Calendula-Infused Jojoba Oil

Written By Chantel Coburn

Calendula-infused jojoba oil is the keystone ingredient in our signature Sunset on the Beach Face Oil — so let's dive in!

All about jojoba

Jojoba oil (pronounced like "ho-HO-bah") is actually not an oil at all. Simmondsia chinensis seed oil is technically a liquid wax ester. The best part? The natural sebum our body produces also contains a significant amount of liquid wax esters, which is exactly why jojoba gets along so well with skin. Because the ester molecules carry more double bonds — and therefore more "kinks" — than typical waxes, they can't pack together tightly, which is what keeps jojoba liquid at room temperature.

Jojoba absorbs well into skin without leaving a greasy residue, doesn't clog pores, and helps regulate sebum production. It forms a non-occlusive barrier that locks in moisture without suffocating skin. Thanks to its small molecular structure, it's also able to carry active compounds deep into skin — one reason we infuse it with calendula (more on that below).

Jojoba is also incredibly shelf-stable. It resists oxidation far better than oils high in polyunsaturated fats.

It's naturally rich in Vitamin E (tocopherols) and B-complex vitamins too, adding extra antioxidant and skin-conditioning benefits. And while oils (or waxes) themselves don't technically moisturize skin, jojoba helps seal in moisture and reinforce the skin barrier, keeping it healthy and supple.

The most exciting part, though, is that our jojoba is infused with calendula — grown right in our own garden.

A little about calendula

Calendula officinalis is a magical flower that's been used for centuries to treat ailments. It likely originated in the Mediterranean, but is now widely distributed across North Africa, Europe, and Southwestern Asia.

Calendula owes its reputation to a handful of powerhouse compounds:

  • Flavonoids (isorhamnetin, quercetin, narcissin) — potent antioxidants that neutralize free radicals, reduce oxidative stress in skin cells, and support collagen integrity.

  • Triterpenoids (oleanolic acid, ursolic acid) — the primary anti-inflammatory agents in calendula. Studies show these compounds inhibit pro-inflammatory cytokines, making calendula particularly effective for reactive, sensitized, and compromised skin barriers.

  • Carotenoids — the pigments that give calendula its golden colour. These are precursors to Vitamin A activity in the skin, supporting cell turnover and a more even, luminous complexion.

  • Polysaccharides — humectant compounds that draw moisture to the skin and support wound healing at a cellular level.

  • Essential oils & resins — contribute to calendula's well-documented antimicrobial properties, helping keep skin balanced and protected.

All this is to say: calendula is fantastic for wound healing (cue those with acne), as well as for keeping skin youthful and healthy.

How we infuse it

The calendula flowers are collected in the morning, then set face-down to dry. Once dried, the flowers are covered in oil in glass jars, where the mixture sits for six weeks, slowly imbuing the oil with calendula's extracts.

Here at Cece In Bloom, we've been experimenting with and growing our calendula garden for a few years now, with plans for expansion as our product line grows!


Jojoba oil

  1. Gad, H.A., et al. "Jojoba Oil: An Updated Comprehensive Review on Chemistry, Pharmaceutical Uses, and Toxicity." Polymers, 2021, 13(11), 1711. https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4360/13/11/1711

  2. "Investigation of Liquid Wax Components of Egyptian Jojoba Seeds." Grasas y Aceites (via ResearchGate). https://www.researchgate.net/publication/38025036_Investigation_of_Liquid_Wax_Components_of_Egyptian_Jojoba_Seeds

  3. Miwa, T.K. "Jojoba oil wax esters and derived fatty acids and alcohols: Gas chromatographic analyses." Journal of the American Oil Chemists' Society, 1971. https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/BF02638458

  4. "Oxidative Stability and Kinetics of Oxidation of Rosehip, Sunflower, Olive and Jojoba Oils." Antioxidants, 2026, 15(5), 646. https://doi.org/10.3390/antiox15050646

  5. Formula Botanica. "Jojoba: Unlocking its Benefits in Cosmetic Formulations." https://formulabotanica.com/jojoba-in-cosmetic-formulations/

  6. Acne.org. "Jojoba Oil." https://www.acne.org/jojoba-oil

Calendula

  1. "Calendula officinalis - A comprehensive review." Pharmacological Research - Modern Chinese Medicine (ScienceDirect), 2024. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S2950199724001289

  2. "An Updated Review on the Multifaceted Therapeutic Potential of Calendula officinalis L." Pharmaceuticals (MDPI), 2023, 16(4), 611. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10142266/

  3. Givol, O., Kornhaber, R., Visentin, D., Cleary, M., Haik, J., Harats, M. "A systematic review of Calendula officinalis extract for wound healing." Wound Repair and Regeneration, 2019, 27(5), 548–561. https://doi.org/10.1111/wrr.12737

  4. Vella, F.M., Pignone, D., Laratta, B. "The Mediterranean Species Calendula officinalis and Foeniculum vulgare as Valuable Source of Bioactive Compounds." Molecules, 2024, 29(15), 3594. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11314138/


Chantel Coburn