Calendula

for
Radiant Skin

W I T H R O S A L E E D E L A F O R Ê T
 Table of Contents
04 05 08

04 Calendula Oil
Learn how to make your own
08 Tea + Edible Tips
Delicious ways to enjoy calendula as

calendula infused oil.  drinks and food. 

05 Calendula Body
Butter 09 Where to Find
Calendula
A decadent body butter that will

nourish your skin and leave your

entire body feeling oh so soft. 

06 Face Serum
This delicate serum protects and
11 About Rosalee
hydrates your skin. 

07 Salt Scrub
Exfoliate for renewed skin and to

promote lymphatic flow. 

 About Calendula
Calendula (Calendula officinalis), like most Herbalists commonly use calendula in formulas for

medicinal herbs, is a nuanced plant with many baby bottoms to address diaper rash. One study

benefits. It is used internally to promote lymphatic further confirmed this use and showed that

flow, support liver health and address digestive calendula was both safe and effective for children

inflammation. under the age of three with diaper dermatitis. (3)

Calendula especially stands out as a powerful plant Calendula also makes a lovely cream to protect and

for the skin. Infused into oil for creams, body butters, nourish the skin. One study verified this use by

salves or serums, calendula can support already showing that calendula improves elasticity and skin

healthy skin, or aid skin that has been damaged. hydration. (4) I recommend frequently using

calendula creams and body butters on your skin to

Simple calendula salves can be used for itchy keep it healthy, soft, and pliable.

rashes, cracked skin, and minor cuts and scrapes.

While it must work in many ways we know it Calendula can also be used to promote skin health

promotes wound healing by stimulating proliferation after the skin has been severely damaged. I like to

and migration of fibroblasts. (1) It is also mildly use a combination of calendula and St. John’s Wort

antimicrobial, helping to prevent infection. (2)  infused oil to nourish the skin after getting too much

sun. 

PAGE 3
 PAGE 4

How To Make A Calendula-Infused Oil

Measure out 2 ounces, by weight, of the entire well-dried flower heads. 

Place the flowers in a blender and process until powdered.

Transfer the powder to a glass jar and pour in 14 oz of a carrier oil, like jojoba,

and stir it well. 

Cover it with a lid on it and keep it in a dark location, checking it daily to give it

a little stir and make sure the oil is covering the herbs. 

After 4 weeks strain it well through several layers of cheesecloth. 

After straining, let it sit for 24 hours, then pour off the oil, leaving the tiny

particles of plant material behind. 

Calendula Body Butter
PAGE 5

This recipe is a potent calendula-infused body butter that

will powerfully support skin health.

The Calendula CO2 extract gives this body butter a

concentrated blend of all that calendula goodness. I

recommend it especially when addressing damaged skin.

The shea and mango butters provide a rich texture. Both

of these butters are well known for their ability to support

and nourish the skin.

The rosemary antioxidant extract can be purchased from

herbal apothecaries. Rosemary antioxidant extract helps

to prolong the shelf life of the body butter. Preliminary in-

vitro studies have shown rosemary extracts to be capable

of inhibiting oxidative alterations to skin surface lipids.6

This decadent body butter will help restore damaged skin

or simply nourish and protect already healthy skin. I

recommend slathering it over the skin after a hot shower

Ingredients
or bath while the skin is dry but still warm. It may initially
100 grams unrefined shea butter
feel a bit greasy, but it will soak in within minutes. I
100 grams unrefined mango butter
personally use this about once a week and my skin is
1/2 cup jojoba oil that has been infused with
noticeably softer for many days. 
calendula flowers 

1 teaspoon rosemary antioxidant extract

Substitutions
7 mLs Calendula CO2 (Calendula officinalis)

(roughly 1.5 teaspoons)

Written as is, this recipe is admittedly expensive to make.
25 drops of neroli essential oil (Citrus aurantium)
For a more affordable version omit the neroli and blue
(optional)
chamomile essential oils. To further make this body butter
15 drops of lavender essential oil (Lavender
more affordable the Calendula CO2 could also be
angustifolia) (optional)
omitted. Calendula-infused oil and the mango and shea
7 drops of blue chamomile essential oil
butters still offer many healing benefits. You can also
(Matricaria chamomilla) (optional)
choose any carrier oil in place of the jojoba.

How to Make It
In a double boiler, melt the shea butter and mango butter.

Once the butters are melted, remove from heat. Add the calendula-infused jojoba oil, rosemary antioxidant extract,

calendula CO2, and the optional essential oils. Stir well.

Let the mixture sit until it cools and hardens. Using a cake or immersion blender, mix on medium until the mixture

develops a creamy texture and changes from a dark opaque appearance to looking like a cream.

Immediately spoon into jars. Keep in a cool location. Use within 6 months.

Yield: 14 oz
 PAGE 6

Elder Flower & Calendula Face Serum

This is a luxurious recipe that can potentially protect the skin from sun damage. It’s not a
sunscreen, but it can protect your skin from oxidation and UVA damage. It has a soft and silky
feel to it, without being oily. Use it daily in the morning and at night. To use, simply place a
small amount of serum on your fingertips and rub into your face, neck, chest, and anywhere
else that receives a lot of sun. You don’t need to use a lot; this recipe may last two people an
entire sunny season. This serum can also be used to hydrate and rejuvenate your skin. I use
jojoba oil in the recipe because I love its silky texture— but it is expensive. If you wish, you can
substitute grapeseed oil, apricot kernel oil, or almond oil. Because calendula is a light and
oddly shaped herb, I recommend using a scale to accurately measure it.

This recipe was originally printed in Alchemy of Herbs: Transform Everyday Ingredients Into
Foods and Remedies That Heal  written by Rosalee and published by Hay House. It is reprinted
with permissioned. 

Ingredients How to Make It

1. The first step is to infuse your oil. You can do this with a double

boiler or slow cooker. Take care not to let the oil get too hot and

“fry” the herbal material. An ideal temperature for the oil is 100°F.
½ cup jojoba oil 
¼ cup dried elderflowers (10 grams) 
2. Double boiler method: Put 1 to 2 inches of water in the bottom
6 grams dried calendula flowers 
pan of a double boiler. (Alternatively, fill a pot with 1 to 2 inches of
1 teaspoon rosemary antioxidant extract 
water and place a tight-fitting bowl on top.) Place the jojoba oil,
10 to 15 drops lavender essential oil
elderflowers, and calendula into the top. Heat over low until the oil

is warm to the touch, then turn off the heat and cover with a lid.

Repeat this warming and cooling process every hour or two for 24

to 48 hours. (However, you don’t need to tend to the pot overnight—

you can let it rest while you sleep!)

3. Slow cooker method: Place the jojoba oil, elderflowers, and

calendula in a slow cooker, yogurt incubator, or other

lowtemperature appliance that can maintain the oil temperature at

100°F. Allow to infuse for 24 to 48 hours.

4. Strain off the herbs from the oil through several layers of

cheesecloth. Add the rosemary extract and the essential oil, and stir

well.

5. Put the oil into bottles with a treatment pump. You could also put

it in a traditional tincture bottle with a dropper or any other small,

decorative bottle that seals well.

 PAGE 7

Calendula Salt Scrub

Salt scrubs are a mixture of salts and oils. This

mixture is gently massaged into the skin. This

exfoliating treatment helps to remove dead skin

cells and promotes lymphatic movement.

I like to use a really fine grain of salt for my salt

scrubs, but others may prefer a coarser grain. (A

finer grain will be less abrasive for sensitive skin.)

A variety of different oils can be used. Olive oil is a

thicker oil that will feel more oily on the skin. Almond

oil and grape seed oil are less oily, but still

nourishing. Rose hip seed oil is fabulous for

damaged skin.

You can also vary the amount of oil in the recipe for

a more or less oily salt scrub.

This recipe uses calendula infused oil which results in

a gorgeous orange scrub. You can buy or make your

own calendula infused oil or substitute another

infused oil. 

TO MAKE YOUR SALT SCRUB Directions for Use

MIX THE FOLLOWING
INGREDIENTS TOGETHER Dampen the skin (I rinse off in the shower, then turn

the water off)

1 1/2 cups sea salt

1/2 cup calendula infused oil  Using your hand or a shower mitt gently rub the salt

1/4 cup sesame oil into the skin. I start at the feet and work my way up

40 drops grapefruit essential oil using circular motions.

30 drops lavender essential oil

30 drops fir essential oil Avoid wounds, varicose veins and other sensitive

areas of the skin.

Rinse well and prepare to be amazed at your

glowing soft skin!

Take care as the shower floor will be slippery. 

 PAGE 8

Rooibos, Calendula
and Vanilla Tea
2 teaspoons rooibos tea 

1 teaspoon safflower petals (Carthamus

tinctorius) 

1 teaspoon calendula petals (Calendula

officinalis) 

1 teaspoon rose hips (Rosa spp.) 

1/2 teaspoon vanilla bean (Vanilla planifolia),

chopped up finely

Combine all the ingredients together.

To brew: Use 1 heaping tablespoon per 8 oz of

water. Steep covered for 3-5 minutes. Strain and

enjoy.

Edible Calendula Tip

Calendula petals can be added to many meals and

dishes. Those orange petals are filled with

antioxidants and beta carotene. They can be

enjoyed raw, cooked or dried. 

Add calendula petals (not the green sepals) to: 

Baked goods

Rice

Soups

Salads

Teas

Spice blends

Veggies
 PAGE 22

Where to Find Calendula

Calendula is a beautiful and easy plant to grow. Look for medicinal calendula seeds at Strictly

Medicinal Seeds. I especially like growing the orange varieties (rather than yellow). Once you

successfully grow calendula it will re-seed itself. 

For buying dried calendula look at your local herbal apothecary or herb farm. For a listing of herb farms

in the United States and Canada click here.

I also highly recommend the following herb farms and companies. 

Zack Woods Herb Farm

Mountain Rose Herbs

Pacific Botanicals

 
 References
1. Dinda, Manikarna, Uma Dasgupta, Namrata Singh, Debasish Bhattacharyya, and Parimal Karmakar. " PI3K-

Mediated Proliferation of Fibroblasts by Calendula Officinalis Tincture: Implication in Wound Healing ."

Phytotherapy research : PTR 29, no. 4 (2015): doi:10.1002/ptr.5293.

2. Efstratiou, Efstratios, Abdullah I Hussain, Poonam S Nigam, John E Moore, Muhammad A Ayub, and Juluri R

Rao. "Antimicrobial Activity of Calendula Officinalis Petal Extracts Against Fungi, As Well As Gram-negative and

Gram-positive Clinical Pathogens." Complementary therapies in clinical practice 18, no. 3 (2012):

doi:10.1016/j.ctcp.2012.02.003.

3. Panahi, Yunes, Mohamad Reza Sharif, Alireza Sharif, Fatemeh Beiraghdar, Zahra Zahiri, Golnoush

Amirchoopani, Eisa Tahmasbpour Marzony, and Amirhossein Sahebkar. "A Randomized Comparative Trial on the

Therapeutic Efficacy of Topical Aloe Vera and Calendula Officinalis on Diaper Dermatitis in Children."

TheScientificWorldJournal 2012 (2012): doi:10.1100/2012/810234.

4. Jadoon, Saima, Sabiha Karim, Muhammad Hassham Hassan Bin Asad, Muhammad Rouf Akram, Abida Kalsoom

Khan, Arif Malik, Chunye Chen, and Ghulam Murtaza. "Anti-Aging Potential of Phytoextract Loaded-

Pharmaceutical Creams for Human Skin Cell Longetivity." Oxidative medicine and cellular longevity 2015 (2015):

doi:10.1155/2015/709628.
 About Rosalee
Rosalee is passionate about helping people discover
When not immersed in herbs you can frequently find
the world of herbalism and natural health. Her
her curled up with a good book in her hammock,
teachings transform complex concepts into simple
swimming and kayaking in lakes and rivers, hiking
elements so students and health seekers are
and taking way too many photos of plants.
empowered to use herbs in practical ways that get

results. She teaches extensively about herbalism

Rosalee is the author of three online courses
internationally and as the Education Director at
including: The Taste of Herbs, Herbal Cold Care, and
LearningHerbs.
Apothecary. Her first book, Alchemy of Herbs, was

published by Hay House in the spring of 2017. 

She is also a practicing clinical herbalist who is

passionate about helping people find natural

solutions for chronic disease, so they can live healthy

lives. She is a professional member of the American

Herbalist Guild, RH (AHG).

Text and photos by Rosalee de la Forêt.

©2018 Rosalee de la Foret, LLC. All rights reserved.

No part of this publication may be reproduced in whole or in part,

or stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any

means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or

otherwise, without written permission of the author.

The herbal and plant information in this eBook is for educational

purposes only. The information within the eBook is not intended as

a substitute for the advice provided by your physician or other

medical professional. If you have or suspect that you have a

serious health problem, promptly contact your health care

provider.

Always consult with a health care practitioner before using any

herbal remedy or food, especially if pregnant, nursing, or have a

medical condition.

Published by Rosalee de la For ȇt, LLC, Carlton, WA

First digital edition, January 2018. Published in the U.S.A

H E R B S W I T H R O S A L E E . C O M