Calendula makes Weleda a leader

When you hear Weleda, think Calendula. The 87-year-old, Swiss-based manufacturer of holistic body care products, natural supplements, and complementary medicines is so closely associated with that Weleda might not exist if it weren’t for this cousin of the marigold plant.

Used for centuries as a healing plant with anti-inflammatory qualities that calm and soothe the skin — and can even stop bleeding — Calendula is the core ingredient in Weleda’s all natural, chemical-free line. It may have become a buzzword in holistic circles, but Calendula has a storied history of curing jaundice and treating stomach ulcers, liver complaints, conjunctivitis, and wounds.

Now Weleda has put Calendula as the marquee name on a full line of baby care products — from body wash to sunscreen, toothpaste to diaper cream.

Jennifer Barckley, Weleda’s New York-based communications and public relations manager, notes that the delicate skin of babies needs equally delicate and nurturing attention.

“We believe that it’s so, so important at this time in your life. A baby’s skin is five-times thinner than an adult’s and that thinness equates to vulnerability.” And since our skin is our largest organ, isn’t protecting it from birth a priority?

The question fits with a Weleda philosophy based on harmonic balance between the natural world and its human inhabitants.

“Our bodies — both internally and externally — understand nature and know how to respond to that,” says Barckley. “If you’re using natural raw materials grown in a sustainable and healthy way, that’s the key.”

Founded as a bona fide pharmaceutical firm searching for a cure for cancer, Weleda has grown into an large company pioneering organic skin care. They grow all their own Calendula in Europe using methods that go beyond organic into something they call Biodynamic® where the farming is entirely self-sustainable and free of fertilizers and pesticides. The Calendula plant is refined on site, usually the same day it’s picked.

The most popular items in the Weleda baby skincare line are a baby cream, diaper care, and brand new shampoo/body wash — all rife with Calendula.

The Calendula Baby Cream, a full body moisturizer, is the No. 1 seller in the U.S. “It’s like a blanket to keep the baby’s skin warm and protected and it’s great if the baby has eczema,” says Barckley. It intensively nourishes and protects delicate skin — skin that, in infancy, is still developing.

Another No. 1 seller, Calendula Diaper Care, contains zinc oxide and is ultra effective on clearing up rashes, promoting healing, and soothing a baby’s skin.

The latest in the line is a Calendula Shampoo & Body Wash for head-to-toe coverage in the shower or bath. It gently cleanses and softens a baby’s hair and skin and its vegetable-based cleansers are easy on the eyes. No stinging. Biodynamic® Calendula flower extract, sweet almond oil and organic sesame seed oil gently nourish, care for, and protect delicate skin.

Of course, there is no requirement that legislates babies as the sole users of Weleda’s baby products. Barckley says adults love them, especially those with sensitive skin. “There was a trend I read about in a magazine where adults were using baby products,” she says. “I use the baby stuff. I know it’s going to care for me in the most gentle way and people want to feel they’re being cared for like a baby.”

However, for grown ups that want to baby themselves, Weleda offers a full range of skin care specifically for adults with sensitive skin.