Calendula is a popular herb and a beautiful, orangey flower that has many purported benefits, especially for our skin. Traditionally, it's been added to teas, salves, and many skincare products to promote healthier, less-inflamed skin. Many also cite its antimicrobial and antifungal properties.
In this guide, we dive into calendula’s impressive skincare benefits, the recent research on this powerhouse flower, and some of our favorite herbal remedies to encourage radiant, smooth skin.
Calendula Skincare Benefits
Not only is calendula a gorgeous golden flower, but it has many powerful benefits for the skin, making it one of the most common ingredients in our herbal skincare products.
Anti-Inflammatory Benefits
One of Calendula’s most prominent healing benefits is its anti-inflammatory support. Inflammation leads to many common skin concerns, such as redness and irritation, which calendula may help ease.
In cosmetic applications, research on calendula extract has found that calendula reduces inflammation, soothes and softens the skin, encourages cellular rejuvenation, and even aids wound healing.
According to an extensive review of calendula's therapeutic properties, calendula has many applications, including anti-inflammatory, antiseptic, antimicrobial, and antiviral properties, which may help with skin irritation, such as razor burn.
High Antioxidant Content
Calendula has outstanding antioxidant capacity, which has been linked to anti-aging and anti-wrinkle effects in scientific research. It may even promote collagen production.
High levels of antioxidants in calendula can even protect the body against free radicals, which damage cells. The same study found that calendula extract may even protect against UV-induced skin damage and reduce exercise-induced muscle damage (although this shouldn’t be a substitute for full-fledged sun protection!).
Other Calendula Benefits
Calendula is traditionally used for tissue repair in burns, its antifungal properties, and many other skin-healing benefits. Here are a few more research-backed benefits we found:
- Hyperpigmentation: Calendula contains terpenoids, which have antioxidant activity that may help with certain diseases and in addressing skin hyperpigmentation.
- Wound healing: Calendula is rich in antioxidants and other compounds that exhibit wound-healing activity, according to research on calendula's skin-supporting properties. It also acts as an antimicrobial and antiseptic, which may support wound healing and help with skin conditions such as razor burn.
- Anti-aging properties: A 2021 study on calendula and geranium essential oils for skin aging found that topical application combated skin aging. Specialized microscopy-based photography confirmed that calendula has potential anti-aging and photoprotective effects.
Calendula may even have preventive skincare benefits. According to the American College of Healthcare Sciences’ research on calendula for skin health, calendula may help:
- Prevent wrinkles and dry skin
- Decrease the appearance of scars
- Promote cell rejuvenation
- Prevent photo-damage
- Reduce the risk of rashes
Calendula Skincare
Interested in trying this superhero flower out? Take a look at some of our favorite calendula remedies.
Moisturizing Skincare and Body Care
Whether you need an everyday moisturizer or a rich cream to soothe cracked elbows, we have an excellent array of calendula moisturizers:
- Healing Calendula Cream: If you’re struggling with dry skin on your face or body, this all-in-one cream is a fabulous choice. It contains calendula, aloe, and an array of hydrating butters, such as shea, cocoa, and mango. Thick, rich, and oh so luxurious.
- Lifting Peptide Serum: Relax your facial muscles and promote softened, wrinkle-free skin with this radiant serum. Our Lifting Peptide Serum contains everything from calendula to argireline to hyaluronic acid for maximum hydration.
- Super Healing Lip Balm: At the end of the day, many of us apply moisturizer and head to bed, without giving our lips another thought! However, like our skin, our lips are in desperate need of rich hydration. Calendula also encourages healthy, smooth lips, and we use it in our line of nourishing lip balms.
- Nails & Cuticles: Nurture your nails and cuticles with our specially formulated blend that packs potent botanical oils, calendula, and castor oil. We recommend applying this remedy twice daily and gently massaging it into your nails, cuticles, and the backs of your fingers for beautiful, restored nails.
Learn more about nature’s Botox, argireline, in our previous article on argireline's benefits for smoother-looking skin.
Wound and Body Care Options
Many of these herbal remedies are perfect to keep on hand! You never know when you’ll end up stiff, scraped up, or sore, and we love these for promoting relief.
- Chaparral & Calendula Salve: Dealing with irritation, cuts, scrapes, burns, or bruises? This salve supports your body as it fights against inflammation, bacteria, and the side effects of aging.
- All Purpose Salve: As the name suggests, this is a fantastic product to keep on hand. Try this on open or closed wounds, dry skin, rashes, and more to help with healing. You can even use it to remove makeup!
- Muscle Balm: Struggling with stiff, sore muscles? Massage our Muscle Balm into sore muscles to promote relief from spasms and stiffness, and encourage toxin release. Calendula, olive oil, and St. John’s Wort are just a few of the stars in this formula.
Other Calendula Herbal Remedies We Love
A few other calendula remedies we couldn’t resist adding!
- Healthy Paws Salve: Have an adorable furry friend? Their paws need some tender loving care, too! Our Healthy Paws Salve can nourish and protect their paws and noses, especially in cold weather or if you enjoy taking long walks or hikes with them.
- Joyful Muscle Tea: Soothe your aches and pains with a nourishing cup of this antioxidant-rich tea featuring purposeful herbs to support the immune system, reduce inflammation, and ease pain.
- Viva Las Vagus Tea: Supports digestive flow, and a calmer state with this bright, citrusty tea blended with warming ginger and floral tones. If you’re feeling overstimulated, this tea blend promotes a calmer nervous system.
- Lymphatic Cleanser Tea: Calendula is the number one ingredient in this fragrant tea. Calendula, jasmine, and cleavers herb have been traditionally used to support the lymphatic system and your body’s natural detoxification process.
We hope this article gives you a much better understanding of this lovely flower’s amazing benefits, especially when it comes to promoting healthy, radiant skin.
Well Wishes,
Herbalist Natalie & Herbalist Leilah
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Natalie Hajdu-Voakes is a consulting herbalist and the owner of The Herb Stop, with over 28 years of hands-on experience in crafting herbal remedies and promoting natural wellness. |
*The statements in this article have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. These products and statements are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent disease. Consult your healthcare provider before use.