Ingredient spotlight: The skincare benefits of calendula

Ingredients are everything to us at Beauty Despite Cancer, which is why we make them the hero of our products, rather than adding any 'filler' content like water and unnecessary preservatives. Every ingredient that we choose has a purpose, so in a series of articles we wanted to put a spotlight on some of our most prominent ingredients (all of which are natural), to give you an insight into how our products work. 

Read about our healing balms and how they're created

First of all, we wanted to take a look at calendula. 

What is calendula?

This herbaceous plant is part of the daisy family - you might recognise it in the form of the marigolds in your garden. However, calendula's unassuming little flowers hold a wealth of healing benefits, extracted in the form of calendula oil.

What are the healing properties of calendula?

Calendula is known for its healing properties, helping to prevent infection and heal skin and injured tissues thanks to its antifungal and antimicrobial properties. It's also known to have an anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effect, helping to ease muscle fatigue and generally support the wellbeing of the skin and body.

Key attributes include:

  • Spasmolytic: helps relieve muscle spasms
  • Antihaemorrhagic and styptic: can help stop wounds from bleeding
  • Vulnery: helps to heal wounds
  • Antiseptic: can help reduce the risk of infection

As a result it's often used topically and in skincare products to help:

  • Soothe irritated or inflamed skin with rashes or eczema
  • As an antiseptic healer on irritated skin
  • Help prevent scarring 

Which Beauty Despite Cancer products contain calendula?

Defiant Beauty Smooth Skin Balm

Our Defiant Beauty Smooth Skin Balm is a nourishing and deeply moisturising body balm that's designed to help skin recover during and beyond cancer treatment including chemotherapy. It's lightly fragranced with sandalwood, orange blossom and mandarin. Calendula is a key ingredient, helping to soothe the skin alongside shea and apricot kernel oil.

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Defiant Beauty Itchy Skin Oil

Our Defiant Beauty Itchy Skin Oil is specifically formulated to help relieve irritation commonly resulting from chemotherapy and radiotherapy. It's quickly absorbed, is natural, gentle and fragrance free, harnessing the nurturing powers of apricot kernel oil, healing calendula and rejuvenating rosehip oil.

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