January 26, 2021
Calendula – tradition, effects and benefits in baby care
by Leonie Poppe
It's done, after around nine months the baby is finally here. There is so much to marvel at, discover and learn in this exciting new chapter. In addition to formalities such as the birth certificate and important appointments such as the first examinations at the pediatrician, the first priority shortly after the birth is getting to know the baby and the parents. And caring for the little one is also at the top of the priority list.
- Special features and requirements of baby skin
- The marigold – a medicinal plant with tradition
- The effect of Calendula
- Skin care and bonding – two in one
- The Junglück baby line
Understandably, many questions arise with the arrival of the baby. After months in the safety of mom's belly, it's not just the newborn that is new. Parents are also entering new territory with the birth of their first child.
What can I use to care for my baby, how often, what is good for my little one and what isn't - questions upon questions. We understand you. And that's why we at Junglück want to at least take away your worries about the ingredients in baby care cosmetic products.
1 Special features and requirements of baby skin
Since a baby's skin has yet to develop its protective function, it needs skin care that is specifically tailored to its needs. Only products that really serve the care of sensitive baby skin and meet its requirements have made it into our baby line.
Marigold extract – Latin: Calendula officinalis – is one of the most important ingredients in our new skin care products for babies. Today I would like to explain to you what makes the extracts obtained from marigold so valuable for the care of baby skin and introduce you to the medicinal plant in more detail.
To understand why the skin of the little ones needs special care, let's take a closer look at its special features.
The skin of newborns and small children is still delicate and thin. In the coming years, your child's skin will gradually develop and develop its protective function. But it is only with the onset of puberty that the skin becomes more resistant to external influences.
Babies’ skin is particularly sensitive:
- The horny layer of the skin is still very thin and permeable in babies because their sebaceous glands produce only a few lipids. These natural fats hold the horny cells together like a cement substance and thus protect against moisture loss.
- On the outside, lipids, together with sweat, form the protective acid mantle, which is also known as the hydrolipid film. This keeps pathogens and harmful substances at bay and prevents them from penetrating the skin. Because the sweat glands of babies and children are still in their dormant phase, as are the sebaceous glands, the protective acid mantle in babies and children is still unstable and has yet to fully develop.
- Sensitive baby skin does not yet produce much melanin, meaning it lacks natural protection against UV rays.
This is why babies' skin, which is rich in water, feels so incredibly velvety. This is also why it reacts so sensitively to environmental influences, mechanical stimuli or certain ingredients in cosmetic products. Little ones' skin can also dry out much more quickly, for example if they bathe in hot water too often.
It can happen that pustules, redness, eczema or a sore bottom can disturb the well-being of the little ones - and also deprive the parents of their well-deserved sleep. In order to protect the silky soft skin of the little explorers, it needs special attention and care with mild products.
2 The marigold – a medicinal plant with tradition
And so we come back to the wonderful medicinal plant Calendula officinalis, whose extracts we use for our baby care line. This is because marigold extract has an anti-inflammatory effect and promotes wound healing.
The marigold probably owes its name to its sickle-shaped fruits, which appear after flowering. The plant, which probably originates from the Mediterranean region, is also a popular eye-catcher in the flower bed thanks to its bright orange flowers.
But the calendula is much more than just a pretty ornament in the garden. Hildegard von Bingen mentioned the marigold as early as the 12th century in her work “Physica” as a natural remedy for treating digestive problems, various skin problems and for detoxifying the body.
Today, there are studies that prove the anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial and regenerating effects of flower extracts from Calendula officialis when applied externally - at least in vitro. The plant with the bright orange flowers has long been an indispensable part of folk medicine and naturopathy.
For internal use, parts of the marigold are processed into tea, for example. For external treatment of skin problems, the flowers are mainly used to make ointments, creams or oils. But what makes the medicinal plant so valuable for the care of sensitive baby skin?
3 The effect of Calendula
The wound-healing, soothing and anti-inflammatory properties of marigold extracts are ideal for the care of sensitive and easily irritated baby skin. Exactly which of the substances contained in the plant are responsible for the positive effect on the skin has not yet been conclusively researched.
It is believed that ingredients in marigold stimulate the formation of collagen fibers in the skin, thus accelerating wound healing. The many pharmaceutically important ingredients in Calendula officinalis have been better researched than the exact mode of action.
The following are particularly important for skin care:
- Flavonoids : secondary plant substances such as the yellow natural dye quercetin contained in marigolds have anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects
- Carotenoids : have cell-protective and cell-regenerating properties
- Phytosterols : have an anti-inflammatory effect, relieve itching and regulate the skin's moisture balance
- Allantoin: soothes the skin, accelerates cell regeneration
- Polysaccharides and saponins: slightly anti-inflammatory and antibacterial effect
In very rare cases, marigolds can cause allergic reactions. If you have a known allergy to Asteraceae, you should not use Calendula products. However, by taking good care of the seeds, the flowers can grow in such a way that they contain as few allergenic ingredients as possible. During pregnancy and breastfeeding, you should avoid taking Calendula products or only after consulting a doctor.
Junglück's baby line uses calendula extract from controlled organic cultivation (kba). The plants used are not fertilized with chemicals. This means that your baby's skin only comes into contact with the best of the marigold. I would now like to explain how you can use your baby's care to deepen your bond.
4 Skin care and bonding – two in one
The connection to the baby is already established in the womb. After birth, this emotional bond is strengthened through attention, love and care. Psychologists refer to this loving connection between parents and baby as bonding. This wonderful start in life not only gives the little one a feeling of security in the moment, a positive bonding phase also has a long-term effect.
Through the close relationship with its parents, a child can develop a healthy basic trust. This enables the child to later approach other people with trust and build relationships. The bonding period also has a positive effect on the child's trust in themselves.
And if one day life should throw up a storm or two, this source of strength can be drawn upon. The foundation created by parental love and closeness will withstand even the wildest gusts. And so you can surf the waves of life - sometimes better, sometimes worse. That is part of the process of growing up. But the knowledge that everything will take its course and that the raging ocean will calm down again is something that parents have given their offspring through positive bonding.
But how does bonding work? For many, this process begins directly after birth on the parents' chest. The baby notices the smell and heartbeat, and can recover from the strenuous birth on this safe "island" and get used to the many new impressions.
By the way, you should never blame yourself if the first few days after birth don't go like a picture book. Bonding is an ongoing process and not just a single moment.
Talking to the baby, making frequent eye contact and breastfeeding is direct skin contact are very important aspects. So skin care does not serve a purpose. Rather, it is part of the bonding phase. Because the loving contact during baby care creates a deeper relationship between the little one and his/her parents.
Whether during a bath, a baby massage or when applying cream - while the skin is being cared for, the so-called cuddle hormone oxytocin is released in the child and mother. It sets numerous physical processes in motion and lowers the level of the stress hormone cortisol in the mother and child.
5 The Junglück baby line
This is a wonderful way to combine bonding with caring for your offspring. And as parents know, time is rare and precious once the little one is here. So that you don't have to worry about unnecessary ingredients when caring for your baby's skin, we followed our tried and tested "less is more" credo when developing the Junglück baby line.
The result is a complete baby line with recipes perfectly tailored to babies’ needs:
Baby oil
The perfume-free baby oil with the finest organic plant oils is suitable for caring for and relaxing massage of baby skin. Almond oil, apricot kernel oil, evening primrose oil and jojoba oil nourish the skin and counteract moisture loss. Calendula extract soothes the skin and prevents irritation. The oil does not contain any preservatives. If you would like to find out more about our baby oil, you can find more information about it in this blog article.
Baby oil – skin care and massage for child and parents.
In this article, learn everything about our baby oil, why a baby massage is so great and how to do it correctly.
Baby balm
Our rich and water-free balm provides your baby's skin with fat and moisture and protects it from drying out. Organic almond oil and marigold extract protect and care for the delicate skin. The protective balm is ideal for the cold season.
Baby lotion
The delicate emulsion with cold-pressed almond oil from controlled organic cultivation provides baby skin with intensive moisture. Essential fatty acids from apricot kernel oil and evening primrose oil strengthen the skin's natural protective barrier and regulate the skin's moisture balance . Perfect for daily care.
Baby bath
With mild surfactants based on olive oil, the Junglück baby bath cleans sensitive baby skin without drying it out. Organic almond oil and organic jojoba oil nourish the skin's natural protective layer. Organic marigold extract and organic aloe vera soothe and care for the baby while splashing around.
Pregnancy oil
We have designed the pampering pregnancy oil with precious organic plant oils for skin care during or after pregnancy. Almond oil, jojoba oil, wheat germ oil and evening primrose oil strengthen the skin barrier. Calendula extract supports the regeneration of the skin and improves its elasticity. The oil can be gently massaged in once or twice as needed to help counteract dryness and stretch marks on the stomach, legs, waist or chest.
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Our new editor
My name is Lena and I am happily working as a freelance author and journalist. I love animals more than anything, which is why I eat 99 percent vegan. Speaking of vegan: I love plant-based natural cosmetics and writing about them. And so things have come full circle, because my enthusiasm for the vitamin C serum and Junglück's sustainable approach is how I ended up here. I hope you enjoy reading my posts!
Your Lena
Sources
1 https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27956358/
4 https://www.kraeuter-buch.de/kraeuter/Ringelblume.html
5 https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/basics/oxytocin