Calendula oil is natural moisturizer made from the calendula marigold, which is a bright yellow or deep orange flower that is known for having anti-inflammatory properties. It’s great for your skin, especially dry skin. Skincare products made with calendula oil can be very expensive and are typically made with a small percentage of the oil. Instead, try making your own at home! Kids will love watching the process of drying fresh flowers, and then you’ll have a super moisturizer that makes skin shine! I’ve tried a few different oils as the base, but I prefer sunflower because it’s not as heavy on your skin, especially your face as other richer oils, such as olive oil, and it provides a good dose of vitamin E, too! It’s always important to take care of the largest organ of your body — your skin!
Time: About 1 week for drying flowers thoroughly and 3-4 weeks for infusing oil, but very little active time.
Materials:
- Fresh blooming calendula flowers (20-30 flowers)
- Sunflower oil (about 1-2 cups, depending on your jar)—I usually use organic
- Glass jam jar with a tight-fitting lid
- Cheesecloth for straining
Adult Prep: None needed! Just gather the materials.
Kids’ Activity
- To dry the flowers:
- When in bloom, pick the calendula flowers off of the stem, right below where the stem meets the blossom.
- Flatten the flowers, taking off green bit at the base of the blossom, where the flower meets the stem. Place the flowers on a baking pan so that they dry evenly. Place them in a dry, dark place to dry.
- Dry for about 1 week, until paper-like.
- Put the dried flowers into the jam jar and fill the jar with sunflower oil to cover the flowers (as close to the top as possible).
- Shake the jar to mix everything up. Allow the oil to infuse for 2-3 weeks, turning it upside down once a day to keep mixing the ingredients. You want to keep the jar out of direct sunlight, but not necessarily in a dark spot. I like it keep it in plain sight to remind me to do the daily flip!
- After 2-3 weeks, strain the oil with cheesecloth, retaining the oil and discarding the flowers. The oil should be bright yellow!
- Place in a dispenser and use as a moisturizer for face and hands.
– Stacey Antine, MS, RD, author, Appetite for Life, founder, HealthBarn USA, co-host, Family Food Expert Internet Radio Show, and recognized as top 10 dietitians nationally by Today’s Dietitian magazine for her work with HealthBarn USA
A healthy lifestyle isn’t all about food: keeping kids active and fostering their creativity is essential for healthy development, too! In this blog, I’ll be sharing weekly activity ideas for families to do together.
