Wellness Encyclopedia: Calendula & Facial Steam DIY

Dive into the beautiful benefits of the calendula herb and learn a simple way to harness its skin-renewing powers…

Try as we might to keep them concealed, we all have our own unique bad habits. Too little sleep (that would be me), maybe a little too much sugar, not drinking enough water, never cleaning your phone… besides being not-so-great patterns to form, the flaws on this list all share one major factor. Can you guess? While we might wish to keep these habits under wraps, these particular persuasions have a tendency to make themselves known front and center by way of breakouts. Germs, sugar, lack of sleep, and dehydration can result in some pretty nasty skin issues and could be the underlying cause of redness, inflammation and acne. But, hey, we’ve all been there, and besides learning from past mistakes, luckily there are actions that can be taken to treat the issue in the here and now: witch hazel, tea tree, and my personal favorite, calendula. Boasting incredibly calming properties, the yellow calendula flower can be used internally and externally to promote healing throughout the body. Today I’m diving into the beautiful benefits of calendula and sharing a simple way to harness its skin-renewing powers.

What is it?

Also known as pot marigold, sunny yellow calendula is the same species as the marigolds that grace your garden. Native to Europe, calendula can be used internally and externally and has been revered for centuries for its anti-inflammatory, antiviral, and all-around healing properties.

What are the benefits?

These bright yellow flowers are more than just a pretty accompaniment to your bouquet — calendula can help heal, nourish and soothe troubled skin. Linoleic acid present in the plant could help reduce inflammation, helping to heal skin affected by psoriasis, eczema, dermatitis and acne. Applying a lotion containing calendula could reduce redness in the skin and around blemishes, promoting healing and reducing visibility. Calendula could help increase blood flow throughout the body, bringing much-needed oxygen to compromised skin, promoting quicker healing and even helping to increase skin’s firmness and resilience. The same healing properties that benefit the external skin could also promote better oral health and even potentially heal ulcers when taken internally as a tea or tincture. If you experience an irregular menstrual cycle, the flavonoids present in calendula could help bring regularity, promoting blood flow and easing cramps — making calendula the flower you’ll want to keep on hand at all times.

How do I use it?

Calendula flowers can be easily dried and distilled to make face and body creams, oils, baths and steams. Always be sure to choose food-grade calendula if purchasing flowers pre-dried. Food-grade calendula can be made into teas and tinctures, either by itself or combined with other food-grade herbs.

Calendula Facial Steam

Materials

½ cup dried food-grade calendula flowers

Boiling water

Large mixing bowl

Clean towel

Face mask or favorite face oil, to finish

Method

Place dried flowers in mixing bowl and carefully pour in boiling water to cover. Cover bowl with towel for 10 minutes to allow to steep. Before steaming your face, be sure to test the steam temperature to avoid potentially scalding your skin. Then, cover your head with the towel and place your face over the bowl and steam for up to 10 minutes. Follow up with a face mask or your favorite facial oil to finish.

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This information is not intended to treat, diagnose or prevent any disease or issue. 
Please seek your doctor’s advice for any questions regarding a specific condition and before beginning any exercise, diet or health-related regimen.