Calendula Skincare Benefits and Uses

How does calendula work in skincare?

Calendula uses in skincare are to enrich your skin with antioxidants and comforting properties. Kiehl's calendula skincare range is formulated with concentrated calendula extract to impart the full benefits of the flower. To preserve and utilise the efficacy of calendula, we plant, dry and then infuse the flower for around nine to 10 months. Flowers are harvested from January to March, handpicked to keep the petals intact, then manually sundried without artificial interference.

Kiehl's has a longstanding heritage with the calendula flower. Our calendula skincare collection includes a foaming cleanser, hydrating face mask and serum-infused water cream, as well as our best-selling Calendula Herbal Extract Toner, which has been enriched with handpicked calendula flower petals and calendula extract since the 1960s.

What are the benefits of calendula for skin?

This herbaceous plant has a multitude of uses, but how is calendula good for skin? The effective compounds within calendula work to comfort and visibly improve your skin's appearance and texture. By reducing signs of discomfort and safeguarding against external stressors, calendula skincare products work to visibly smooth skin texture, amplify radiance, and promote a more hydrated appearance overall. Below, we're unveiling four essential calendula benefits for skin.

Imparts natural antioxidants to the skin

One of the most notable calendula benefits is its ability to protect the skin from free radical damage by delivering antioxidants to the skin. Free radicals form on the skin through exposure to UV rays and pollution. When free radicals outnumber antioxidants in the body, it causes 'oxidative stress' which can impact the texture, tone, and elasticity of your skin. Calendula flowers are rich in antioxidant compounds, including flavonoids, polyphenols and carotenoids, that help neutralise free radicals and limit their effects, resulting in more youthful-looking skin.

Has skin-comforting properties

Your skin is often impacted by a variety of internal stressors (hormonal changes) and external aggressors (UV damage, extreme weather, and pollution). This can lead to 'stressed' skin, which might present as anything from redness and tightness to increased breakouts. Luckily, calendula benefits stressed skin by imparting comforting compounds that help fortify your skin against aggressors.

4-step calendula skincare routine

The most efficacious multi-step routines are those that work in tandem with each other to support the skin's ability to strengthen itself. Our range of calendula skincare products promote brighter, healthier-looking skin. Mild enough for sensitive skin, and beneficial for all skin types, this flower is a crucial component of our skincare philosophy.

Below, learn how to use calendula at each step of your skincare routine.

Step 1: Cleanse your face

As part of your skincare routine, it's important to refresh and renew skin at the start and end of each day. To experience calendula benefits at this cleansing step, apply the Calendula Deep Cleansing Foaming Face Wash. This creamy gel formula activates into a rich foam, offering an effective yet gentle cleanse. The formula lifts harmful stressors like dirt and bacteria from skin and enriches tired or dry skin.

Step 2: Rebalance with toner

Our best-selling Calendula Herbal-Extract Toner has been meticulously refined over the years to comfort and rebalance oily and normal skin types. This formula is infused with great burdock root and allantoin along with calendula extract and approximately 93 calendula petals in a 250ml bottle. This toner is also formulated without alcohol and other drying ingredients, so you can enjoy calendula skincare benefits without compromising your skin moisture barrier. After cleansing, pat the skin dry with a clean towel. Then apply the toner onto a cotton pad and smooth over skin – avoiding the eye area.

Step 3: Apply a nourishing moisturiser

Creams have the unique ability to rebalance skin by moisturising and evening tone. With hundreds of micronised calendula petals and the highest concentration of calendula extract, our Calendula Serum-Infused Water Cream can actually help to reduce redness in skin over time. Apply this cream after toning for nutrient-rich moisture that absorbs effortlessly into the skin.

Step 4: Enrich with a face mask

When skin feels particularly dry, tight, or dull, face masks offer intense hydration that work to improve the look and feel of your skin. As a component of your proactive calendula skincare routine, you can address skin redness and discomfort with the Calendula Petal-Infused Calming Face Mask. To experience cooling hydration, apply to your entire face or to stressed areas of skin.

Now that you've studied up on calendula benefits for skin, explore another iconic Kiehl's ingredient: squalane. Discover five benefits of squalene next.