Calendula for Sensitive Skin: What It Does
The main calendula skin benefits are comfort and calm. Calendula is a bright orange flower that has been used for generations in herbal balms and oils for dry, irritated-feeling skin. In skincare, it is valued for soothing the look of redness, softening dryness and helping sensitive skin feel more comfortable, which is why it often appears in gentle cleansers, face oils and serums.
If you have sensitive or redness-prone skin, calendula is one of the friendliest botanicals you can look for on a label. Here is what it is, how it is used in skincare, and who it suits best.
What Is Calendula?
Calendula, or Calendula officinalis, is often called pot marigold. Its sunny orange and yellow petals have a long history in European folk herbalism, where the flowers were steeped in oil or made into salves and creams for skin that felt dry, rough or sensitive.
One point of confusion: calendula is not the same plant as the common garden marigolds (Tagetes) you see in flower beds. They share a nickname, but they are different plants. When you see calendula on a skincare label, it refers to Calendula officinalis.
How Calendula Is Used in Skincare
The most traditional way to capture calendula is an infused oil. Dried calendula flowers are steeped in a carrier oil, such as jojoba, for a period of time so the oil takes on the flower's character. The infused oil is then blended into a formula.
You will find calendula in many forms:
- Infused oils in face oils, serums and balms.
- Extracts in creams and cleansers.
- Herbal infusions combined with other calming botanicals.
Calendula Skin Benefits for Sensitive Skin
Here is what calendula brings to a gentle skincare routine, in cosmetic terms:
- A soothing, comforting feel. Calendula is known as one of the gentlest botanicals for skin that feels irritated or tight.
- Calmer-looking skin. It helps calm the look of redness, which makes it a natural fit in formulas for redness-prone skin.
- Softness for dry patches. Infused into nourishing oils, it helps skin feel softer and more supple.
- A gentle partner for cleansing. In cleansers, it adds a comforting touch so skin feels clean without feeling stripped.
Calendula also plays well with other gentle botanicals. In Rosemira formulas you will find it alongside aloe, jojoba and berry oils, and in our Immortelle Clearing Toner a close relative, German chamomile, does a similar calming job for the look of redness.
Calendula is a supporting player, not a miracle. It works best as part of a simple, consistent routine that avoids harsh scrubs, very hot water and strong fragrance.
Rosemira Products With Calendula
Rosemira's founder, Dr. Mira Herman, has decades of practice in herbal medicine, and calendula appears in several of her formulas. Each is made by hand in small batches without synthetic preservatives or alcohol fillers.
Melodic Skin Plus Rosacea Intensive Repair Serum
Melodic Skin Plus Rosacea Intensive Repair Serum (0.33 oz, $59) puts calendula front and center. Calendula flowers are infused in jojoba, argan, blueberry and acai berry oils, along with other herbal infusions. It is the stronger companion to Melodic Skin, made for more persistent redness, and it soothes and cools the feeling of heat and the look of redness.
Melodic Skin Rosacea Recovery Serum
Its sister, Melodic Skin Rosacea Recovery Serum (1.0 oz, $140), is a lightweight face oil of organic argan, blueberry and acai berry oils with herbal infusions, including calendula. It calms the look of redness and comforts dry, mature skin. Not sure which one suits you? Read our comparison of Melodic Skin vs Melodic Skin Plus.
Aloe & Pink Grapefruit Gel Cleanser
Calendula is not only for dry skin. The Aloe & Pink Grapefruit Gel Cleanser (3.3 oz, $57) is a vegan gel made with aloe vera gel, jojoba infused with olive leaf, neem and calendula, plantain leaf, fig extract and pink grapefruit. It is designed for combination and oily skin and cleanses without leaving skin tight. A $12 sample is available.
How to Use Calendula Products
- Cleanse gently with lukewarm water.
- Tone with a hydrosol toner so skin is slightly damp.
- Press in a few drops of a calendula serum, focusing on areas that look red or feel dry.
- Follow with moisturizer.
- In the morning, finish with a tested broad-spectrum sunscreen, since sun can make redness look worse.
Who Should Be Careful With Calendula
Calendula belongs to the daisy family, Asteraceae, which also includes chamomile, ragweed and chrysanthemums. Most people use it without any trouble, but if you know you react to plants in this family, take extra care. Patch test any new product first; our guide on how to patch test skincare shows you how.
It is also worth saying clearly: calendula skincare is for the comfort and look of skin. It is not a substitute for medical care. For broken skin, burns, rashes, or ongoing redness you have not had diagnosed, please see a doctor or dermatologist.
Want help choosing? Browse the Sensitive / Reactive collection, or book a personal skin consultation, which includes complimentary samples.
FAQ
Is calendula good for sensitive skin?
Calendula is one of the gentlest botanicals used in skincare and is often chosen for sensitive skin. It helps calm the look of redness and comforts dryness. If you are sensitive to daisy-family plants, patch test first.
Can I use calendula on my face every day?
Yes, calendula products made for the face are generally designed for daily use. Introduce one new product at a time and watch how your skin responds over a week or two.
Is calendula the same as marigold?
Calendula is often called pot marigold, but it is a different plant from the common garden marigolds (Tagetes). Skincare products use Calendula officinalis.
