Skincare ingredient spotlight - Calendula - aka Pot Marigold
What is Calendula?
Calendula Officionalis commonly known as Pot Marigold is a beautiful herbaceous perennial plant producing vivid golden yellow or orange daisy like flowers on long stems, reminiscent of bright sunshine. Although it’s native to the Mediterranean and Eastern Europe Calendula grows abundantly all over the world in the right conditions including the Caribbean.
As well as looking great in your flowerbeds, and when cut and arranged in a vase , Calendula is amazing for your skin.
What special about Calendula in skincare?
Calendula petals contain five active compounds — Oleanic Acid, Lupeol, Quercetin, α Amyrin and β Amyrin. Studies show that these compounds can protect wounds, speed up healing and scrapes as well as soothe and relieve dry itchy skin which is why you’ll see it included in the ingredient list in nappy rash, antiseptic ointments and hand balms.
Benefits of Calendula
Packed with antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties, Calendula is a “go to” ingredient for treating acne and pimples.
A clinical trial in 2018 found that women who rubbed Calendula ointment on their caesarean section wounds healed faster than women who were given traditional treatments.
Because it can increase blood flow and oxygen to the skin cells, Calendula can provide antioxidant protection that reduces the appearance of wrinkles and age spots, and even the visibility of scars.
Because of these skin healing, antiseptic and soothing properties Calendula has been used in herbal medicine for centuries.
Today it can be found in many skincare products including handmade soap, bath salts, ointments and serums.
3 Fun facts about Calendula
Calendula petals are edible and can be used in herbal teas and tinctures.
You can plant them in your organic vegetable garden where it can work as trap crop—”trapping” pests such as aphids, whiteflies, by excreting a sticky sap (resin) which they can’t resist which distracts them from your edible crops.
Calendula flowers are edible and can be eaten raw or cooked. They have a slight peppery taste and can be swapped for expensive saffron in your cooking.
Diy Calendula Bath Soak recipe
Why not mix up your own personal evening selfceare ritual to boost your physical and mental well-being?
Ingredients:
35g Epsom Salts
35g Dried coconut milk powder
1 tablespoon Calendula flowers
7 drops Lavender essential oil
Method:
Mix the Epsom salts with the coconut milk powder, add the essential oils and finally stir in the Calendula flowers. Add to warm running bath water and relax with a good book. Enjoy!
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