Calendula is the ultimate healing flower that is antimicrobial and anti fungal as well as a powerful anti inflammatory!  It is the perfect oil to use in a healing balm or even in skin care!  So, before I share a couple of recipes using Calendula Infused Oil, we must learn how to properly infuse the oil first!

There are 2 ways to infuse oil.  The first way is to add dried calendula to a jar, cover the flowers with a carrier oil and place the jar in a sunny window.  Wait at least 6 weeks until using your oil.  This is the most effective way to obtain a potent calendula infused oil.

The second way, which is much quicker, is to place your jar of calendula and oil on the stove top in a double boiler.  To make a double boiler, fill a medium sized pot 1/2 way full with water and place your glass jar with the oil and flowers in the water.  Next, heat on low for 4-6 hours.  Then remove the jar from the double boiler and strain into a clean glass jar.

For the sake of this post, I did the stove top method but if I weren’t in a hurry, I would go the slower route in order to keep the flowers healing powers at their highest potency.

Because Calendula is such a powerful anti inflammatory, it is very helpful when treating ear infections, diaper rash, sore throats and dermatitis.  We will be using this oil for an eye balm to combat puffiness and under eye circles and a new & improved healing salve!  Stay tuned for those!

Benefits of Calendula:

• Fights premature aging
• Reduces swelling
• Accelerates healing
• Powerful antibacterial qualities
• Encourages muscle relaxing
• Revs up blood flow
• Hydrates the skin
• Improves skin firmness

Infusing an oil is extremely straightforward.  Straining the flowers out is pretty easy to do if you have cheesecloth.  I never have cheesecloth and find myself needing it all the time but I have found a nice way to strain oils involving a spaghetti strainer, glass measuring cup/bowl and a coffee filter.  It’s simple and works well.

Once you allow the oil to drip into the glass bowl, you can carefully squeeze the coffee filter to extract more oil.  Once you have your strained oil, transfer to an airtight jar and store in a cool, dark cabinet.

I decided to infuse Safflower oil with calendula for very good reason.  It is extremely helpful for dry skin types because of it’s ability to hydrate and soften skin.  It is 75% linolenic acid which is extremely beneficial to skin and even helpful in unclogging pores and reducing blackheads!  A high linolenic helps regenerate skin cells as well as helps to fade scars.  It also rates a 0 on the comedogenic scale meaning it will not clog pores!  It’s quite the versatile oil plus it’s very stable and affordable!

You may use this oil as a facial oil or body moisturizer.  It could also be kept to dilute essential oils on the skin.  It is not required to use this oil in DIYs.

Feel free to choose another oil to infuse.  You could even use unrefined coconut oil which is ultra healing in itself and would enhance the healing action of calendula.  Go HERE to find other high quality oils that could be infused.

I purchased my calendula flowers and safflower oil from Mountain Rose Herbs.  You can rest assured you are getting the best quality and that is imperative when making your own skin care.

xx, Jenni

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