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CALENDULA EXTRACT: THE MARIGOLD’S GOLDEN SECRET
Bold, bright Marigolds were born and blossomed in Mediterranean gardens, prized for their sunny disposition and their vibrant petals, which were steeped in many healing remedies. The botanical name, Calendula officinalis, comes from the Latin kalendae (meaning "the first day of the month"), a nod to its continuous blooming. The common name "Marigold" comes from the phrase "Mary's Gold," and the flowers have been used for centuries by Tudor kings, Civil War soldiers, and 14th-century herbalists for body and skincare. The delightful, hearty, and herbaceous scent of Calendula’s essence merely hints at the many natural properties contained within a single drop.
Discover the essence of the mirth of marigolds with Living Libations concentrated Calendula Super-Critical Extract. This total extract is far juicier than common calendula infusions. Because it captures all of the essential oils, beneficial plant waxes, colorful carotenoids, and thick phytosterols, it is a biochemical mirror to the flower itself, revealing the consummate superhero for skincare.
Heliotropism: The Science of Solar Potency
The marigold is the essence of solar devotion, famed for its heliotropism—the trait of tracking the sun all day, enriches the flower’s therapeutic power. This prolonged, super-focused sun exposure charges the biosynthesis of its natural photoprotective and antioxidant defenses. These defenses—specifically the fortifying faradiol esters and the carotenoids (which provide its color)—are the very compounds prized for their potent anti-inflammatory and tissue-healing talents. In essence, the marigold’s loyal devotion to the sun is the engine that allows it to create and store the concentrated therapeutic compounds we rely on for its healing benefits. Naturally, Calendula's caring esters and lipid-rich pigments harmonize and prepare our skin to receive the sun’s rays.
“So shuts the marigold her petals
At the departure of the sun."
William Browne of Tavistock, Britannia’s Pastorals, 1613-1625
Botanical Name: Calendula officinalis
Botanical Family: Asteraceae
Extraction Method: Super-critical Extract
Part of Plant Distilled: Flower
Country of Origin: Hungary
Cultivation Method: Organic
Composition: 50% Calendula officinalis + 50% Lavandula angustifolia
Consistency: A dense, waxy viscosity, resembling molasses. The lavender essential oil acts as a perfect solvent, ensuring this highly concentrated extract is readily flowable.
Scent Description: Earthy, sun-drenched hay mellowed by a bright, warm floral sweetness and a hint of soft herbaceousness.
Blends well with: Frankincense, Rose Otto, Cypress, Seabuckthorn, Saw Palmetto, Lavender, and Lemon.
Uses: So good for skincare including concentrated scar serums, pre and post suncare, baby balms, wound ointments, throat lozenges, yoni lubricants and more!. Stir into serums, massage oils, stretch mark mixes, and scalp tonics. Our super-strong extract of Calendula officinalis is a very thick, waxy consistency that is thicker than molasses and completely solid at room temperature. We have added organic Lavender Essential Oil to ensure this bioactive botanical extract is in a ready-to-go, usable liquid form. Simply add a few drops to any skincare concoction, carrier oil, beauty balm, or skin smoothing salve.
The Supercritical Advantage for Skin Healing
Calendula created via supercritical (CO2) distillation is in an entirely different league over traditional herbal infusions or solvent extractions. This process delivers a dense, powerful concentrate by capturing a full, complex spectrum of molecules unavailable or unstable in basic infusion methods. The therapeutic yield is vastly superior, typically 3 to 4 times higher than herbal infusion or absolute extract, confirming its superior concentration.
The Complete Chemical Blueprint
This prized extraction method protects volatile, photosensitive, and oxidizable compounds, resulting in higher concentrations of the most potent medicinal components:
Triterpenoid Esters - The Engine of Healing: This extract is exceptionally rich in faradiol esters, which are scientifically recognized as the primary active molecules for Calendula’s success with skin. These potent monoesters reduce inflammation (showing up to 71% higher anti-inflammatory action than infusions) by inhibiting pro-inflammatory mediators at a cellular level. Because these esters are lipophilic, they quickly penetrate the dermal layer to act directly where irritation has occurred. This crucial action accelerates the wound healing process by encouraging the proliferation of essential skin cells (fibroblasts and keratinocytes), leading to faster, more complete tissue closure and re-epithelialization.
Carotenoids + Structural Strength: Key, skin-loving lipophilic antioxidants such as beta-carotene and phytosterols (like Sitosterol) are retained at high concentrations. Sitosterol and other sterols strengthen the skin's lipid barrier and provide structural support to cell membranes, maintaining the skin's integrity against oxidative stress.
The supercritical process effectively retains a higher total phenolic content and flavonoids, alongside unique essential oil components such as specific sesquiterpenes. This powerful combination, along with faradiol esters and phytosterols provides an enhanced, broad-spectrum fortification. Essentially, this type of extract contains the complete chemical blueprint of the calendula flower—the heavy, therapeutic lipids and the light, veritable vulnerary volatiles—making it an icon and scientific beauty for super skincare.
Calendula Total Extract FAQs
Why is the Calendula prepared with Lavender Essential Oil?
Our Calendula extract is rare and is a super-concentrated, dense, semi-solid oleoresin. Unlike typical herbal infusions, this extract is so thick and high in nourishing waxy lipids that it would not mix or stay blended even with a thin oil like jojoba. This extract requires a natural, stable solvent to remain workable for your custom blending. We use our beautiful, organic Lavender Essential Oil as the perfect solvent partner. Essentially, this isn't about diluting the product; it's about making the pure extract workable for all your cosmetic formulations, as Lavender acts as an organic solvent that is also superb for skincare.
How do I use Calendula for skincare and DIY recipes?
The Calendula is so rich in therapeutic compounds that even at a 50% concentration, it is typically used at only 1–3% in a finished product (a crucial detail for DIY creams). This ensures maximum efficacy.
Dilute It! To easily integrate it into your routine, add 5–10 drops of the extract to a full one-ounce bottle of your Best Skin Ever, jojoba or serum.
Final Blend: This small amount ensures the extract is safely dispersed and provides its profound benefits without any concern of staining.
How is this CO2 Extract superior to a regular Calendula Infusion? The supercritical distillation method captures heavy, therapeutic molecules that are entirely missed by basic oil infusions. This process ensures a higher concentration of faradiol Esters (for anti-inflammatory healing) and phytosterols (for lipid barrier repair), making it a much more potent and stable extract than a traditional oil infusion.
Will the deep yellow/orange color stain my skin or clothes?
It does not stain when properly diluted. The deep, rich color comes from a high concentration of Carotenoids, which are beneficial antioxidants. When used at the recommended 1–2% dilution in a carrier oil, the color safely disperses and simply contributes to a healthy, natural glow.
