My Golden Hero: Calendula
Calendula has been part of my life and my skin’s healing journey for a while now. I grow her every season in my garden, rows of small golden blooms that follow the sun across the sky. There’s something grounding about watching them open and close each day, completely in rhythm with the world around them. When I first started experimenting with plants for my own sensitive skin, calendula was one of the first botanicals I reached for — and she’s been a constant ever since. My reliable golden friend.
When I harvest her petals and tuck them into jars of oil, it’s more than just a step in making skincare. It’s a slow, intentional process where time does the work and I get to spend time with the first botanical that started to heal me. Over six weeks, Argan, Apricot Kernaloil and Sweet Almond oils pull out calendula’s nutrients and compounds: the anti-inflammatory triterpenoids, the antioxidant flavonoids, and the carotenoids that give the petals their deep golden color. These compounds are why she is such a powerhouse for sensitive, stressed, or reactive skin.
Calendula has been shown not only on my skin but in studies to calm inflammation, reduce redness, and speed up skin repair. She helps support collagen production and strengthens the skin’s natural barrier, making it more resilient against environmental stress. Her linoleic acid content also helps lock in hydration, so skin feels softer and more comfortable. None of it is harsh. None of it forces the skin into change. She’s gentle, steady, and incredibly effective — the kind of plant medicine that’s been trusted for centuries and now has the science and my personal results to back her up.
I’ve leaned on her reliability through some of my hardest skin chapters. When my rosacea flared, when medications left my skin damaged, she was the first botanical I trusted — and she’s never let me down. That’s why you’ll finds her way into so many of my formulas: Boo-Boo Balm to calm bites and scrapes, Zen Reset Serum to soothe inflammation and sensitivity, and Calm Balm to bring comfort when the skin (or the body) feels overworked and overwhelmed.
Even now, on the days when my skin feels tender or reactive, I reach for calendula-infused oil. I warm a few drops between my palms, breathe deeply, and press it into damp skin. Within minutes, I can feel the difference — the redness softening, the tightness easing. It’s simple, but it reminds me every time why she’ll always have a place on my shelf and in my formulas.
Calendula doesn’t shout for attention. She works quietly, patiently, restoring balance where it’s needed most. For me, she’ll always be my golden hero. I hope she can be yours to.
Rest well,
Dena
