As the Songkran festival arrives, colorful clothes and water gun are found all over Thailand as the symbol of festival. Not only the contemporary symbol like that, but the ancient symbol of Thai traditional perfumeries has been often used in this festival for a long time. It is Thai folk wisdom to powder after taking a bath to relieve from heat in summer. Apart from giving comfort to the body, the fragrant powder that we call "Din Sor Phong" is also the magical herb for skin.
Where Din Sor Phong comes from?
The Clay of Din Sor Phong or White Clay Filler is the marly limestone. It is natural white soil substance piled up for million years. Found on the shallow layer of the ground, it contains calcium carbonate, potassium and fossil minerals. When it is mixed with lemon juice, the carbon dioxide occurs because the acid reacts with soil mineral. It makes the clay swelled rapidly, but it can be returned to its original condition again when it is dry. This qualification is called ëPhongí in Thai. When we combine this word with ëDiní which means soil and ëSorí (Khmer language) which means white, it becomes the source of its name.
How Din Sor Phong is good?
There is evidence of using Din Sor Phong since Ayuddhaya period. Especially in the royal palace, it was popular to mix it with other ingredients, powdered and shaped before being melt it in flower scented water such as rose, jasmine, ylang ylang, murraya exotica, bread flower, jasmine vine,etc. After that, it was sterilized by gum benjamin or "Kamyan" before using it as face mask with many benefits for skin. For example, it can reduce oiliness and comedo, tighten pores, and brighter your skin. Moreover, with its qualification of cool medicinal herb, it can reduce effectively body rashes, or mixed with White crane flower to heal eczema. Also, it can be mixed with kaffir lime juice or lemon juice to reduce pain and contusion. For its extract, it is popular to be an ingredient in cosmetics nowadays because of its sunscreen benefits.
How to make Din Sor Phong for skin treatment?
As the White Clay Filler which are sold in the market generally has not been through the process of sterilization, you should purify it by yourself with the process called ìSa-tuî before using for skin treatment. First, put the White Clay Filler in the clay pot. Then, heat it until extremely hot and leave it cool before mixing with various ingredients according to your skin type.
1. For oily skin : just mix 3-4 big tablets of sterilized Din Sor Phong with 2 teaspoons of tamarind water or lemon juice and mask over your face except around the eyes. Leave it for 20 minutes and then rinse with warm water. It will help to smooth your skin, tighten pores and get rid of small pimples as well.
2. For dry or sensitive skin : just mix 3-4 big tablets of sterilized Din Sor Phong with 2 teaspoons of honey,1/2 teaspoon of water, 2 tablespoons of yoghurt and 1/2 teaspoon of sesame oil or olive oil. Thoroughly ground them together and mask over your face around 15-20 minutes before warm water rinse.
3. For all skin types : thoroughly smash the turmuric to get its juice to mix with 4-5 big tablets of sterilized Din Sor Phong and 2 teaspoons of milk. Apply it as your face mask to make your skin smooth, inhibit bacterial growth and solve the rash.
Caution
Because the manufacturers of the White Clay Filler have to dry the clay in the sun in the last production process, it can be contaminated with bacteria and heavy metals. It causes an infection of your skin when you apply on the wound and also causes blindness when it gets into the eyes. Therefore, you should buy only Din Sor Phong that has already sterilized or ìSa-tuî despite its higher price than ordinary Din Sor Phong. Or else, you can sterilize it by yourself at home as above mentioned to make sure for your healthy and pretty skin!