For centuries, Calendula officinalis, often called pot marigold, has been cherished as one of the most dependable skin-healing botanicals in herbal medicine. With its radiant golden petals and gentle nature, calendula has earned a reputation as a flower that comforts, restores, and protects.
A Flower with Deep Roots in Herbal Tradition
Calendula’s use dates back to ancient Egypt, where it was associated with rejuvenation and youthful skin. Greek and Roman physicians applied it to wounds and irritated skin. Throughout medieval Europe, calendula was infused into oils and blended into balms to treat dry, cracked hands, minor cuts, burns, and weather-damaged skin.
Traditional herbalists classified calendula as a “vulnerary” herb — one that supports the skin’s natural repair processes. Mothers used calendula salves for chapped cheeks, farmers relied on it for rough hands, and apothecaries kept jars of infused oil ready for daily skin concerns.
What makes calendula so enduring is its gentle effectiveness. It soothes without overwhelming the skin. It supports balance without stripping or irritating. It is both humble and powerful — a rare combination in botanical medicine.
Why Calendula Works
Calendula flowers contain naturally occurring flavonoids, carotenoids, and triterpenoids — compounds that help calm visible redness, support the skin barrier, and protect against environmental stress. When slowly infused into oil, these lipid-soluble compounds are extracted and preserved, making calendula especially effective in creams, balms, and lotions.
Unlike harsh treatments that attempt to “fix” the skin aggressively, calendula works by supporting the skin’s own resilience.
Our Calendula-Infused Body Lotion: Where Herbal Wisdom Meets Modern Formulation
While calendula’s history is beautiful, the true heart of this story is how we bring that tradition into your everyday skincare ritual.
At Sealed by Nature, we use Calendula Infused Apricot Kernel Oil in our body lotion — not just as a marketing highlight, but as a functional, skin-supportive core ingredient.
Why We Infuse — Not Just Add Extract
Instead of adding a small percentage of calendula extract, we slowly infuse whole calendula petals into apricot kernel oil. This process allows time to gently draw out the flower’s beneficial compounds into a nourishing, skin-loving oil.
Apricot kernel oil is lightweight, silky, and naturally rich in fatty acids that soften and smooth the skin without heaviness. It acts as both a carrier and a conditioner, allowing calendula’s soothing properties to spread evenly across the skin.
This infusion becomes part of the oil phase of our lotion — meaning calendula is integrated into the structure of the formula itself, not simply floating on the surface.
A Lotion Designed for Real Skin Needs
Our body lotion is designed to do more than moisturize. It supports the skin barrier, improves texture, and delivers long-lasting comfort. See here:
The combination of avocado oil and mango seed butter provides deep nourishment for dry or depleted skin. These emollients replenish softness and elasticity while preventing moisture loss.
Vegetable glycerin attracts water to the skin, creating hydration from within. Pro Vitamin B5 (Panthenol) and allantoin are included for their well-known skin-calming and smoothing properties, making this lotion suitable for skin that feels stressed, tight, or irritated.
Vitamin E contributes antioxidant support, helping protect the oils in the formula and the skin itself.
Most importantly, aloe vera amplifies the benefits of calendula. Aloe is known for its cooling, hydrating, and soothing properties. When paired with calendula, it enhances the calming effect on dry or sensitive skin while improving moisture retention. Together, they create a synergy that supports both immediate comfort and long-term skin balance.
Texture, Absorption, and Skin Feel
One of the defining features of this lotion is its absorption profile.
Thanks to the balance between lightweight oils (apricot kernel, avocado) and structured emollients (mango butter, fatty alcohols), the lotion spreads easily and absorbs smoothly without leaving a greasy residue. It leaves the skin feeling:
- Supple
- Comforted
- Hydrated but breathable
- Soft with a natural glow
The addition of lactic acid helps maintain a skin-friendly pH, which supports barrier integrity and overall skin health.
Carrying the Tradition Forward
Calendula has survived centuries not because it is trendy, but because it works. It has soothed generations of hands, faces, and bodies long before modern cosmetic science existed.
In our body lotion, we honor that history while combining it with carefully selected emollients, humectants, and skin-conditioning ingredients. The result is a formula that respects tradition, embraces craftsmanship, and supports the skin in a way that feels both gentle and effective.
This is not simply a lotion with calendula added.
It is a lotion built around calendula’s legacy — refined for modern skin and everyday use.
References
- Arora, D., Rani, A., & Sharma, A. (2013). A review on phytochemistry and ethnopharmacological aspects of Calendula officinalis Linn. Pharmacognosy Reviews, 7(14), 179–187.
— Comprehensive review of calendula’s traditional uses and active constituents. - Preethi, K. C., Kuttan, G., & Kuttan, R. (2009). Anti-inflammatory activity of flower extract of Calendula officinalis Linn. Advances in Pharmacological Sciences.
— Discusses anti-inflammatory mechanisms relevant to topical application. - Della Loggia, R., Tubaro, A., et al. (1994). The role of triterpenoids in the topical anti-inflammatory activity of Calendula officinalis flowers. Planta Medica, 60(6), 516–520.
— Identifies triterpenoids as key active compounds. - European Medicines Agency (EMA). (2018). Assessment report on Calendula officinalis L., flos.
— Official monograph supporting traditional use for minor skin inflammations and wound healing. - Chevallier, A. (2016). Encyclopedia of Herbal Medicine (3rd ed.). DK Publishing.
— Historical and modern herbal applications of calendula. - Bisset, N. G., & Wichtl, M. (2001). Herbal Drugs and Phytopharmaceuticals. Medpharm Scientific Publishers.
— Botanical monograph including calendula pharmacology. - Dal’Belo, S. E., Gaspar, L. R., & Maia Campos, P. M. B. G. (2006). Moisturizing effect of cosmetic formulations containing Aloe vera extract. Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 5(3), 169–173.
— Supports aloe vera’s hydrating and soothing benefits. - Lodén, M. (2003). Role of topical emollients and moisturizers in the treatment of dry skin barrier disorders. American Journal of Clinical Dermatology, 4(11), 771–788.
— Discusses humectants, emollients, and barrier-supportive ingredients such as glycerin and fatty alcohols. - Ebner, F., Heller, A., Rippke, F., & Tausch, I. (2002). Topical use of dexpanthenol in skin disorders. American Journal of Clinical Dermatology, 3(6), 427–433.
— Clinical discussion of Pro Vitamin B5 (panthenol) for skin barrier support.