Inside the Hollywood-approved wellness trend of incorporating precious crystals into beauty products

The 2018 customer is a cynical one. As a group, we now resist anything that doesn't meet its value for money and ethics in our pursuit of perfection. As time goes by, we are constantly evolving our relationship with nature and its many gifts, bridging the gap that was once built by mass-producing corporations. A fine example of this progression can be seen in the role crystals play in our life. While the healing magic of crystals such as rose quartz, amethyst and tourmaline have been popular for centuries in various medicinal practices, the growing mainstream popularity of crystals has sparked a rise in natural beauty brands that are incorporating crystals in their effort to heal and revitalise. From crushed, ground versions in healing oils, body soaks, face creams and even fragrances making their way onto beauty shelves with their unique precious energies, this branch of wellness appears to be more than just a fad.
Kristin Petrovich, co-founder of holistic anti-ageing skincare brand Själ Skincare, paints a clear picture of the power of crystals in her book Elemental Energy: Crystal and Gemstone Rituals for a Beautiful Life, stating, "As humans, we intuitively accept that we have energy. When our energy's high, life is good. We aim to eat healthy, get up early to exercise, generate creative ideas for business and personal projects, cross to-dos off our lists, and turn chaos into order. On the flip side, when our energy flags or waivers, we can feel of little use until we renew, recharge, or reboot. But what exactly are we getting at when we use a metaphor like 'recharge'? After all, we're not electronic gadgets that come with charging cables and power cords . . . or are we?" In a conversation, she tells us that crystals, gemstones and precious minerals work energetically, which affects us on a spiritual as well as a physical level. She explains, "Not only do crystals have a natural energy or light that we resonate with, they also have a higher frequency that drives ingredients to the weaker cells working within one's own energy system, thus helping to harmonise, balance and detoxify both physically and emotionally. Emotionally, crystals can help to calm, rebalance and ground us. For example, rose quartz helps provide a glow to the skin, has calming and anti-redness properties. It's also associated with the heart chakra for universal and self-love." The science behind the "magic" of rose quartz dictates that the abundant silicon dioxide (clear quartz) in the stone with traces of iron, which helps transport oxygen, provides a glow to your skin and boosts radiance, while titanium traces that balance electrical currents in the body help reduce stiffness along with the magnesium that calms agitated skin.
Ally Sands, creator of Aquarian Soul, a California-based apothecary line that specialises in combining herbalism with gemstones, is known for formulating different combinations of healing crystals and essential oils to make blends for healing different things - both mentally and physically. On the matter of employing gemstones for skincare and makeup, she says, "Crystals actively infuse our products, radiating their energy into it, which when applied to the body gets absorbed into your skin. It is the most direct and quickest method of absorbing the crystal energy into your system, as well as its skin-healing benefits. Oils infused with herbs and crystals can easily pass into your skin layers to provide moisture. Using crystals topically also allows you to carry the energy with you in a different way other than adorning yourself with crystal jewellery. When you use crystal-infused oils, you should feel like you are treating it as a special time to take care of your mind and body." Sands adds that there are crystals for different issues. "We like to choose the best crystals for different wellness issues, like amethyst and quartz for headaches, and they can be used alone or in conjunction with other stones to create a more well-balanced combination. Every crystal has its own energy and healing properties."
Supermodel and founder of Australian beauty brand Kora Organics Miranda Kerr famously declared her love for crystals, sporting its many versions in her jewellery and also sipping rose quartz-filtered water. The pink gemstone has been the holy grail for beauty and wellness, dating back to Cleopatra who, it is believed, bathed with chunks of rose quartz, soaking in its healing and anti-ageing benefits. Experts claim that the powerful soothing vibration of the rose quartz helps relieve tension, often tightening muscles in the face that cause ageing. Once relaxed, the gem works to improve blood circulation.
Another famous spawn of crystal healing is the Insta-favourite jade roller. Dating back to seventh-century China, jade stones were believed to have healing and protective properties. The simple mechanics of massaging the face with a pure jade cannot only contour your face to perfection but also reveal a more relaxed and zen mood, thanks to its relaxing properties.
There are many arguments and counter arguments vis-à-vis the idea of using crystals to achieve beauty goals. However, it is slowly and steadily making its impact felt in beauty and skincare industry.
(Aquarian Soul is available at The Fashion Vault, Dubai, Själ skincare is available online and Kora Organics is available at net-a-porter.com)
wknd@khaleejtimes.com