal.

Thanaka for a simple cosmetic face mask

Thanaka powder can also be mixed with water or floral water for a separate cosmetic routine. This is not the same mixture as the thanaka-and-oil recipe above.

Recipe No. 3: Water-based paste

Mix 1 level 5ml measuring spoon of thanaka powder with 1½–2 measures of water or floral water to form a yellow paste. Make fresh, apply gently to a small patch-tested area and rinse off after 10–20 minutes, or sooner if uncomfortable. Lightly moisturise afterwards if needed.

My own memories of using thanaka include how well-conditioned my leg skin felt. 

Packaging and keeping your ingredients

The organic safflower oil comes in British-made glass jars with metal lids. Keep the lid securely closed between uses.

The thanaka powder arrives in a cellophane bag intended as temporary packaging. Open it carefully: the powder is very light and easily spills or blows away. Transfer it to a clean, dry, lidded container such as a glass jar. Keep the powder dry and avoid breathing in dust when measuring.

WARNING

For external use only. Patch test each mixture before wider use and again when resuming after a break. Natural ingredients can still cause irritation or allergy. Stop use and rinse off if irritation occurs.

Do not apply to broken, irritated or freshly damaged skin. Avoid the eyes, eyelids, lips and other sensitive areas. My personal upper-lip experience does not mean the mixture will suit everyone's face.

This product is not sunscreen and has no stated SPF. Do not rely on thanaka or homemade mixtures for sun protection.

Frequently Asked Questions About Thanaka and Safflower Oil

What is thanaka?

Thanaka is a traditional cosmetic powder used in Myanmar. Our Grade A product is pure Limonia acidissima powder, ground from the wood and roots of the tree, with no added fillers.

Where does your thanaka come from?

We source it from an established farm in Myanmar. Authentic thanaka is difficult to obtain, and careful sourcing is an important part of why we offer this product.

Are safflower oil and Kusumba oil the same thing?

Yes. Safflower oil is also known as Kusumba or Kusuma oil. Our kit uses cold-pressed organic safflower seed oil of the high-linoleic type, so that it carries the thanak deeper into the skin.

Which option is a complete kit?

Recipe No. 1 contains thanaka powder and organic safflower oil. Recipe No. 2 contains those ingredients plus 250g organic soapnuts. Powder-only and oil-only options are top-ups, not complete kits.

How do I mix thanaka with safflower oil?

For Recipe No. 1, mix 1 part thanaka powder with 2 parts safflower oil by volume. Use a proper measuring spoon, not a teaspoon and make the mixture fresh each day.

Does the soapnut kit include ready-made soapnut liquid?

No. It contains 250g soapnuts. Recipe No. 2 uses liquid prepared from those soapnuts. Please ask us for preparation guidance if needed.

How long does it take to see a change in hair?

This is not an instant depilatory. I have personally been pleased with my experience, but there is no guaranteed timescale or assurance that everyone will see hair reduction.

Is permanent hair removal guaranteed?

No. My experience should not be taken as proof that the mixture permanently removes hair for everyone. Results and their duration cannot be guaranteed.

Can I pause and restart?

You can pause your routine and resume later if the mixture still suits your skin. Patch test again before restarting. Any change will be maintained during a short break.

Can I aim for less hair rather than complete removal?

You can choose your own goal and stop the routine whenever you wish. However, the level of hair reduction, if any, cannot be predicted or precisely controlled.

Can I use the mixture above my upper lip?

I have tried it there personally. Facial skin can be sensitive, so patch test first, keep the mixture away from your lips and eyes, and do not use it on irritated skin. 

Can I buy the ingredients separately?

Yes. Powder top-ups are listed in 25g, 50g and 100g sizes, and oil top-ups in 50ml, 100ml and 200ml sizes.

Is the water-based face mask the same as the oil recipe?

No. The water-based paste is a separate cosmetic use for thanaka powder. It should not be treated as equivalent to the thanaka-and-safflower-oil routine. The water based face powder makes an excellent scrub for removing blackheads.

Further Reading

These links were included on the original page for readers interested in thanaka research. They are background reading, not evidence that this kit guarantees permanent hair removal.

Biological activities and safety of thanaka. Note that this paper names Hesperethusa crenulata; our listed powder ingredient is Limonia acidissima, so findings should not be assumed to apply directly to this product.

A published report discussing thanaka and skin care. A self-treatment report is not a recommendation to use this product to treat a medical condition.