From Garden to Jar: Why Calendula & Chamomile Have Become My Favorite Skincare Ingredients
If you've ever wondered why so many of my products include herbs and flowers, the answer is simple—I don't just buy ingredients... I grow many of them.
One of my favorite parts of summer here on Prince Edward Island is spending time in the garden. The weather has been beautiful lately, and there is something incredibly calming about walking through the rows in the evening after work. Watching tiny seeds become thriving plants never gets old.
My vegetable garden isn't just about growing food anymore. It's become part of my skincare journey too.
There's something deeply satisfying about planting vegetables that will feed my family while also growing flowers and herbs that eventually become ingredients in my soaps, body butters, and skincare. Knowing that you planted it, cared for it, harvested it, and preserved it yourself makes every finished product feel even more meaningful.
Why I Love Calendula
Calendula is often called the "skin-soothing flower," and for good reason.
Its bright golden petals are rich in natural plant compounds that have been used for generations to comfort dry, irritated, and sensitive skin.
I love infusing calendula into oils because it creates a beautiful golden color naturally—without relying on synthetic dyes. The infusion captures many of the plant's beneficial properties while adding warmth and richness to handcrafted skincare.
Calendula is often appreciated for helping to:
Soothe dry skin
Calm irritated areas
Support the skin's natural barrier
Leave skin feeling soft and nourished
Plus... those bright orange blooms are absolutely gorgeous in the garden.
Chamomile: More Than Just Tea
Most people think of chamomile as something you drink before bed.
I think of it as one of nature's gentlest skincare ingredients.
Chamomile has long been used in skincare because it's naturally calming and is especially loved by people with delicate or easily irritated skin.
Infused into oils, chamomile creates a wonderfully gentle ingredient that pairs beautifully with grass-fed beef tallow.
Its soft, apple-like fragrance is subtle, comforting, and reminds me that sometimes the simplest ingredients are the most effective.
The Garden Doesn't Stop at Flowers
My garden is slowly becoming my own little natural apothecary.
Alongside tomatoes, peppers, beans, onions, herbs, and fresh vegetables are rows of plants that eventually make their way into my skincare.
Some of my favorites include:
🌼 Calendula for soothing botanical infusions.
🌼 Chamomile for gentle, calming skincare.
💜 Lavender for its relaxing aroma and skin-loving properties.
🌿 Lemongrass for its fresh, uplifting scent.
🌱 Sage for its earthy herbal character.
❤️ Beets, which I dry and turn into beetroot powder to naturally tint lip balms and add beautiful earthy color to soaps.
Every season teaches me something new. Some plants thrive, some struggle, and every harvest feels like a small accomplishment.
Bringing Nature Into Everyday Skincare
One of the reasons I started making skincare was because I wanted to understand exactly what I was putting on my skin.
Today, that passion has grown into something much bigger.
I love knowing where my ingredients come from. I love harvesting flowers with my own hands. I love infusing herbs that I grew from seed. And I love creating products that use natural botanicals instead of relying on unnecessary synthetic additives whenever possible.
For me, skincare isn't just about moisturizing your skin.
It's about slowing down.
It's about spending an evening in the garden after a warm PEI summer day.
It's about preserving food for your family, drying herbs for the winter, and finding new ways to use what nature provides.
Every flower, herb, and vegetable tells part of the story behind Christa's Creations.
And honestly... I wouldn't have it any other way.
What grows in your garden?
I'd love to hear what you're planting this summer! Whether it's vegetables, flowers, herbs, or just a few pots on the deck, every garden starts with one seed.
