GEMSTONES GALORE
Discover a new breed of skincare products that champion the beauty of minerals and gems for your body, mind, soul and skin, writes MICHAEL CHEUNG
GYPTIAN GODDESS CLEOPATRA was known for her lavish beauty regime, using precious gems such as lapis lazuli ground up into a powder as eyeshadow, and bathing in a bed of rose quartz for its intense healing and anti-ageing benefits. It’s impossible to track the full origins of how early pioneers learned about these therapeutic effects, but it’s certain that Chinese royalty favoured jade, and that ancient Greeks and Egyptians honed the perks of using quartz and set the bar for future discoveries.
Throughout time, crystals and gemstones have been viewed across a variety of different cultures as healing tools. Even when lands are separated by vast seas, it’s interesting to note that certain stones are applied similarly in each area, such as turquoise to promote health and jasper to boost strength.
In modern times, there has been a gradual shift away from the concept of protection against specific ailments and threats, as a fresh crop of aestheticians and independent skincare brands test the waters on gems’ effectiveness as a topical agent. With the backing of science and an eclipsing of the mystical properties, we might be on to something big – a modern-day beauty elixir that combats free-radicals and ageing amidst climate change.
Technology is most often seen to have the upper hand when it comes to selling instant gratification, but vanity tools such as the jade roller ( popularised in 2016) have proven that it can be a level playing field for less-techy, back-to-basics types of products that reap visible results. If it wasn’t for the surge of rollers, which were sold in mass quantities online to holistic-leaning spas, perhaps brands would have put the thought of developing skincare that marries tradition and innovation on hold.
With the holiday season around the corner, we’ve curated a list of forward-thinking brands that are redefining luxury and are every bit worth trying out. Think about it: you can experience something close to royalty at home, using what technically could be a billion-year-old shard of rare earth mineral into a beautiful concoction of luscious serum.