This Is The Only Face Mask You Will Ever Need In Myanmar

Before there were charcoal masks blowing up the internet with painfully hilarious videos, there was thanaka. This yellowish-white paste is visible on the faces of locals around the country of Myanmar, leaving many visitors wondering what it is about this mask that makes it so special. Here is everything you need to know about thanaka, the only face mask you will ever need in Myanmar.

History

Thanaka is the mustard yellow paste seen on the faces of many Burmese men, women, and children. For over 2,000 years, women have been using this cream and cosmetic paste duo, although some men around the country also wear it. Women and children most often use it not only on their faces but also their arms. There are even a number of museums that have displays dedicated to the particular tools utilized by the royal family to make thanaka.

What is it?

Locals use this paste for a number of reasons. In addition to simply being a cultural tradition, it is also said to act as an anti-inflammatory and helps with acne as well as a cooling agent on things such as sunburns. Some people also use it as a sun cream, which helps prevent those from wearing it from getting a sunburn.

Where is it used?

This cream is a distinctive feature of the Burmese; however, Thai women, and sometimes men, also wear the thanaka face mask. Visitors to Myanmar can find the powder or cream in many shops around major cities, including Yangon, Bagan, and Mandalay, and it comes in several different forms. Those travelers who want an easy application can buy it as a paste, which they can easily mix with water before rubbing it onto their skin. Those who have room in their bags might instead opt to buy a miniature slab and pre-cut thanaka, which resembles a hard bar of soap, which is then ground up on the slab and applied. Those who wish to have the most authentic form of thanaka can purchase the actual bark needed to make the paste and grind it up themselves to use later.

Since you are here, we would like to share our vision for the future of travel - and the direction Culture Trip is moving in.

Culture Trip launched in 2011 with a simple yet passionate mission: to inspire people to go beyond their boundaries and experience what makes a place, its people and its culture special and meaningful — and this is still in our DNA today. We are proud that, for more than a decade, millions like you have trusted our award-winning recommendations by people who deeply understand what makes certain places and communities so special.

Increasingly we believe the world needs more meaningful, real-life connections between curious travellers keen to explore the world in a more responsible way. That is why we have intensively curated a collection of premium small-group trips as an invitation to meet and connect with new, like-minded people for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in three categories: Culture Trips, Rail Trips and Private Trips. Our Trips are suitable for both solo travelers, couples and friends who want to explore the world together.

Culture Trips are deeply immersive 5 to 16 days itineraries, that combine authentic local experiences, exciting activities and 4-5* accommodation to look forward to at the end of each day. Our Rail Trips are our most planet-friendly itineraries that invite you to take the scenic route, relax whilst getting under the skin of a destination. Our Private Trips are fully tailored itineraries, curated by our Travel Experts specifically for you, your friends or your family.

We know that many of you worry about the environmental impact of travel and are looking for ways of expanding horizons in ways that do minimal harm - and may even bring benefits. We are committed to go as far as possible in curating our trips with care for the planet. That is why all of our trips are flightless in destination, fully carbon offset - and we have ambitious plans to be net zero in the very near future.