This week, aromatherapist Caroline writes about calendula flowers, aka poet’s marigold. These orange-yellow flowers bring a ray of sunshine into any garden – but did you know calendula has amazing skin healing properties?
Used in salves and creams, calendula’s antiseptic properties help treat skin infections, cuts, scrapes, burns and chapped lips. The flowers can be masticated and applied to an injury. They inhibit inflammation and promote the formation of granulation tissue in wounds.
Calendula seeds can be planted in a pot or directly in the garden in any type of soil over the summer. It’s no surprise, calendula flowers love the sunshine.
Tea time
Calendula tea can be used as a mouthwash to help with problems such as gingivitis and bad breath. Use the tea as a gargle.
Sunburn
Slather on calendula cream for a cooling anti-inflammatory effect to lessen the discomfort of sunburn.
Tried and tested
I tried a lovely lip balm with calendula, the super-soft Lip Rescue from B Skincare.
Lip Rescue is a handmade salve containing calendula and apricot in protective and cleansing beeswax and cardamom essential oil. The product is made by small family-run company called B Skincare, which is based on a farm in Cornwall.
All natural
Chris explains: “We have three generations involved in the making, labelling and delivering of our skincare products. Our aim is to make natural, good quality, affordable products using high quality ingredients. This means not using parabens, sodium lauryl sulphate, fragrances, palm oil or lanolin.”
B Skincare’s recipes are inspired by old country recipes that have been handed down over the years. The company does not buy in any bases but starts from scratch using ingredients such as beeswax, essential oils, infused oils, honey and flower waters.
Handmade with TLC
The creams are made up fresh each week, so you will not get something that has been sitting on a shelf for ages.
Verdict: highly recommended.
Next I’m trying the Gardener’s Hand Scrub, which contains olive oil, geranium and spearmint with crushed olive stones to exfoliate the skin and clean off the earth.
B Skincare Lip Rescue, 15ml for £3.50
Beauty Makes Scents 