Calendula Balm: What It Is and How to Use It

Name: Natural Tallow Baby Butter with Calendula & Chamomile
Brand: Moose's Tallow
Price: 12.0 USD
Availability: InStock
Rating: 5.00 (9 reviews)

Calendula balm is a rich balm made with calendula flowers steeped in oil. It's an old, gentle way to moisturize dry skin. Ours is Baby Butter, with tallow, calendula and chamomile and no added scent. The 0.85 oz tin is $12. Calendula is a daisy-family plant, so try a small spot first.

By Brian "Moose" Smith, founder of Moose's Tallow · Updated November 8, 2026

Calendula baby balm with dried calendula flowers on a crib mattress

What people ask

What is calendula balm used for?

Calendula balm is used as an everyday moisturizer for dry, rough skin. People smooth it on cheeks, hands, elbows, heels and lips. It seals in moisture the way any rich balm does. Ours pairs calendula and chamomile with a tallow base, which resembles your skin's own lipids. It has no added scent.

Is calendula good for eczema?

We don't claim calendula treats eczema, and no balm replaces what your pediatrician recommends. What we can say is that Baby Butter is a simple, fragrance-free moisturizer with a short ingredient list. Cleveland Clinic notes a new product can cause a reaction, so test a small spot first. Our 60-day guarantee covers a balm that doesn't suit you.

When not to use calendula?

Skip calendula if you know you react to daisy-family plants, such as marigold, chamomile or arnica. A 2001 patch-test study of 443 patients found about 2 percent reacted to marigold. Try a small spot for 24 hours first. Keep it off deep, bleeding or infected skin, and call your doctor about those. Baby Butter is made for intact skin.

Can I put calendula on an open wound?

Calendula balm is made for intact skin, not open wounds. A deep cut, a bleeding scrape or skin that looks infected needs a doctor, not a balm. For dry or chapped skin that isn't broken, a thin layer of Baby Butter is a gentle choice. Warm a half pea-size scoop between your fingertips first.

Does Calendula Cream actually work?

It depends on what you ask of it. As a moisturizer, a rich balm does the main work. Calendula is a popular, gentle addition. The research is small. One 2012 trial in 66 infants compared a calendula ointment with aloe cream. It tested a different product. So your skin is the best test, and our guarantee makes that easy.

Are arnica and calendula the same?

No. Arnica and calendula are different plants, though both belong to the daisy family. Arnica isn't in Baby Butter. We use calendula and chamomile, which are also daisy-family flowers. In a 2001 study, some people who reacted to marigold or arnica also reacted to a daisy-family mix. If you've had a reaction before, patch test first.

What are the side effects of calendula?

The main side effect of calendula is an allergic skin reaction, such as redness or itching. It happens in people sensitive to daisy-family plants. It's uncommon. Patch test a small spot on the inner arm for 24 hours first. Stop if skin gets red or itchy. Baby Butter has no added scent.

The timeline

What to expect

Tonight

A half pea-size scoop softens between your fingertips and melts in. Skin feels soft and comfortable, not greasy. Start small, since a little goes a long way.
Week 1

After-bath moisture becomes a habit. Dry cheeks, hands and legs feel softer through the day. Reapply when skin feels dry, not on a timer.
Week 4

Skin holds its softness longer between applications. Many parents keep the small tin in the diaper bag and the large one by the changing table.

From real customers

Read all the reviews on the product page →

How to use a calendula balm

A calendula balm is rich, so the amount matters more than the brand. These steps keep it soft and non-greasy.

Patch test first. Dab a small spot on the inner arm and wait 24 hours.
Start with clean, slightly damp skin, such as after a bath.
Scoop about half a pea-size amount.
Warm it between your fingertips until it softens.
Massage it in gently on cheeks, hands, legs or dry patches.
Reapply when skin feels dry, not on a timer.

What is in our calendula balm

This is the Baby Butter label, ingredient by ingredient. Nothing is added for scent.

Ingredient	What it is	Why it's there
Tallow	Rendered beef fat	The rich base. Cleveland Clinic says it may prevent water loss and soften dry skin.
Fractionated coconut oil	Light, liquid coconut oil	Keeps the balm easy to scoop.
Calendula flower extract	Calendula flowers infused in oil	The calendula in calendula balm.
Sunflower seed oil	A plant oil	A soft, light oil that helps it spread.
Chamomile flower extract	Chamomile flowers infused in oil	A second gentle flower, also in the daisy family.
Beeswax	Wax from the honeycomb	Gives the balm its body.
Tocopherol	Vitamin E	Helps keep the oils fresh.

How do we render tallow?

It starts at a local butcher shop in farm country, where one cow yields about 12 pounds of suet. That suet is the fat around the cow's kidneys, rich in vitamins A, D, E and K. Its fatty acids are ones your skin loves, so we render it slowly, by hand.

Day 1 & 2

Two renders of tallow over low heat, six hours each
Day 3 & 4

Dry render for eight hours, cool & dry render again for another eight hours
Day 5

Infuse tallow and oil with organic herbs over low heat for 12-24 hours
Day 6

Add in beeswax and scent (if applicable), cool, whip and fill by hand

Brian "Moose" Smith with his family and their dogs

A note from the maker

I make Baby Butter in small batches in Lebanon, Pennsylvania. The label lists every ingredient, and nothing is added for scent. My wife tests everything first. If it doesn't suit your skin, the 60-day guarantee covers it. The anonymous reviewer wrote their review in return for credit toward a future order.

Brian "Moose" Smith, Lebanon, Pennsylvania

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