What is Calendula?
Calendula oil is a natural oil created from the flowers of the marigold plant (Latin name: Calendula officinalis, meaning ‘little calendar’). It grows in the sun-soaked Mediterranean, with bright orange or gold flowers and a refreshing scent.
It takes less than a year from seed to harvest and is usually gathered between January and March. This delicate plant is harvested by hand to keep its petals intact, then sorted and sun-dried. The flowers are later infused into a carrier oil, which becomes a base in many skincare products. Calendula extract can also be blended into creams and balms with other natural ingredients such as beeswax.
What are the benefits of Calendula for your skin?
Calendula has long been valued in skincare for its gentle yet effective qualities. It contains antioxidant compounds and is often used in soothing formulations. This bright botanical can help hydrate, nourish, and comfort the skin, making it a popular choice in natural routines.
Calendula petals contain skin-nourishing compounds that provide antioxidant support and can help reduce visible discomfort. They are also associated with supporting the skin’s natural firmness and hydration. Calendula oil is often found in hydrating lip and body care products.
Beyond skincare, calendula has a history of traditional use in food, tea, and even as a natural dye, giving it a colourful role in both wellness and culture.
What does calendula do?
As an ingredient, calendula brings gentle care. Here are some of its traditional and cosmetic uses:
- Skin comfort: Historically used in natural remedies to calm minor skin discomfort.
- Hydration and nourishment: Often included in products designed to soothe dryness and support delicate skin, including baby care.
- Antioxidant support: Its natural compounds can help protect skin from oxidative stress, which may contribute to visible signs of ageing.
- Appearance of healthy skin: Calendula is linked with maintaining skin that looks smooth and cared for.
Why should you use calendula?
Calendula is gentle, versatile, and naturally abundant. It provides nourishing care without being harsh, making it a great choice for skin that needs comfort. Because calendula is easy to grow, it is also considered a sustainable and accessible ingredient for beauty care.
How to add Calendula to your skincare routine
The easiest way to enjoy calendula is through products formulated with calendula oil or extract. Our Cultivate Collection celebrates spring with protective bioflavonoids, including calendula, crafted with 100% natural and vegan ingredients.
Here are a few curated products to bring calendula into your rituals:
- Vitalising Calendula Artisanal Soap – combining cold-pressed coconut, cacao, and mango butter with calendula, this handmade soap nourishes and hydrates during cleansing. Suitable for combination and dehydrated skin.
- Energising Calendula Body Scrub – a refreshing scrub with bamboo exfoliant, vitamin C, and calendula for smooth, revitalised skin, uplifted with citrus notes of grapefruit, neroli, and mandarin.
- Invigorating Green Tea Face Cleanser – a mild gel cleanser combining green tea, calendula, and vitamin C to gently remove impurities and restore balance.
- Refining Vitamin C Face Mask – designed to gently exfoliate and support smoother-looking skin with calendula, vitamin C, and green tea.
For little (and not-so-little) ones, our Soothing Aloe Baby and Up Bath + Shampoo and the Softening Aloe Vera Kids’ and Up Bath + Conditioner harness the gentle properties of calendula to provide mild, caring formulations for young, delicate skin and hair.
Calendula: A powerfully gentle ingredient for your skin
Calendula brings together nourishment and gentleness, supporting the skin in feeling calm, hydrated, and cared for.
When it comes to comfort and soothing tired skin, harsh products and stripping ingredients are best avoided. Your skin deserves to be treated with kindness and supported in its natural balance.
Calendula is a natural way to add a gentle yet effective ingredient to your beauty rituals—another example of how nature provides us with supportive solutions for skin and wellbeing.
