Bayu Ubtan Cleansing Powder | Face Wash & Gentle Scrub | All Skin Types | Handmade in Canada

Before there was face wash, there was Ubtan.

Long before foaming cleansers, micellar water, and ten-step routines, there was a small bowl, a handful of powdered botanicals, and the knowledge of how to use them. Ubtan — a traditional Ayurvedic cleansing and brightening paste — has been a cornerstone of South Asian skincare for thousands of years, passed down from grandmother to daughter, used daily and ceremonially, adapted by every household to suit their own skin, season, and preference.

This is that tradition, kept honest.

Bayu Ubtan Cleansing Powder is a simple, pure blend of four time-honoured ingredients, ground and blended to work as a daily face wash, a weekly scrub, or both. No soap. No sulphates. No synthetic fragrance or preservatives. 

Mix with water for a quick daily cleanse. Reach for rose water when your skin needs extra calm. Choose milk or yogurt for a deeper, more nourishing treatment. The formula stays the same. What changes is what your skin needs today.

Handmade in Canada in small batches.

The Bayu Promise

✓ No soap, sulphates, or synthetic cleansing agents
✓ No artificial fragrance or preservatives
✓ No parabens or other harmful additives
✓ Cruelty-free — never tested on animals
✓ GMO-free
✓ Handmade in Canada in small batches

What's Inside & Why It Matters

INCI Ingredient List:
Vigna Radiata (Green Gram) Flour, Rosa Damascena (Rose) Petal Powder (Organic), Vetiveria Zizanioides (Vetiver) Root Powder (Organic), Glycyrrhiza Glabra (Licorice) Root Powder (Organic)

Green Gram Flour (Vigna Radiata / Mudga)
The backbone of virtually every traditional Ubtan recipe across South Asia — and for very good reason. Green gram flour (also known as mung bean flour) is a naturally gentle yet highly effective cleansing agent. Its fine, slightly granular texture provides just enough physical exfoliation to sweep away dead skin cells, excess oil, and daily impurities without the micro-tearing associated with harsh synthetic scrubs. It absorbs excess sebum beautifully, making it particularly useful for oily and combination skin, while remaining gentle enough for daily use on sensitive skin.

Clinically, green gram is rich in proteins, B vitamins, zinc, and antioxidants — nutrients that support skin cell renewal and a healthy, even complexion. In Ayurveda, green gram (Mudga) is considered one of the most Tridoshic foods and topical ingredients — balancing for Vata, Pitta, and Kapha alike — and has been used in cleansing pastes, face packs, and bath powders for millennia. In grandmother's kitchen, a small jar of besan or green gram flour on the shelf near the stove was as much a beauty staple as a cooking ingredient. It was the original cleanser — and it worked then exactly as it works now.

Organic Rose Petal Powder (Rosa Damascena)
Rose is rich in flavonoids, polyphenols, and natural astringents that gently tone the skin, minimize the appearance of pores, and reduce redness and inflammation. 

Clinically, rose extract has demonstrated meaningful antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activity, and studies support its role in improving skin hydration and overall complexion evenness. In South Asian, Persian, and Middle Eastern traditions, rose was never purely decorative. It was functional. 

Organic Vetiver Root Powder (Vetiveria Zizanioides / Khus)
Vetiver brings a depth to this formula that goes well beyond its distinctive earthy, grounding scent. Its root powder is naturally astringent and antimicrobial, making it an effective ingredient for managing excess oil, minimizing pores, and supporting clear, balanced skin. It has been used in Ayurvedic skincare preparations specifically for its cooling and purifying properties — particularly valued for Pitta skin that tends toward redness, inflammation, and congestion.

Modern research supports vetiver's antioxidant and antimicrobial activity, and its ability to calm skin that is stressed or reactive. In this Ubtan, it provides gentle physical texture, natural astringency, and that unmistakable grounding quality that makes a cleansing ritual feel like more than just washing your face.

Organic Licorice Root Powder (Glycyrrhiza Glabra / Yashtimadhu)
The brightening powerhouse of this blend and one of the most clinically validated natural ingredients for uneven skin tone and hyperpigmentation. Licorice root's primary active compound, glabridin, has been extensively studied for its ability to inhibit tyrosinase, the enzyme responsible for excess melanin production, making it one of the most effective natural alternatives to synthetic brightening agents. Studies also demonstrate its significant anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties, supporting overall skin health well beyond brightening alone.

In Ayurveda, licorice (Yashtimadhu) is classified as Varnya, a brightening herb that promotes a luminous, even complexion, and has been used in classical skin preparations for thousands of years. It is also deeply soothing and anti-inflammatory, making it especially beneficial for skin prone to post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation from breakouts or irritation. 

How to Use

As a Daily Face Wash:
Take 1 teaspoon of powder into your palm. Add enough liquid to form a smooth paste and gently massage onto damp skin in circular motions for 30–60 seconds. Rinse thoroughly with warm water. Pat dry.

As a Weekly Scrub:
Use the same method with slightly less liquid for a thicker paste. Apply to damp skin and massage gently, allowing the texture of the powder to exfoliate. Leave on for 2–3 minutes before rinsing for added benefit.

Choose Your Liquid — Customise Your Ritual:
The beauty of Ubtan is in the flexibility. Your choice of liquid changes the experience and the benefit:

• Water — Quick, simple, effective. Ideal for daily use and oily skin.
• Rose water — Adds extra toning, calming, and anti-inflammatory benefit. Ideal for sensitive, reactive, or Pitta skin.
• Milk — Lactic acid gently loosens dead skin cells while the fats deeply nourish. Ideal for dry, dull, or mature skin.
• Yogurt — More active than milk, with probiotics and gentle acids that support skin renewal and balance. Ideal for combination or blemish-prone skin.
• Raw honey — Adds antibacterial and humectant properties. Ideal for congested or acne-prone skin that still needs moisture.

Start with water or rose water if you are new to Ubtan or have sensitive skin. There is no wrong choice. This is your ritual.

Disclaimer: This product is intended for external use only. Not for consumption. Results may vary. These statements have not been evaluated by Health Canada or the FDA. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. If you have a known allergy to any listed ingredient, including legumes (green gram/mung bean) or plants in the Asteraceae family, consult a healthcare provider before use. If using with milk, yogurt, or honey, ensure you have no known sensitivity to those ingredients. Patch test recommended, especially before facial use. Avoid contact with eyes. Discontinue use if irritation occurs. Keep out of reach of children.