This bright orange beauty serves as the birth flower for those born in October. That's why this month we've decided to put the spotlight on calendula. When it comes to plant-based skincare ingredients, calendula truly reigns supreme. With its golden blooms that match the color of autumn leaves, it’s no wonder the calendula is fitting for this fall month. Popular herbal and cosmetic products containing this floral beauty invariably derive from Calendula officinalis. The species name, officinalis, refers to its historical use in apothecaries and pharmacopeias as the official medicinal species of its genus.

 

This incredible flower packs some serious botanical benefits that can address almost every skincare concern and improve the overall appearance of your complexion with each use. The calendula plant's powerful healing abilities have been recognized for centuries, both internally and topically, to heal wounds, burns, rashes, and more. The sunshiny flowers are also a traditional remedy for supporting the immune system and lifting the spirits. If that weren’t enough, the edible ray florets of the flower heads are bursting with antioxidant compounds. The earliest known cultivation of calendula began with The Aztecs, who considered them as sacred and magical flowers primarily because of their medicinal properties. 

 

 

Benefits for the skin:

 

❁ One of the most valuable herbs for soothing and healing inflammatory conditions.

❁ Stimulates the formation of new tissue and gently promotes blood circulation within the cellular structure of the skin.

❁ Rich in carotenoids, flavonoids, linoleic acid, c-reactive proteins, and cytokines which all help relieve inflammation.

❁ Promotes fast healing. 

❁ Encourages collagen production and improves the skin's ability to retain water.

❁ Antibacterial and antifungal properties make it a powerful acne-fighting astringent.

❁ Helps to protect against UV rays.

❁ Reduces the occurrence of dry or flaky skin.

❁ Addresses a myriad of additional skin complaints including rashes, stings, wounds, burns, abrasions, swellings, eczema, acne, insect bites, scrapes, bruises, chickenpox, cold sores, cervical dysplasia, diaper rash, cracked nipples from breastfeeding, and postpartum perineal tears. 

 

History & Folklore

Believed to be first cultivated by St. Hildegard of Bingen, an herbalist and nun practicing herbalism in the 11th century in present-day Germany, calendula is a mainstay in a variety of European historical herbal texts. Astrologically associated with the sun and the fire element, calendula was believed to imbue magical powers of protection and clairvoyance, and even to assist in legal matters. Flowers strung above doorposts were said to keep out evil, and it was once thought that placing these garlands under a bed would cause the sleeping person to have prophetic dreams. It’s also been said that picking the flowers under the noonday sun will strengthen and comfort the heart.

 

Calendula was used in ancient times in India as well, and according to Ayurvedic healing principles, it is energetically cooling and has a bitter and pungent taste. In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) calendula (called jin zhan ju) is considered energetically neutral and drying and is used to support healthy skin. Traditionally, in North American indigenous cultures, it has been employed to combat the occasional upset stomach. Traditional use mirrors many of our contemporary applications of this plant.

 

 

 

❁ Loose-leaf Flowers - Calendula flowers are dried and used in an herbal blend for facial steaming. The herbally-infused “tea” used for this steaming process can also be drunk as an internal skin tonic.

 

❁ Powder - Calendula flower powder is ground from organically cultivated Calendula officinalis flowers sourced from Egypt. The flowers are carefully dried at a low temperature in order to keep their vibrant color and then ground into a powder that provides a gentle exfoliation for your skin.

 

❁ Extract - Calendula Extract is made from combining either dried or fresh organic calendula flowers with a solvent such as grain alcohol or glycerin and distilled water.

 

❁ Oil - Calendula oil is solar infused in a window using certified organic calendula flowers and organic olive oil.

 

Calendula is one of our signature ingredients here at Starflower Essentials. Products containing calendula include our Amino Bright Face Mask, SPF 22 Sun Crèmes, Jasmine Rose Face Crème, Lavender and Rose Gold Face Crème, Rose Gold Lip Crème, Herbal Essential Steam, Hot Ice Analgesic Salve, Herba Salve, Restora Night Serum, all of our Nutrient Intensive Moisturizers, Day Replenish Face Moisturizer, and Calendula Baby Oil.