Why We Believe Great Skincare Begins in the Field

Walk through a field of flowering calendula on a summer's day and one thing immediately catches your eye.

The colour.

Every flower is a brilliant, vibrant orange, glowing in the sunshine.

Now compare that to much of the dried calendula sold commercially.

Instead of vibrant orange petals, you'll often find dull brown flowers that have spent months travelling through the supply chain before finally reaching a cosmetics manufacturer.

They may both be called calendula.

But are they really the same?

At Lyonsleaf, that simple question lies at the heart of everything we do.

Because we believe the quality of skincare begins long before it's made.

It begins in the field.

Calendula Has Always Been the Heart of Lyonsleaf

From the very beginning, we've grown calendula for our skincare. Long before "farm to face" became a marketing phrase, we believed that if we wanted exceptional skincare, we needed exceptional herbs.

Calendula has always been the heart of Lyonsleaf—not because it's fashionable, but because generations of herbalists have relied on it to soothe, comfort and care for delicate skin.

Over the past 15 years we've learned that growing beautiful calendula is only the beginning. What happens after the flowers are picked matters just as much.

Freshness Matters

As Lyonsleaf has grown and life circumstances changed, we've needed more calendula than we could produce ourselves. Looking more closely at the commercial herb supply chain was an eye-opener.

We'd spent years working with vibrant orange flowers harvested fresh from the field. In comparison, much of the commercially available dried calendula we found was brown, faded and clearly oxidised.

It made us stop and think.

If the flowers had already lost so much of their colour, what else might have changed before they ever reached the oil?

The macerated oil we make from Calendula and organic sunflower oil is deep orange almost red. Calendula oil available from commercial suppliers has barely any colour at all. That's clearly a result of not having access to fresh, vibrant flowers.

There is surprisingly little research comparing freshly dried calendula flowers with flowers that have spent months in storage before infusion. But we do know that oxidation gradually changes many delicate plant compounds, and that calendula's rich orange colour comes from carotenoids—natural antioxidant compounds that become less stable over time when exposed to oxygen, light and heat.

After working with fresh calendula for over 15 years, we've seen enough to know which flowers we'd choose every time.

Our Field to Oil Philosophy

Rather than compromise, we searched for local growers who shared our values.

Today, alongside growing calendula ourselves, we work with carefully selected local herb growers who harvest, gently dry and infuse the flowers to our own specifications.

We call it our Field to Oil philosophy.

The idea is beautifully simple.

Harvest the flowers at their peak.

Dry them carefully.

Infuse them into organic oils while they're still vibrant.

Keep the journey from field to oil as short as possible.

It's a slower way of working, and certainly not the easiest. But we believe exceptional ingredients deserve exceptional care.

Why Calendula?

Calendula (Calendula officinalis) has been a treasured ingredient in herbal medicine for centuries. Traditionally it has been used to soothe irritated skin, support the healing of minor wounds and calm inflammation.

Modern research has identified naturally occurring compounds including carotenoids, flavonoids and triterpenoids, which have demonstrated antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activity in laboratory studies. Clinical studies have also shown promising results for wound healing and reducing skin irritation, although more high-quality research is needed to understand its role in many chronic skin conditions.

For us, the science is fascinating because it helps explain what herbalists have observed for generations: calendula is an extraordinary plant.

What About Eczema, Acne and Perioral Dermatitis?

These are some of the skin concerns we hear about most often from our customers.

Many people discover Lyonsleaf after trying countless creams and complicated skincare routines without finding lasting relief. Time and again they tell us that simplifying their skincare and focusing on supporting the skin barrier has helped their skin become calmer and more comfortable.

We would never claim that calendula is a cure for eczema, acne or perioral dermatitis, and everyone's skin is different. But after listening to thousands of customers over the years, we've come to appreciate just how valuable a simple, carefully made product can be when managing the symptoms of a chronic skin condition.

That's why our balms contain only a handful of thoughtfully chosen ingredients, each with a purpose, without water, preservatives, emulsifiers, synthetic fragrances or unnecessary additives.

We'd rather begin with exceptional herbs than rely on ever longer ingredient lists.

Looking Ahead

As Lyonsleaf continues to grow, so does our commitment to growing exceptional herbs.

Alongside expanding our own calendula growing, we're developing the Lyonsleaf Herb Growing Collective, a network of local growers and community farms who share our commitment to cultivating herbs without herbicides or synthetic fertilisers, harvesting them at their best and preparing them with care.

We know it would be easier to buy dried herbs from wherever they are cheapest.

But easier isn't always better.

Every summer, the calendula flowers return.

They remind us why we started Lyonsleaf in the first place.

To work with nature rather than against it.

To begin with the very best ingredients we can grow.

To make skincare that's as simple, honest and effective as we know how.

We call it Field to Oil.

But really, it's just the way we've always believed things should be done.