I have had many people ask me if I make anything that is for eczema or psoriasis. I tell them my Nourishing Whipped Body Butter could help – and it has! I have had many people come back and tell me they are seeing results! I decided I wanted to go a step further for people who suffer from these skin issues, and have done lots of research and this is what I have made…
My Soothing Calendula Butter is made from calendula, or “pot marigold.” It is an amazing flower/herb that is useful in so many ways! Calendula is not the same as your common garden marigold, I use Calendula Officinalis.
Pretty “official,” right? 😉
Letting herbs and flowers infuse in oil, it’s a wonderful way of harnessing the healing power of the plants that I can then use in my natural skincare products. In the case of calendula flowers, I am transferring their anti-inflammatory and anti-microbial properties to my oil.
You can buy ready-made infused oils or you can infuse your own. I like to infuse my own as I then know the strength or percentage of herbs used. Some store-bought oils are infused 1:5 or even 1:10 (that is one part herb to 5 or 10 parts oil). By making my own, I know how it’s made, what the percentage is and if it is potent enough!
Calendula is one of my favourite infused oils to use because it has incredible healing powers! It’s a very useful antiseptic, anti-inflammatory anti-fungal and astringent for many skin problems, inflammations and minor injuries including dry, chapped skin, itchy skin, eczema, psoriasis, bruises, burns, acne, cold sores and diaper rash.
Once I infuse my oil, I then use it in my Soothing Calendula Butter. Here are a few of the other ingredients:
Shea Butter is the main ingredient since it is an excellent moisturizing agent that melts on contact with the skin, protects against water loss and outside weathering (sun, snow, rain and wind), and boosts the protective layer & barrier repair function of the skin. It locks in water and sucks moisture in from around the skin to hydrate, moisturize, soften and smooth dry, dehydrated and damaged skin. Contains vast amounts of vitamin E which is an antioxidant helping to soften the skin. Regenerating properties help to alleviate stretch marks, fine lines, wrinkles, eczema, psoriasis, rashes, and chapped, cracked & broken skin. Anti-inflammatory agents help to heal wounds, scars, cuts and sores.
I also use essential oils which are ideally suited to natural skincare as they are readily absorbed through the skin. Essential oils are useful because they:
- have highly antiseptic properties – useful for treating skin infections as well as helping the skin’s protective functions
- help speed up the removal of old skin cells and stimulate the growth of new skin cells – cytophylactic oils increase the rate at which skin cells reproduce, therefore promoting the rapid healing of wounds and burns and eliminating scarring
- improve muscle tone and blood circulation
- help eliminate waste
- reduce inflammation – useful for treating eczema and psoriasis
- regulate sebum production
- reduce the impact of emotional stress – our emotional state often affects the condition of our skin.
Essential oils not only help with our skin but can help with emotional states such as stress and anxiety which often negatively impact the condition of our skin. They heal from the inside out and outside in.
I have chosen four lovely essential oils for my Soothing Calendula Butter:
Patchouli – is amazing for dry, chapped and damaged skin. Replenishes skin cells and therefore helps the formation of scar tissue. It’s healing for athlete’s foot. Is calming and uplifting, and helps with balancing our mind, body and emotions.
Sandalwood – is an antiseptic, and a fungicide. It helps to soften and smooth the skin, as well as being hydrating and moisturizing. Good for all skin types, especially dry and dehydrated skin.
It has a lovely earthy, woody smell that calms, fortifies, quietens and strengthens both mind and body.
Lavender – Promotes healthy skin growth, stimulates skin cell regeneration, soothes pain, irritation and inflammation, softens and smooths the skin, kills bacteria; useful for all skin conditions and types – cuts, wounds, sores, bites, stings, rashes, burns, eczema, dermatitis, psoriasis, athlete’s foot, and dry/chapped areas skin. An antidepressant and sedative that also balances the action of the central nervous system, helps us stay positive, happy, healthy, well-rested, relaxed and calm; gently lift the spirits and improves moods thereby alleviating stress and tension and enabling the body and mind to look after themselves more effectively.
Chamomile – Soothes allergies, rashes, and inflamed and irritated patches of skin. Kills microbes and bacteria and helps to fight infection. It’s useful for eczema, psoriasis, dermatitis, athlete’s foot, rashes and burns. Softens and smooths chapped or cracked skin; also great for healing cuts, sore skin and wounds. Best of all it calms the nerves, eases tension, fear, worry and stress and promotes rest, relaxation and sleep.
This butter is similar to my Nourishing Whipped Body Butter which is wonderful for moisturizing dry skin, but the addition of calendula oil, and different essential oils, make it excellent for skin that needs that extra nourishment and extra special healing properties. It will not heal eczema or psoriasis but can help to ease and soothe the skin and the spirit.
To your health and wellness,
