Growing, collecting and storing calendula
Calendula blooms from June to early September. Its flowers, 2.5-5 cm in size, are usually bright yellow or orange. The plant is unpretentious and often reproduces by self-sowing. It tolerates drought well, can grow on infertile soils, and does not require special care.
Calendula flowers are collected on a sunny day from the beginning of flowering until autumn. To prepare alcohol tinctures and ointments, both dry and fresh flowers are taken; to prepare decoctions and water infusions, they are dried. Calendula, like nettle, yarrow, and chamomile, should be dried in the shade. The place should be well ventilated. Store in a dry place.
Calendula oil. Contraindications
Like many other medicinal herbs, calendula is strictly not recommended during pregnancy, as it can cause miscarriage. People prone to allergic reactions should first check for a calendula allergy on their wrist. Swipe a cotton pad soaked in calendula oil over your wrist and check the result after half an hour. If there is no redness or small rash, it means that the body is accepting calendula. Constant low blood pressure (hypotension) is a disease for which the use of calendula oil is also not recommended. People with heart disease should avoid calendula oil, as well as any infusions and decoctions containing this product.
Beneficial properties of calendula
Calendula has pronounced bactericidal properties. It heals wounds well and relieves skin inflammation.
Infusions and decoctions of them are effective for diseases of the throat and oral cavity. In folk medicine, the flowers of this plant were used to treat diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, such as gastritis and ulcers of the stomach and duodenum.
Calendula has diuretic and choleretic properties. It helps well with diseases of the liver, biliary and urinary tract.
The beneficial properties are used to improve the health of the body, and, as you know, the beauty of skin, nails and hair directly depends on the general state of human health.
Benefits of calendula for the face
Calendula is widely used in homemade masks that can cure sore skin. This plant is used to combat many cosmetic problems.
- Calendula is a strong antiseptic. Possessing an antimicrobial effect, this herb is able to fight problematic skin, eliminate not only pimples and blackheads, but their consequences - scars, scars and post-acne. Despite its bactericidal properties, calendula acts very gently - it does not dry out the skin.
- Calendula is also used as a rejuvenating agent. It is able to stimulate the production of collagen and actively influences the regeneration of epidermal cells. Regularly rubbing your face with calendula infusion will protect your skin from age-related changes and eliminate fine wrinkles.
- This plant is also used as a remedy for oily skin. Alcohol tincture with calendula perfectly eliminates oily shine and regulates the production of sebaceous fat.
- Calendula herb can even out your complexion. After applying masks with calendula, the skin becomes uniform, freckles and age spots disappear.
Let's look at the basic beauty recipes that include calendula.
Beauty recipes using calendula
Calendula tincture is used to treat inflammatory diseases of the facial skin, to heal cracked heels and hangnails on the hands. You can buy it at the pharmacy or prepare it yourself. To prepare, take 1 cup of fresh calendula flowers, compact them tightly and pour alcohol. Infuse in a dark glass container for about 2 weeks, store in a place protected from light. Use a cotton swab to carefully moisten the area of inflammation in the morning and evening.
Calendula ointment is good for cracks and is used to care for dry, flaky skin on the hands. It is prepared from fresh calendula juice, mixing it with rendered internal fat. The ointment can be stored in the refrigerator for several months and used in winter to treat dry skin on the hands.
an infusion of calendula . To do this, take 2 tablespoons of dried flowers per glass of boiling water. The container is tightly closed and wrapped in a terry towel for half an hour to infuse. You can do this in a thermos. After 30 minutes, the infusion is cooled, filtered and consumed as directed. It should be used within 24 hours. It is not recommended to store it, as the bactericidal properties are lost.
Calendula for face
Face masks , including fresh juice or infusion of calendula, are useful for caring for any type of skin. A fresh infusion of flowers is used to wipe the face for any skin type.
For oily facial skin, calendula will help get rid of acne and normalize sebum secretion. We recommend making the following mask: take 2 tablespoons of warm calendula infusion, 1 tablespoon of oatmeal (finely ground oatmeal), mix well and apply this mixture to a previously cleansed face. Keep the mask for 20-30 minutes, then rinse with warm water.
Mask with calendula for dry, irritated skin . First you need to prepare an infusion of herbs, taking 1 tablespoon each. It includes flowers of calendula, chamomile, sage and rose petals. Pour 1 cup of boiling water over the chopped herbs and let it brew. After this, strain, take 3 tablespoons of infusion, 1 tablespoon of thick sour cream, 1 teaspoon of honey, 1 tablespoon of oatmeal and mix everything thoroughly. Apply the mask to your face and leave for 15-20 minutes. Rinse off with warm water. With regular use of this product, the skin will become soft and velvety.
It is better not to throw out the remaining decoction of valuable medicinal plants, but to make a hand bath out of it and add water to rinse your hair.
For problem skin, you can mix a teaspoon of calendula tincture with white clay in such a ratio that the mixture is no thicker than sour cream, and apply it to problem areas on the face. The skin is evened out, acne disappears, redness goes away, the effect remains for a long time.
Ice cubes made from calendula infusion help tone the skin and help tighten pores. To prepare them, simply pour the chilled calendula infusion into ice molds and place in the freezer. Use during the warm season.
Calendula promotes skin cell regeneration . A calendula rejuvenation mask helps with age-related changes, the appearance of wrinkles, especially with dry skin. To prepare it, you need to take 2 tablespoons of calendula infusion, 1 teaspoon of aloe juice, 1 teaspoon of honey. Mix everything thoroughly and apply to the face. After 20 minutes, rinse with cool water.
Calendula for hair
Rinsing your hair with calendula infusion strengthens your hair, eliminates dandruff and irritation of the scalp. You can prepare a decoction for rinsing from a mixture of chamomile flowers, calendula and hop cones, taken 1 tablespoon each. To prepare, add crushed dry herbs to 1 liter of water and bring to a boil over low heat. Wait until the broth cools down, strain and rinse your hair with it after washing.
To strengthen and accelerate hair growth, use the following decoction: take 1 tablespoon of crushed burdock root for 1 liter of water, boil for 10 minutes over low heat, finally add 1 tablespoon of calendula flowers and turn off the heat. The dishes are wrapped in a terry towel so that the broth cools slowly. Rinse hair after washing.
How to use calendula tincture for facial skin
Calendula decoction with onions to fight acne
The remedy must be prepared before each procedure, because a new decoction will be needed. So, put the plant in water and boil it to make a tincture. Once the product is ready, hold the whole peeled onion over the steam for about fifteen minutes.
During this time, the onion will absorb steam and begin to release its own juice. This is your medicine. Soak a cotton swab in the resulting liquid and apply it directly to the inflammation. If the pimples are widespread on the skin, you can use a cotton swab. But apply the drug to your face in as thin a layer as possible.
Calendula decoction with honey for acne
Here you will need a pharmacy tincture. Take 250 milliliters of water, add two teaspoons of broth and the same amount of honey. Stir thoroughly and wipe your face with a gauze cloth. Carry out the procedure twice a day. Within a week you will notice a significant improvement in your skin condition.
Calendula decoction with essential oil for acne
You can use both homemade tincture and pharmacy one. Add a few drops of oil to 50 milligrams of liquid. Preferably tea tree oil. Apply the product directly to pimples three times a day.
It is noteworthy that due to its beneficial properties, calendula is also often used to rejuvenate the skin. Watch the recipe for making the product in the video below:
Calendula tincture for the face is a great way to get rid of almost any problems, including serious pathologies.
Composition of calendula ointment
The therapeutic effect of a calendula-based drug depends on the biochemical composition of the plant itself. From properly collected and prepared raw materials, the ointment contains:
- organic acids, such as malic and salicylic;
- vitamins;
- mineral components;
- essential oils;
- coumarins;
- about a dozen carotenoids;
- flavonoids;
- triterpene glycosides;
- mucus and bitterness;
- essential oil;
- resin.
The complex of substances that determine the indications for the use of calendula ointment includes lycopene, a powerful antioxidant that protects the skin from ultraviolet radiation and other irritating factors. This substance activates collagen synthesis and skin rejuvenation, improves skin tone and prevents inflammation.
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Calendula and all preparations made from it suppress the development of pathogenic microflora, fungi, bacteria and even viruses.
Thanks to this, the ointment is very useful for acne, as well as for thrush caused by fungi of the genus Candida.
Calendula macerate, extract, hydrolate and essential oil
Calendula macerate.
Anti-inflammatory, antiseptic, wound healing, anti-rosacea, bactericidal, UV protective, good emollient and cleanser for any skin type. Calendula macerate is used up to 100% in cosmetology.
Contraindications: individual intolerance is possible.
Dry calendula extract.
Antiseptic, bactericidal, wound healing, normalizing secretion, moisturizing, soothing, anti-rosacea, anti-inflammatory and relieving irritation product for any type of skin and hair. When used in cosmetology, dry calendula extract is added up to 5%.
Contraindications: individual intolerance is possible.
Calendula hydrolate.
Toning, anti-inflammatory, anti-aging, anti-rosacea, antiseptic, antifungal, relieving irritation, normalizing secretion, nourishing and regenerating agent for any type of skin and hair. Calendula hydrolate is used in facial products. It helps get rid of acne, blackheads and subcutaneous mites (demodex). Introduced into cosmetics up to 100%.
Contraindications: individual intolerance is possible.
Calendula essential oil.
Anti-inflammatory, regenerating, antioxidant, anti-aging and decongestant for dry, aging, sensitive and dehydrated skin. It is introduced into cosmetics from 0.1 to 1%.
Cosmetology: recommended for sensitive and damaged skin. Used to remove post-acne. Particularly suitable for dry and sensitive skin. Calendula essential oil, used in cosmetology, relieves swelling, heals, and softens the skin.
Contraindications: individual intolerance is possible.
