Lutein and zeaxanthin are powerful antioxidants and nutrients found in many green leafy vegetables. Including kale, spinach and brocolli. It is also found in egg yolks and the bright petals of marigold flowers.
Harvard researchers found that women whose diets are high in lutein, zeaxanthin, and vitamin E have a reduced risk of developing cataracts. Every time I eat carrots or egg yolks, I start to think about how they are good for my eyes. Now it turns out they are also good for the skin.
Marigolds are already in bloom in California. Extracts of lutein from these petals are now used in skincare.
The latest research published last year in the Journal of Skin Pharmacology and Physiology states that lutein is also beneficial to the skin. Lutein improves skin hydration and elasticity, increases skin moisture and also enhances the skin’s ability to shield itself from the sun.
In skincare, lutein works best as a combination of topical and oral applications. Therefore some new skincare products have been introduced in combination with lutein. Taking lutein supplements would also been beneficial too.
BIOELEMENT. This beauty product contains lutein made with lutein from marigold petals. Photo from Zappos. 2.5 oz for $49.50
Product Information:
* BIOELEMENTS® Lutein Indoor Protective Day Cream protects your skin against indoor environmental assaults that can cause dehydration, dullness and surface wrinkles.
* An advanced antioxidant moisturizer that provides high-impact hydration and restores skin’s protective barrier.
* Golden-yellow lutein, extracted from marigold petals, filters out the potentially skin-aging effects of blue rays emitted from artificial lighting.
* Sheilds skin from effects of low humidity, forced heat and stale, re-circulated air.
* Used daily, skin becomes visibly smooth, comfortably moist and perfectly hydrated. Radiance is restored and your complexion becomes less reactive to environmental irritants.
* Used daily, skin becomes visibly smooth, comfortably moist and perfectly hydrated. Radiance is restored and your complexion becomes less reactive to environmental irritants.
Sea Buckthorn berry oil is another great ingredient used in skincare. It has a deep bright red and orange color due to its high carotene content. Including valuable lutein, zeaxanthin and lycopene.
My latest soap on the curing rack is made with Seabuckthorn berry oil and also red palm oil. It has a very bright orange color and many skin loving ingredients. It will soon become available at my Etsy shop. 
In the meantime, try adding seabuckthorn oil to your own skin cream. You can apply the oil directly into your skin or make a face balm with a bit of beeswax and other vegetable oils.
The petals of this calendula (also called Pot Marigold) is much brighter. The color is very much like that of Seabuckthorn berry oil.
In French folklore, just staring at these flowers for a few minutes a day can improve your eyesight too. I think just looking at it makes me happy.
This year I’ve been planting lots of calendulas. Mostly the yellow variety pictured here. I plan to add the dried petals to my handmade soap and also to infuse them into vegetable oil for a skin loving balm.
7:42 pm on April 29th, 2010
I read in a Thai magazine that they use for cooking also because of its medicinal value. The one that I saw was a Marigold salad, and the term pot Marigold actually refers to adding Marigold to the cooking pot back in the olden days.
It’s interesting that it has many usages, it helps get rid of insects in my garden and Lee planted many rows this year. It’s also used in treating headaches, and toothache, I bet it would be good in chicken noodle soup.
11:35 am on May 3rd, 2010
The marigold pictured here is from my mom’s garden, it’s the French Marigold. And the ones I use to add to my soap is the Pot Marigold, which is usually refer to as Calendula. But both flowers have skin healing properties.
Btw, I never heard of this olden days tale before - very neat! Thanks for sharing.