If there’s one flower that has quietly held its place in healing traditions across centuries, it’s the bright, golden calendula. Often called “pot marigold,” Calendula officinalis is the kind of plant that seems to do everything—soothe irritation, soften rough skin, speed healing—and yet it’s so gentle that midwives, herbalists, and modern formulators alike trust it for babies’ skin.

At Simple Body, it’s one of our most-loved botanicals for a reason. We’ve seen it calm diaper rash, help balance dry or sensitive skin, and bring visible relief to redness and irritation. But beyond its sweetness and sunshine-yellow petals, calendula is seriously smart skincare—backed by science and trusted through time.

Why I Fell in Love with Calendula (and You Might Too)

When I first began studying skincare, calendula kept showing up everywhere—in traditional European healing balms, in Ayurvedic and Unani medicine, even in modern pharmacognosy texts. At first, I thought, this must be a baby-only ingredient. But the more I worked with it, the more I realized: calendula doesn’t just comfort—it repairs.

And the best part? It doesn’t discriminate. Whether it’s a newborn’s delicate skin or a 60-year-old’s dry, sun-stressed complexion, calendula offers the same kind of care: calm, restore, protect. It’s the rare botanical that truly bridges generations.

What the Science Says

You know I love a good story—but I also love good data. And calendula has both.

A 2023 review in Advances in Traditional Medicine found that calendula extracts display anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and antimicrobial properties, making them beneficial in a range of skin conditions including dermatitis and wounds.

Research published in the Journal of Ethnopharmacology showed that calendula extract reduced nitric oxide production in inflamed skin cells—essentially dialing down irritation at a cellular level.

A systematic review of 14 studies found that wounds treated with calendula healed faster, with improved granulation tissue and less inflammation.

Even in infant studies, calendula ointment proved safe and effective for mild diaper dermatitis—something that makes sense given its centuries of use as a baby-safe herb.

And when you look deeper, it’s clear why it works. Calendula contains flavonoids, triterpenoids, and carotenoids, all of which help fight oxidative stress, support tissue repair, and strengthen the skin barrier. It’s not just calming—it’s restorative.

Why It Works for Babies and Grown-Up Skin

Here’s the beautiful part: the same qualities that make calendula safe for baby skin make it exceptional for adult skin.

For babies: Calendula’s anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial actions help prevent and soothe diaper rash, cradle cap, and other irritations without harsh chemicals.

For adults: Those same properties help calm rosacea, eczema, and dryness while encouraging collagen production and supporting elasticity.

It’s a bit like nature’s built-in multitasker—comforting and repairing wherever it’s needed most.

How We Use It at Simple Body

We use calendula in several of our signature formulas, each designed to highlight its soothing magic:

• Skin Rescue Balm – A multi-purpose salve infused with calendula for calming redness, irritation, and minor cuts.

• Himalayan Magic Belly Butter – A rich, buttery blend made with organic calendula-infused oils to support stretching skin during pregnancy (and beyond).

• Body Butter – Formulated for the most sensitive skin types, calendula gives this butter its deeply restorative, protective touch.

Our Simple Mama formulas begins with our slow solar infusion—where organic calendula petals steep in plant oils for several weeks under gentle sunlight. This method preserves the flower’s natural antioxidants and gives the oil that rich golden hue (and that faint, earthy scent that smells like care itself).

Real-Life Moments That Inspire Us

I still remember one of my earliest customers—a new mom looking for something to soothe her baby’s eczema without petroleum or synthetic fragrances. She came back a week later, nearly in tears, saying her baby’s skin looked calm for the first time in months.

Later that same day, a customer my own age came in with irritated hands from years of sanitizers and handwashing. She picked up the same calendula balm and told me later, “It’s the only thing that actually feels like it’s helping.”

Same formula. Two completely different stages of life. One plant that worked for both.

That’s the beauty of calendula—it connects generations of care.

The Herbal Alchemy Behind It

If you’ve ever wondered how calendula-infused oils are made, here’s how you can create your own herbal infused oil:

• Start with dried organic calendula petals (fresh ones can mold in oil).
• Place in a glass vessel and cover with high-quality carrier oils like jojoba or sunflower.
• Let the mixture sits in warm sunlight for 4–6 weeks—this slow infusion allows the active compounds to gently extract without damaging their potency.
• Once strained, the golden oil becomes a calendula-infused herbal oil.

It’s patient work, but the result is a deeply nourishing oil that feels like liquid gold on the skin.

The Takeaway

Calendula isn’t a flashy ingredient—it doesn’t promise overnight miracles or trendy buzzwords. But it delivers something better: reliability. It reminds us that gentle doesn’t mean weak, and that nature’s simplest ingredients are often the most powerful.

So whether you’re caring for a newborn, navigating hormonal skin changes, or just trying to soothe everyday dryness, calendula is a quiet hero worth keeping in your skincare lineup.

Because the best skincare doesn’t just make you look good—it makes you feel cared for.

xoxo
Jewels