game of stones
Sure, crystals accessorise your social feed and keep your copy of Kondo upright, but can their energy soothe tired eyes, calm irritated skin and bring back your glow? Sara Mclean investigates
Can crystals fix your skin... and your anxiety?
Until recently, crystals were an easily teased fringe interest of the zen-gen, or a plot trope used to demonstrate Spencer Pratt’s skyrocketing Wtf-factor on The Hills. Yet among its more politically and socially charged moments, 2016 was also the year crystals became conventional and the mystic went mainstream.
“Whether with their food or lifestyle, people are going back to basics, and I don’t think it’s by accident,” says Kristin Petrovich, co-founder of gemstone-based beauty brand Själ and author of Elemental Energy: Crystal And Gemstone Rituals For A Beautiful Life. Petrovich believes the sudden rock appreciation comes back to a world that’s smaller and more connected than ever before. “We’re impacted by all the energy shifts, plus we’re affected by the constant communication and electromagnetic frequencies. I think that’s why more people are open to crystal healing – they can feel the difference.”
Of course, there are avid gem-heads among the rich and famous: Gwyneth touts them on Goop, Adele uses them to manage stage fright, Victoria Beckham always has black tourmaline on hand for positivity and Katy Perry turned to rose quartz to get over her most recent break-up with on-off beau John Mayer – a tip she apparently picked up from Madonna, naturally. But it’s not just the A-list looking to realign their energy. “Everyone has a vibration, in fact everything in the universe does, and from time to time some vibrations get out of whack,” explains Megan Larsen, founder of Sodashi, which uses crystals throughout its skincare
line. “Crystals have a specific and clear vibration, and by openly engaging with these vibrations, they can act as a tuning fork to help realign our vibrations to a more ‘in tune’ place, helping us to become more balanced physically, emotionally and spiritually.”
After moving from New York to Connecticut, Petrovich was missing the all-hours appointment book of big-city spas, so she decided to DIY. “I was used to just running to the acupuncturist whenever I wanted and getting massages at midnight, which I could no longer do, so I incorporated stones as treatments in my every day,” she says. And her skin started reaping the benefits. “By using stones for massage you pick up the energy of the stone and you can feel calmer or more energised with different stones, or treat different skin issues depending on which crystal you pick.”
Venustus founder Jeannie Bourke agrees, having used gemstones for treatments involving lymphatic drainage, reflexology, pressure points and cryotherapy at her Sydney spa for years. “We ask the client to choose a crystal, set the intention either aloud or to themselves and we program it for specific healings throughout the treatment.”
For at-home treatments, Petrovich suggests teaming stones with shiatsu-style techniques to sculpt and tone facial contours, alleviate crow’s-feet and reduce undereye bags. “I recommend starting with rose quartz, because it helps to calm down the skin, while amethyst is great for inflammation and redness,” she says. “I like to use hematite on the eyes, because we’re often oxygen- and iron-deficient there, plus it’s naturally cooling.” Her book is also brimming with recipes for crystal-charged elixirs, which serve as the base ingredient for homemade toners, anti-ageing face masks and steams that target every modern-day skin concern. “You can actually drink the elixirs as well,” she says. “I like to stabilise my quartz elixir with vegetable glycerine and put it in my morning smoothie.”
A bevy of skincare and makeup brands are giving their products a spiritual step-up, harnessing gemstone energy in their quest to give us crystal-clear complexions. Nails Inc’s new Mindful Manicure collection is infused with tourmaline, citrine and quartz, which are said to energise and de-stress (because what’s more stressful than doing your nails, right?), La Prairie’s cult exfoliator is laced with gem powders to buff and brighten, A-list New York facialist Tracie Martyn spikes her Complexion Savior with malachite and Kora Organics filters all its products through rose quartz. “[The gemstone] is believed to carry a gentle, soothing energy to encourage self-love, self-esteem and forgiveness. It is also said to have vibrations that can help heal and protect the heart,” says Kora founder Miranda Kerr. “By incorporating rose quartz as an ingredient, we hope to infuse a vibration of selflove into all our products.”
Even if you’re still sceptical of the energy as an anti-ageing argument, crystals deserve props for their role in the tech world. “From watches and computers to mobile phones and medical equipment, clear crystal quartz is in almost every piece of technology we use,” says Athena, owner of The Crystal Temple in Sydney. “It’s a proven electrical current transmitter and has more memory storage than anything on earth.” Think about that when you reach for your phone later to google whether Katy and John are on again.