From diaper rash to dry skin, this DIY baby oil with calendula is every non tox mama’s every day remedy. This is the exact recipe used in the popular Dimpleskins Naturals products and the secret healing ingredient in their famous Bum Bum Balm.
Why is calendula so popular in baby products?
Calendula (Calendula officinalis), also known as pot marigold, is a plant native to southern Europe and the Eastern Mediterranean area. It’s used in traditional medicine for its anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial qualities, which makes it the best ingredient in baby products.
- Anti-inflammatory Properties: All moms know that diaper rash looks like painful, red, inflamed skin, and calendula can help reduce this inflammation
- Antimicrobial and Antifungal Properties: Calendula can help protect the skin from infections and bacteria from stool and urine that can exacerbate diaper rash
- Wound Healing: Calendula has a long history of being used to heal wounds and can help to repair damaged skin due to diaper rash
- Soothing Properties: Calendula can provide relief from itching, redness, and irritation associated with diaper rash, helping to make baby more comfortable
- Safe and Non Toxic: When it comes to babies, who still have undeveloped body systems, you want to avoid chemicals in topical products as much as possible. The skin is the largest organ of the body, so whatever you put on it has the potential of being absorbed through the skin and into the bloodstream
How to make calendula oil
Unlike cold-pressed oils like olive oil, calendula oil cannot come from a seed or fruit. Instead, the dried plant has to be infused into a carrier oil. It’s an easy process and can be done two ways:
The slow method
This method involves filling a dark glass jar (amber or cobalt) with dried calendula flowers, topping up the jar right to the top with a carrier oil, setting the jar in a warm, dark cupboard for several weeks with a tight-fitting lid, and shaking it daily. You then strain the flowers and compost them, and pour the oil back into the jar or transfer to a dropper bottle. To preserve it, you can open up a couple of capsules of vitamin E and stir it in.
The quick method
This method uses a slow cooker or a pot on the lowest heat setting you can find. Fill the pot with dried calendula flowers, top it up with oil, and turn the burner on to low. Keep an eye on the oil to make sure it is not smoking or gets too hot. After at least an hour, strain the flowers out using a fine mesh strainer or cheesecloth, discard them, then store the oil in a dark glass jar with lid or a dropper bottle. As above, feel free to add vitamin E oil to extend the shelf life.
Best carrier oils to us
- Grapeseed
- Sunflower seed
- Olive oil
- Jojoba oil
- Fractionated coconut oil
- Avocado oil
- Castor oil
How to use calendula baby oil
- Add a tablespoon to baby’s bath water
- Use it as a massage oil on baby after a bath and before bed
- Use it directly on diaper rash or inflamed areas on baby’s skin
- Use it on cradle cap to soften scales before sloughing off with a baby brush or comb
- Make herbal salves or balms
Pro tips
- Never dip fingers or hands directly into the jar to prevent contamination
- Keep the calendula oil stored with a lid and in a dark jar or dark cupboard to keep it cool (heat can damage the oil and harbour bacteria growth
- Use carrier oils that are cold-pressed and allergen-free. Avoid nut oils in baby products, like peanut, almond, and walnut oils
- It is difficult to put an exact expiration date on a homemade product, but expect that it can last several weeks. When oil goes rancid, you will be able to smell it
- Calendula flowers must be 100% dry before infusing into oil. If you are growing marigold yourself and using it in your oil, be sure it is organic and fully dried. Trimming off the stems and laying out the flowers in the sun to dry for several days is very effective
