Who doesn't love flowers? We have them housed in our beautiful vintage vase, planted them in our garden, or even braided them into our hair - they certainly provide an aesthetic look, wherever we use them. But did you know flowers can be just as delightful for your skin as they are to your eyes?
There are plenty of plant-based ingredients that offer tons of benefits to help protect, soothe, hydrate, rejuvenate, and tighten your skin. As we're a nature-loving brand, our latest fav is calendula, a flower that not only has eye-catching petals but is also mainstream in many skincare-related products.
So, what makes this flower so special, and how come you didn’t know about this before? Continue reading, as we’ve unveiled some of the great benefits of calendula for the skin.
First, what is Calendula?
Calendula officinalis, a botanical flower, also known as "Pot Marigold", falls in the Asteraceae family of flowers. Native to the Mediterranean region of Europe, this flower can be easily found throughout the world. In terms of usage, Calendula has been used as a medicinal plant for centuries, thanks to its antifungal, antibacterial, and anti-inflammatory properties.
In addition to this, the flower can be also grounded into powder form and used as a hair mask or made into ointments, creams, and oils to use topically. Calendula extracts are also commonly used in many skincare products, addressing concerns including irritation, acne, and cracked skin.
The Henna Guys & Calendula
Before we cover the benefits of calendula, we thought it would be prudent to discuss our favorite products. We use Calendula oil and extracts in almost all kinds of our skin-related products, this includes aftershave balm, salve, creams, and shaving butter.
- Our Calendula Cream is formulated to address cracked and dry skin concerns.
- Our Calendula Salve is a perfect remedy for sensitive skin, offering a soothing and hydrating experience that you've never seen before.
For our formulations, we use the best quality calendula flowers, hand-picked from the best sources around the world. These fresh petals are then mixed with other natural ingredients to deliver vital nutrients to your skin.
Read More: What is detangling spray and how to use it?
Benefits of Calendula for Skin
In skincare, Calendula is used to help with everything from acne to cracked skin - and its amazing results on sensitive skin. Here are some of the many benefits of Calendula.
-
Helps with irritation and Sensitivity
Starting from the top, a well-known benefit of calendula is its ability to help with skin sensitivity and irritation. Calendula skin-soothing benefits are attributed to its antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties and its ability to provide your skin with much dense moisturization. If you have any visible signs of skin irritation, calendula products such as cream and lotion can be of great help.
-
It's an amazing moisturizer
You've probably heard that fatty acids are good for your overall skin moisturization. Well, linoleic acid, one of the finest essential fatty acids, is enriched in calendula flowers.
This property, let alone, helps give your skin cells the ability to absorb vital nutrients and hold onto water much longer - something which is very helpful if you have dry skin. In other words, products that are made with calendula extract can lead to more nourished, supple, and smoother skin.
-
It is a natural antioxidant
Another most notable benefit of calendula is its ability to protect your skin from oxidative stress. When your skin is exposed to free radicals, it loses its shine and becomes damaged. And the number one factor for this is environmental pollution and UV radiation.
Calendula flowers are rich in antioxidative compounds, like carotenoids, flavonoids, and polyphenols. These compounds help neutralize free radicals, resulting in reduced stress in your skin elasticity.
-
It's anti-inflammatory
Inflammation is really frustrating and is the main reason why people opt for skincare treatment in the first place. You can blame inflammation for many concerns like a breakdown of collagen, breakouts, sensitivity, and more. All of these conditions can benefit from calendula's soothing effects.
If we are to be a bit technical, the calendula flower potent contains saponins, and triterpenoids; Two of the main compounds that can help with breakouts and make your skin gentle and moisturized.
-
It helps firm your skin tone
The combined effect of calendula and other nourishing products helps to plump the surface of your skin to a much brighter tone. Pair this with antioxidative and anti-inflammatory properties and you have an all-rounder functional beauty.
-
Slows Development of Wrinkles
Calendula has also been found to reduce the effect of fine lines and wrinkles. Our skin tends to regenerate faster when it has less oxidative stress. Calendula allows the skin to hydrate, making it a great component to help with the signs of aging.
Also Read:Â Is Hyaluronic Acid good for acne?
How to use Calendula for Skin
Like many botanical plants, there are many ways to use calendula for your skin. From creams to salve, here are some of the prominent ones.
- Creams and Salve: The most obvious, calendula use is to find it in skincare products. It can be mostly found in creams, salve, serum, and oils. Simply look for calendula in the ingredients, and it's worth your try.
- Essential Oil: Calendula essential oil is also a great product, that is often diluted in carrier oils like Argan or Jojoba.
- DIY Mask: Enjoying calendula so far? You can use it as a face mask as well. Use calendula powder, add some yogurt, and make a paste. Apply it to clean your face, leave for 15 minutes, wash your face, add a moisturizer, and enjoy.
- Calendula Bath: Is that even a thing? Well, if you have the flower right next to your garden, you can certainly use the petals and add them to your regular bath routine. Not only will it look beautiful, but it also has skin-soothing qualities.
- Soothing Hair Mask: While we're at it, Calendula is equally good for your hair, as it is for your skin. If you have an itchy scalp or are tired of hair fall, you can add the powder to your sulfate-free shampoo and enjoy the anti-inflammatory benefits.
The Takeaway
Calendula - Whether you use it in cream, lotion, powder, oil, or any other form, has some amazing benefits for your skin. If you're interested in trying it out, make sure to buy a product that contains natural ingredients, free from preservatives and chemicals.
Our personal favorites are Calendula Cream and Calendula Salve. Have fun trying them out!
FAQs
Is it safe to use Calendula?
Although it is a natural plant-based herb, it can still cause allergic reactions. It is recommended to do a patch test, no matter the product or raw usage.
What does Calendula do to your skin?
Calendula has anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, and antifungal properties, that are great for your overall skin health.
How do you use calendula on the skin?
There are many ways to use calendula on the skin. It can be used topically as a cream, oil, or as a base for salve.