The Crystal Glow

I've always had a great curiosity about the unknown and love to learn about ancient practices. Crystals and gemstones have been said to help with mental and emotional wellbeing in many cultures throughout history. In recent years, we've learned more about their electromagnetic fields, the minerals that make them up,  and the benefit of light therapy. These properties are linked to overall health and wellbeing, especially in the skin.

Discover the capabilities of many unique gemstones below. 

Quartz 

This crystal is composed of silicon and oxygen atoms and is one of the most widely known and accessible minerals on our planet. It can be found on every continent and naturally occurs in many colors, ranging from clear to milky in tone. Below are some common types of quartz.

Amethyst is a type of quartz consisting of iron and other trace minerals which give it its purple hue.

Citrine is a golden quartz ranging from light yellow to deep orange.

Clear Quartz is known for clarity, manifestation, and focus. It’s widely used to clear negative energies and create balance in your mind and body, including the immune system.

Rose Quartz is associated with the heart and aids in circulation. Rose quartz is used to increase oxygen to the skin to help clear toxins and impurities. The energy of rose quartz is associated with love, which helps unblock the heart chakra and aids in relaxation.

Sapphire

This precious gemstone naturally occurs in blue, green, pink, and yellow hues. It's composed of aluminum oxide and trace elements of iron, titanium, chromium, vanadium and/or magnesium. Chromium and vanadium are necessary for insulin to work normally in our bodies and I've often wondered if wearing stones that contain these elements might impart some level of homeopathic absorption.

Sapphire is linked to stimulation of the pituitary gland. This gland regulates our hormones and aids in the production of melanocytes, which help to protect the skin from harmful UV rays. 

Malachite

This beautiful green stone is often mixed with bright blue azurite, resulting in a specimen that looks like the earth as seen from space. Malachite is composed of copper hydroxyl carbonate and several trace minerals. It’s known as a powerful metaphysical stone for transformation, balance, abundance, positive change, and detoxification. The high content of copper in malachite stimulates collagen production, which improves skin elasticity and prevents the appearance of wrinkles. 

Tourmaline

This semi-precious stone is a crystalline, boron, silicate mineral which can also contain aluminum, iron, magnesium, sodium, lithium or potassium. It occurs in a wide variety of colors including black, orange, red, pink, violet, blue, and green, and is often bicolored or even tricolored.

Tourmaline is considered to be a talisman of luck and a strong protector. It's pyrolytic, meaning that it heats up when rubbed onto the skin. This occurs because it’s positively charged on one end of its molecular structure, and negatively charged on the other end. This extracts a warming effect which is thought to help generate new stem cell activity, giving the skin a radiant glow. 

Diamond

Diamonds are produced from carbon which is the basis for all living things. Diamond is one of the most precious gemstones and is used to strengthen all energy centers in the body. Diamonds have been used in recent years as the grit for exfoliation products, and in particular for the skin for penetration and absorption of anti-aging ingredients. When these anti-aging  ingredients are available, their absorption is greater on newly exfoliated skin.

Emerald

This precious gemstone is a member of the beryl family and gets its green color from chromium and sometimes vanadium. Emerald is used for anti-aging, for boosting collagen production, preventing the loss of moisture, and for stimulation of new cell formation. It has also been touted for repairing damaged skin, evening out skin tone, and improving the elasticity of the skin.

Gemstones are increasingly popular and can be found in many products and on the backbars of many estheticians. The industry is really at the beginning of understanding the benefits of the stones. Some skincare professionals create entire skin care treatments around one gemstone to surround the person in the modality that they need. Gemstone rollers are also a great tool for relaxation and stimulation of the skin at the same time. You could have this service done for you in a spa, or do it for yourself when you wish. We do think that regular schedules are best for your skin, so perhaps choose a routine and stay with it for a while, before noting your response. At the Max + Jane production studio we like to have crystals in the work area, so that we can focus on their beauty and enjoy the sense of peace that they bring. We are great believers in living with nature, and being joyful and serene while we focus on our work.