The Benefits of Calendula Officinalis

“The Marigold goes to bed.
With the sun and with him rises”.

The beautiful calendula flower – it opens when the sun rises and closes when it sets.

This is why it is referred to as the ‘herb of the sun; and is associated with the sun’s journey across the sky.

The herb also has associations with pain and grief, as it was said to mourn the sun’s daily departure when its petals are forced closed.

Calendula should not be underestimated when it comes to skincare and can be credited for many skin-transforming properties.

Here at NC, we love it because of the calming effect, no matter what the product, and that it is also suitable for all skin types.

What is Calendula Officinalis?

It’s no wonder this lovely flower has a real affinity with the skin – look at all of its skin-loving properties; Can we get a drum roll, please?

Calendula oil is made up of about 2% palmitic acid, 2% stearic acid, 3% oleic acid, 27% linoleic acid and 64% conjugated linolenic acid, and it is rich in vitamin E.

Wow with all these fatty acids and conjugated linolenic acid, it is no wonder it is extremely moisturising and effective at reducing inflammation and has barrier protecting properties.

Can we now have an amen!

The Beautiful Benefits

Powerful antioxidant: The Vitamin E in the oil and carotenoids – precursors to Vitamin A behave like antioxidants, important oxidising compounds that keep our skin youthful. The flavonoids also offer anti-oxidising features.

Anti-ageing: Calendula officinalis helps with the metabolism of collagen fibres, when combined with allantoin, it is thought to promote the metabolism of collagen and glycoproteins in anti-ageing products.

Anti-inflammatory: Flavonoids offer anti-inflammatory benefits by inhibiting pro-inflammation mediators in the skin. The polyphenols contain quercetin and coumarins, which also have anti-inflammatory properties; they inhibit the release and maintenance of histamine and other allergic mediators.

As if that is not enough, Calendula is also thought to offer antiseptic, anti-microbial, and anti-fungal properties – proving, it really is something of a wonder herb when it comes to treating your skin.

We harness the skin-saving benefits of calendula in many of our formulas; Our treatment balm was developed with eczema, psoriasis, and allergy-prone skin in mind, bringing relief to areas of sensitivity, visibly diffusing dehydrated, distressed skin, whilst combating the signs of irritation.

Extracting the oil

Calendula can be extracted in several different ways; macerating the flowers in infused oil is a great way to harness the delicate flower’s healing powers. We steep the oil in caprylic/capric triglycerides; when suspended in triglycerides, it limits any potential for irritation.

The caprylic, capric triglycerides are a specific type of esterification of fatty acids, which results in a more stable, and skin-loving formula.

Conclusion

So to recap

• it is skin repairing, effective for slow-healing wounds
• very soothing and gentle – ideal for dribble rash, baby eczema, and nappy rash
• it has powerful moisturising properties because of all the lovely linoleic acid
• calendula contains oil-soluble sterols that repair skin, keeping it plump, thick and healthy
• astringent, antiseptic and anti-fungal, it also has mild anti-bacterial and anti-microbial properties
• contains 60% conjugated linoleic acid, an interesting compound that has fantastic calming properties – perfect for reducing skin inflammation
• a valuable anti-ageing oil due to the flavonoids, carotenoids, and tocopherols, important oxidising compounds that keep skin youthful

After reading this, we hope you begin to love this beautiful golden flower just as much as we do.

RESEARCH

Effects of calendula essential oil cream: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3447623/
strong>Review of calendula for wound healing: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/wrr.12737
Benefits of calendula: https://www.thehealthy.com/skin-health/calendula-benefits/
Calendula an overview:https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/pharmacology-toxicology-and-pharmaceutical-science/calendula